G - Data Redacted Bonus Session 3

[17:31] <~Headlong> G̜̝͕̥̕D̪̩͚C̱͔̘̮̀L͇͚͇̠̟̖͞-̙̘ͅ1̛͖̫̝̱͖͍ ̤̳̹͍͔̀D̷̺̣̮̜͈̱ͅL͚̘̟̥͓C̥͉̞̗̫̞ ̛̗̦͎͓̰̳̖A̼̰̬d͝d̺̘͔̲͜e̢̞̖̠̰ͅn҉̺͓̞d͕̺̙͍͙̣̯u͉̭̰m͙̣͙͓ ̥̣3͞
[17:32] <~Headlong> It is now morning, around  8am. The Dullahans find themselves wherever it was that they went to sleep that night, after a relatively peaceful night.
[17:35] * Redshift spent quite some time trotting about the halls of the hotel long after the others were asleep before going to bed himself. Did he see or hear anything?
[17:37] <~Headlong> Nothing out of the ordinary. No creepy twin foals, no elevators of blood, no bathtub monsters. Just a perfectly average hotel... That's housed countless veteran Foundation agents before them.
[17:37] * Wishing_Well is laying on the couch in the room he shared with Redshift and Giddy, smiling up at the ceiling as he considers what the day will hold. It was actually a pretty comfy couch, and the dust-bunnies were quite hospitable all things considering.
[17:37] * Kopesh sits up and gets out of bed to stretch, letting Scribbles_ sleep, if she wants.
[17:39] <~Headlong> Both the beds and couches in the provided rooms were very comfortable. The furniture almost seems sad to relinquish them
[17:40] * Scribbles_ sleeps in for a few minutes, rolling a bit when Kopesh vacates the bed.
[17:43] * Kopesh heads outside quietly to have a look around. He was curious about this place.
[17:44] <Kopesh> out of the room*
[17:44] <~Headlong> Kopesh sees more empty hallways. They could, however, expect guests to start arriving today, a Monday.
[17:44] * Redshift is still snoozing. Sleeping late and waking up late were his MO.
[17:49] * Giddy wasn't feeling that great. It was the worry that bothered him. He wondered just when things would go from fine to fucked up today, if at all. The job was getting to him, if he was being honest with himself. He wondered if the Foundation would want to keep him somehow, maybe by holding his bill of sale, the repayment of his speeding tickets, to the Manehattan court.
[17:50] * Scribbles_ continues her snoozing, starting to cuddle the pillow.
[17:50] <~Headlong> Kopesh can also discern some lounge piano music wafting up from the lobby.
[17:52] * Giddy gets up and does the morning routine. When did shit get complicated anyway? Back home, nobody fucking minded if he was speeding down the dirt roads, that was what dirt roads were for. But you want to get a job driving, you move to the city. And you move to the city, you use the asphalt cop-laden roads they give you. After spending some time in the bathroom for all it's related needs not...
[17:52] * Giddy ...limited to brushing his teeth and combing his mane, he went down to the lobby to wait for the others.
[17:55] * Kopesh smiles at the pleasant music. He'll explore more later. He heads back to the room and climbs back into bed and read until Scribbles_ wakes up.
[17:55] <~Headlong> In the lobby, Giddy finds a mare at a piano in the corner, as well as the receptionist mare from earlier. Mr. Barnsbee stands by the door, puffing a pipe and checking a pocket watch.
[17:56] * Giddy finds a bench to be all anti-social and avoidant on.
[17:56] * Scribbles_ rolls over in bed, bumping into Kopesh and slowly opening her eyes.
[17:57] <~Headlong> Giddy successfully averts all contact with living organisms.
[17:58] <~Headlong> Something touches Redshift on the shoulder.
[17:58] * Kopesh smiles at Scribbles_. "Good morning."
[17:59] * Redshift jumps, whipping his head behind him. "Who's there?"
[17:59] * Scribbles_ gives the traditional "Good morning." groan.
[17:59] * Redshift looks frantically about, still a tad sleepy.
[18:00] <Kopesh> "Sleep well?"
[18:01] * Scribbles_ nods, sitting up and stretching. "Wonderfully. You?"
[18:01] <~Headlong> It's a janitor. He's looking to sweep under the ottoman Red fell asleep on. "Hey, kid, just need to sweep under there."
[18:03] * Redshift shakes his mane. "Aaauck." He blearily gets to his hooves, grabbing his cap and placing it back on his head where it belongs. "Augh...yeah. Sorry about that."
[18:03] * Kopesh nods and gets up again, putting his book away. "Sure did. Always better when you're next to me."
[18:04] <~Headlong> The janitor waves his hoof. "Don't worry about it." He gruffs.
[18:04] * Scribbles_ gives Kopesh a smile before getting out of bed, "Suppose I should start the day. Do you want a cup of Joe?"
[18:04] * Redshift shakes his mane again, and goes off to find the others. Weeeelp. Some breakfast sounded good.
[18:06] * Kopesh shakes his head. "Not much of a coffee fan. I am going to head downstairs though. I'd kinda like to see this place when it's open."
[18:06] * Wishing_Well rolls off the couch he was laying on and quickly cleans himself up before he heads down to meet the rest of the crew. He spends some extra time on his teeth, to keep that smile of his white and minty fresh.
[18:06] * Scribbles_ nods. "Alright then, I'll be right down."
[18:06] <~Headlong> The familiar smell of baked bread wafts through the halls of the Bathhouse. Sounds like breakfast is on.
[18:09] * Kopesh gives her a kiss and heads downstairs to look around some more.
[18:11] * Scribbles_ determines the clothes from yesterday are clean enough to wear again and ducks into the bathroom to wash up.
[18:11] * Giddy sniff sniffs. And then makes his way to consume that bread. He had a soft spot for fresh baked bread and coffee.
[18:12] * Wishing_Well trots down to locate the two he had shared a room with... And the bread. Bread sounded good. Very good.
[18:12] * Redshift trottrottrots towards the smell of bread.
[18:15] <~Headlong> Two ponies in aprons are furiously arranging a table covered with freshly baked goods, cold milk, and punch. Both pegasi flutter around merrily, exchanging banter as they flitter. "So good to be getting back to work, eh, Flower Pot?" The stallion asks. "And for the /Foundation/, no less! Oh, yeah!" Flower pot replies. The smell is overpowering.
[18:15] * Kopesh finds himself drawn by the smell.
[18:16] * Giddy felt extremely uncomfortable overhearing that, but wasn't about to turn down food. "What's up?" He noted to them, taking his seat. "Ya'll got coffee? I want me some coffee."
[18:16] * Redshift looks up to the ponies, flagging one down with a hoof. "Hey, so can we just, you know, take what we want?"
[18:18] <~Headlong> Flower Pot blinks. "Oh, oh yeah. All yours, cutie!" She says, floating aside before setting down a tray of cheese croissants. "You must be one of the Dullahans, yeah?" The stallion thwaps her. "Flower! We're not supposed to inquire about their work!"
[18:21] * Redshift shrugs at this saccharine display. "Yeah, yeah, OK. Thanks, this looks great." He looks to those cheese croissants, floating one up to his muzzle as he sits down, taking a bite.
[18:25] * Wishing_Well follows his nose to the table of food, as well as to the rest of the group. "So that's what that smell was." he says, the grin on his face widening as he looks at the table full of baked goods and other items
[18:25] * Giddy drinks the milk down in one go before going at the cheese croissants, out of habit, really. Breakfast in his household was a eat it before it's gone affair.
[18:25] <~Headlong> The pegasi float off to the kitchen, quietly arguing about why Flower Pot can't answer questions. Before they slip away into the kitchen, Flower Pot directs Giddy's attention to a coffee station on the end of the table.
[18:26] * Redshift beat Giddy to the punch! He's even drinking the literal punch as they speak!
[18:27] * Kopesh finds his way in. This setup looks and smells quite lovely.
[18:27] * Giddy didn't even want the smelly punch anyway! He has coffee! He dips one of the pastries into his mug of black joy and eats the corner in question. Mmm.
[18:29] * Wishing_Well grabs an assorted variety of the baked delicacies, as well as some coffee and milk to drink, and meanders over to the table Redshift was sitting at. After a brief pause after he sits, he digs in.
[18:29] * Redshift is chowing down. This stuff was good! Real god!
[18:29] <Redshift> *good!
[18:31] * Scribbles_ finishes her shower n' such and after throwing her clothes on, makes her way downstarts, towards the smell.
[18:32] <~Headlong> Barnsbee strolls into the dining room, beaming. "And how are we all this morning?"
[18:33] * Giddy shrugs. "Alright, I suppose. Thanks for the meal."
[18:33] <~Headlong> He takes a jovial puff from his pipe. "It's customary to provide guests with suitable breakfast, eh wot?"
[18:33] * Kopesh nods, taking a croissant of his own. "Pretty well."
[18:34] <Kopesh> "It's good. Thank you."
[18:36] * Redshift ([email protected]) Quit ( Connection closed )
[18:42] * PantzArt is now known as Pantzar
[18:43] <~Headlong> Scribbles_ and Wishing_Well can faintly hear the call of a prominent foghorn. Scribbles_ also makes out a secondary, lower sound. It sounds like a bell, and it rings three times.
[18:46] <~Headlong> She can probably hear it because there's an open window not too far from her.
[18:51] * Giddy nomnomnoms.
[18:51] <~Headlong> Giddy finds plenty to nom on. Barnsbee chuckles at the speed at which his guests nom.
[18:53] * Scribbles_ stops in her tracks, taking a look out said window.
[18:56] <~Headlong> Scribbles_ has a beautiful view of the Barn Harbor Marina. In the distance, she spots the faint outline of a ship. It's an older one, a proper sailing vessel, with two large sails. She /also/ sees a thick, volumnious fog rolling in just behind it. The ship is only about a quarter of a mile from shore, the fog almost a half a mile out.
[18:56] * Wishing_Well twitches an ear at the sound, glancing in the direction it came from, before he continues eating. "Get many ships coming into harbor?" he asks Barnsbee.
[18:57] <~Headlong> Barnsbee nods slowly. "Oh, certainly! In fact, I'd say that the Antique Show is due to be shipped in right now."
[18:58] * Scribbles_ walks closer to the window, properly poking her head out to look at the ship out at sea.
[19:01] <~Headlong> Scribbles_, for some reason, identifies the ship as a sailing vessel, likely built in Trottingham, in the style of their older, Imperial vessels. Whether it's genuine, or a convincing reproduction, she can't be sure.
[19:03] * Scribbles_ knew her father's silly model ships would be useful eventually. She watches the ship for a moment, making sure it's not going to just into a disembodied head, or something weird.
[19:06] * Giddy leans back in his chair. Okay, so working for the Foundation wasn't all bad.
[19:06] <~Headlong> The ship just sort of... sits there. Its sails are limp, its deck empty.
[19:08] * Scribbles_ breaks her interest in the mysterious ship long enough to remind herself of food. It's a sailing ship, it wouldn't go anywhere too quickly.
[19:12] <~Headlong> There's plenty of food downstairs. Those who heard the foghorn before can  hear it once more.
[19:14] * Giddy is blissfully unaware of the foghorning!
[19:14] * Scribbles_ tracks down a cup of coffee, a plate of toast with jelly, and a Kopesh to sit next to.
[19:16] * Pantzar ([email protected]) Quit ( Quit: Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot. )
[19:16] * Kopesh sits with her, happily sampling everything and getting more of his favorites.
[19:17] * Wishing_Well quietly enjoys his food, occasionally going to get more of something.
[19:17] <~Headlong> Barnsbee himself partakes in the eating, before excusing himself. Around the same time, the wind picks up outside. A tree branch prods at the window by the kitchen.
[19:18] * Giddy 's ear flicks up. "Hey, so. What's on the to-do list?"
[19:27] <Kopesh> "Weren't we going to the antique show?"
[19:27] * Scribbles_ nods. "Sounds like a plan to me."
[19:28] * Giddy ducked his head. He'd honestly forgotten. He thought the to-do was "Go home". "Right. Let's get on our way, then. The food was good." He noted, getting up after some hesitation and starting to walk out the door after belting the coffee. Blech, should've waited a little longer.
[19:31] * Wishing_Well polishes off the last bit of food he had taken, nodding. "I believe we were!" he says cheerfully.
[19:31] * Kopesh shrugs and gets up, ready to leave.
[19:32] * Giddy starts heading off to the antique road show.
[19:32] * Scribbles_ downs her coffee and gets up, taking her last bit of toast for the road.
[19:33] * Wishing_Well trots off with the rest of the group, making sure a certain member of the party was tagging along before he leaves.
[19:34] <~Headlong> Giddy finds empty streets outside the Bathhouse. The fog is encroaching on the square, now. As they make their way to the convention hall, the fog rolls in, thicker than before.
[19:34] * Giddy whimpers. Shit.
[19:36] * Scribbles_ looks around the town, bit of toast in her mouth, as they walk.
[19:37] * Kopesh looks around to see if ponies start disappearing... assuming he can see far enough through the fog. Still this place is rather pleasant.
[19:38] * Wishing_Well trots along in the back of the group, looking around himself with a grin. He hadn't really walked around when it was foggy much before...
[19:39] <~Headlong> Kopesh and Scribbles_ find much of their view distorted by the fog. Even though it's just water vapor, it seems to almost bend the afternoon light, distorting the world around them. They are, however, able to find the convention hall. "Equestrian Antique Roadshow, Today 10:30am" a sign out front says.
[19:46] * Kopesh looks to see if they can enter yet.
[19:47] <~Headlong> The doors to the convention center appear unlocked, and the lights are on inside.
[19:47] * Kopesh heads on in.
[19:48] * Giddy enters the building!
[19:50] * Scribbles_ follows the stallions into the building.
[19:52] <~Headlong> Inside the sizeable hall are rows and rows of tables, piled high with old antiques. Clocks, chests, bowls, plates, candlesticks, lamps, furniture, radios, jewlery. 20,000 square feet of them.
[19:53] * Wishing_Well stands outside the doors for a moment, before shrugging and trotting in... And smiling even wider then usual at rows and rows of tables of antique /stuff/.
[19:55] <~Headlong> What the party doesn't see, however, are ponies. There's not a single expo worker, antiquer, or seller anywhere around. The stage for live music is empty, the staging area for TV filming, cameras rolling, is just as void.
[19:55] * Scribbles_ looks around at the many antiques, "Wow.. It's like a rip in time.."
[19:56] * Kopesh feels odd, looking around. It looks to have heppened again.
[19:56] * Giddy narrows his vision. God damnit, it was going to be one of these days. "... Urgh. Fan out. Start messing with the antiques to see if any oddities with them. Then we figure out what the hell."
[19:59] * Redshift ([email protected]) has joined #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[20:04] * Wishing_Well nods. "Maybe we should try and spread out in groups... Though I would like to look at some of this stuff." he says, looking around.
[20:06] <Kopesh> "Probably a good idea." He looks at the antiques, but isn't sure he wants to start messing with them."
[20:06] <Kopesh> (Axe that last quote.)
[20:06] * Scribbles_ sticks with Kopesh, it worked last time, it'll work this time.
[20:06] * Redshift just watches the others quietly. "Y'know what? I'm done waiting." He sits up. "I'm gonna try and take a look for myself. Don't wait for me." Waving a dismissive hoof at those last words, he turns tail and walks off to look around the hotel for himself!
[20:08] <Redshift> *around the antique show for himself!
[20:10] * Wishing_Well watches Redshift trot off. "I suppose one of us I should follow him." he says, chuckling.
[20:13] * Giddy does a bit of wandering about, slow and contemplative, looking over the antiques for anything... Well. Out of place.
[20:13] * Kopesh hmms. "It's strange the idea that ponies could be all around us, but we can't see them. I wonder if they can see us. Assuming that's the case of course."
[20:14] <~Headlong> There's a lot of antiques here. Most are in superb condition, and obviously well-maintained. If some anomalous artifact wanted to hide, this place would certainly be the place to do it.
[20:21] <~Headlong> However, none of them seem escpecially... /anomalous/. Kopesh is almost certain some of these suits of armor are fakes.
[20:22] * Redshift whistles to himself, not finding anything of particular interest. Geez, this was boring stuff. Was there anything he might be interested in, perhaps?
[20:23] <~Headlong> Redshift did notice several antique radios on a shelf near the TV spot. Maybe he could head over there.
[20:23] * Kopesh shakes his head at the armors. "Nice scam they have going."
[20:23] * Wishing_Well picks a direction and just kind of... Wanders about, figuring he'll bump into the others eventually. Who knows, maybe he'd find something of interest.
[20:24] * Redshift does head over there! He takes a look at the radios!
[20:25] * Scribbles_ looks up at Kopesh momentarally before looking back at the various antiques.
[20:25] <~Headlong> The old things have obviously been restored to remain functional, but some of them seem to predate the War. Redshift can almost hear the swinging tunes that once played through this speaker.
[20:28] * Giddy quickly turns bored when there's nothing around that he really cares about. Wasn't there a car that was supposed to be here? He checked for it.
[20:29] <~Headlong> In fact... Red does hear something in the speaker. But it's not smooth parlor jazz. It's talking. Hushed, muffled, staticy talking.
[20:31] * Redshift frowns, blinking his eyes once, as he leans in closer to try and hear the voice.
[20:33] <~Headlong> "...No." A voice, heavily accented, mutters. "They don't know we're here. We are keen to keep that way. They don't recognize decoys, and boat is still in harbor..."
[20:33] <~Headlong> Giddy finds a sign that says "Car Auction, 2pm." on it, and a sign pointing to a curtained off quadrant of the expo center.
[20:35] * Redshift blinks, putting together everything he knows about the foundation and what he has heard...he keeps listening, as he looks at the radio. What frequency is the radio reading?
[20:36] * Scribbles_ keeps looking around the antique show, occasionally poking her nose towards anything particually shiny or book-like.
[20:37] <~Headlong> It's old timey readout says "250m".
[20:37] * Wishing_Well keeps wandering around. If there are any paintings, that's where he's likely looking, either that or stuff from the war.
[20:37] * Redshift keeps listening for now...
[20:38] <~Headlong> "Da... But... do you think they won't notice?" a different voice asks. A mare interrupts him. "Equestrians are clueless... Minds clouded with peace."
[20:39] * Redshift keeps listening. Keeps. Listening. He's going to have a good long talk on the mission phone after this.
[20:41] <~Headlong> "Da, da... Should we go?" The stallion from before answers with an affirmative, and the radio clicks off after someone barks "Pull Celestia out of harbor! We're done here!"
[20:42] * Redshift looks about with alarm. Who said that?! He looks about, ready to give chase if necessary.
[20:44] <~Headlong> Red just sees antiques. Lots and lots of antiques.
[20:46] * Redshift frowns. Trying to appear inconspicuous, he tries to find his way back to the others. Who had the mission phone?
[20:47] * Wishing_Well idly trots through, looking at any paintings. He muses that it'd be amusing if a painting did the old "eyes following a passer-by" gag, but figured that would be silly.
[20:48] <~Headlong> Wishing_Well passes by an original Van Goat, but the painter's eyes in his self portrait, unfortunately, do not follow him as he trots by.
[20:48] * Scribbles_ keeps looking around while she walks with Kopesh.
[20:53] * Redshift tries to find whoever had the mission phone! C'mon, he didn't have all day!
[20:56] * Wishing_Well chuckles, shaking his head and trotting on. Maybe the antique show had some of those lifelike dolls. He remembers having a cousin who put on shows for foals, having his dolls walk around and act alive...
[20:58] * Giddy looks at the Car Auction sign and decides, yes, this is what's happening.
[20:59] <~Headlong> Behind the curtains, Giddy spots a rather large shipping crate. Scribbles_ hears a familiar noise, as well, the chime of a bell. Twice, this time.
[21:01] * Redshift is looking for Kopesh! He was the one who had the phone last, right?
[21:03] * Kopesh is somewhere in the area looking at the various things.
[21:03] * Giddy looks over the crate and whistles loudly. What was this thing?
[21:03] * Redshift trots over to Kopesh, speaking in a hushed voice. "Oi. You. Mission phone. Gimme. I think we're being watched."
[21:04] <Kopesh> "How do you know that?"
[21:05] <~Headlong> If the large padlock on the door and the Rolls Royal trademarks on the side are any indication to Giddy, this is where the car was being held.
[21:06] * Giddy bites his lip. Urge to test drive rising.
[21:06] <~Headlong> The bell chimes once again in Scribbles_' ears.
[21:07] * Redshift gives Kopesh a sharp look, speaking quietly. "One of those old radios back there caught some sort of transmission. Talking about how nopony knew they were there. They were talking about our boat in the harbor. Now just gimme the phone."
[21:07] * Scribbles_ looks around for that bell, wondering what it could possibly be.
[21:08] * Kopesh nods and pulls it out. "Make it count. We only get on free one."
[21:10] * Redshift nods, taking the phone as he tries to find a good spot from which to make the call. Could he find one?
[21:11] <~Headlong> Redshift has no way of actually knowing if he has service or not. Mobile phone technology is really an emerging technology. The best he can do is just make the call.
[21:11] * Redshift meant a secluded spot to make the call where he could try and call without being seen or heard.
[21:13] * Scribbles_ blinks and looks up at Kopesh. "Are you hearing a bell of some kind?"
[21:13] <~Headlong> Redshift is in a completely empty room surrounded by large, obstructing pieces of furniture.
[21:15] * Redshift nods. Best bet was probably that Headlong fellow. He dials that number and makes the call.
[21:15] * Headlong dutifully answers the phone on the second ring. "Headlong's office."
[21:16] * Wishing_Well just... Continues to wander around. If there were antique dolls in the show, well... He figured he'd try and see if there were any he recognized. Maybe he'd take a closer look at that exhibit of zebra trinkets next!
[21:17] <~Headlong> Wishing_Well comes across a collection of Matryoshka Dolls, genuine ones at that, straight from Stalliongrad. A war-time piece, no doubt, it bears the Equestrian flag on the outermost doll.
[21:18] * Redshift answers Headlong's voice. "Hello. This is Redshift with the Dullahans in Barn Harbor. I think we're being spied on."
[21:18] * Kopesh follows Redshift to listen to the call.
[21:19] * Headlong 's tone is somewhat unenthused. "Spied on? Nopony knows that you're there. Nopony could. Are you sure?"
[21:21] * Redshift manages to keep a straight face. "Absolutely. I caught snippets of a transmission filtering through an old radio set. Some voices were talking about our ship in the harbor. Something about decoys and how Equestrians are too preoccupied with peace to see things coming. And some random bit about pulling Celestia out of the harbor."
[21:23] * Headlong sounds a little less enthused. "It mentioned your ship, by name? It mentioned Celestia by name?" There's rampant page turning. "And you heard this through a radio at the antique show..."
[21:24] * Redshift speaks to Headlong. "Yeah. The frequency was set to somewhere around 250m." He taps a hoof impatiently on the ground. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but you gotta look into it. Something doesn't feel right about this place."
[21:24] * Wishing_Well chuckles. He remembers seeing some of these at his cousin's workshop back at... Oh, which city was it... Well, no matter. He remembers that his cousin had collected a similar set before, albeit one from a more recent time. Trotting further, he continues wandering about. Maybe he'd stumble into something strange! "Hmmm, probably not."
[21:25] * Scribbles_ followed Kopesh, continuing to stick with him. "Wait. Redshift, did anything stand out when you listened to the radio?" She asks, fishing for details.
[21:25] * Headlong sounds dubious now. "About Barn Harbor? We've been operating there for years, Mr. Shift. I can assure you that there's nothing 'wrong' about it."
[21:27] * Redshift growls, not a particularly patient kid. "Listen, I don't care about you assuring me. I heard what I heard, and it definitely mentioned a ship in the harbor, and something about pulling Celestia out of the harbor, and about how Equestrians like peace too much. I /know/ I heard it. Can't you at least check it out?"
[21:29] * Scribbles_ scratched her chen at the mention of Equestrians in the conversation, sparking curiosity. "Redshift. When you heard these voices, did anything stand out? A slur, a lisp, an accent?"
[21:29] <Scribbles_> *chin
[21:30] * Redshift looks up to Scribbles_. "Yeah. They spoke with accents. They didn't sound very Equestrian, I know that." He continues to speak into the phone so that Headlong can hear that detail.
[21:30] <~Headlong> Headlong closes whatever book she was leafing through. "Perhaps we're not clear on what it is your team is actually there to do, then. I can provide you as much information as I can, but there shouldn't be any anomalous radios, or any sort of 'spying' in Barn Harbor. It's a Foundation sanctuary..." She hmmms. "Not very Equestrian..."
[21:31] * Scribbles_ scratches her cheek this time, she feels like she's getting somewhere. "Any words you didn't reconize? Anypony speak in an odd lanquage?
[21:32] <~Headlong> The bell chimes a final time, loud enough so that everypony can hear it. As it chimes, there's a fierce gust of wind as the fog blanketing the town disappears. Where there were no ponies, soon, they fade into existance, milling about their ordinary lives as though they've always been there. None of them stop to talk to the Dullahans, however.
[21:32] <Redshift> "Not at /all/ Equestrian, lady. But you haven't said what you're gonna do about it. /Are/ you gonna do about it?" He turns to Scribbles_, about to answer her query, before he just freezes, mouth gaping at the sudden phenomenon...what the hell?
[21:34] * Scribbles_ looks around at the apperance of the ponies, "I'm thinking.. That's a normal thing around here.. And somepony's taking advantage to get a good eye on us, if Redshift is right about this spying thing." She hypothisyses.
[21:34] <~Headlong> Headlong frowns. "What do you /want/ me to do? I can't allocate Task Forces at this time, I'm afraid. You'll have to sort this mess out on your own."
[21:35] * Giddy blink blinks. Shit. He heard ponies! He started running back to the lobby before he got in trouble.
[21:36] <~Headlong> As Giddy dashes out of the curtained off area, he uncerimoniously bumps into a poshly-dressed stallion. "Gah!" The stately buck says, falling on to his back.
[21:38] * Redshift huffs into the phone, not able to see if Headlong is frowning or not. "Well, then tell us what we should do! Sheesh, what kind of intelligence operation is this?"
[21:38] * Giddy almost loses his balance. He almost spilled out a rather large amount of profanity, but that would require articulation. He picked up the stallion. "Shit, sorry, sir. Gotta..." He shook his head. Fine. He attempted to help the pony out.
[21:38] * Wishing_Well doesn't seem to actually notice that the fog has lifted, or that ponies are outside now, and continues trotting around.
[21:39] * Scribbles_ keeps thinking about the situation, mulling the possibilities around in her head.
[21:39] <~Headlong> Wishing_Well finds himself in the Trunk section. A salespony with a smile even wider than his waves him over. "Hey there!"
[21:40] <~Headlong> The stallion dusts himself off. "Right, right... That's quite all right, young man. But you dock-workers really should be more careful..."
[21:41] * Wishing_Well blinks, looking around. "Odd, I didn't see you here earlier." he says, tilting his head and matching the stallion's smile and trotting over. "Well hello, you've got some fine trunks."
[21:41] * Headlong sounds like she's frowning. "You /are/ our advance scouts, Mr. Shift. If I were you, I'd fan out and search all the places that /you/ would stage any sort of spying operation."
[21:42] <Redshift> "Yeah, thanks. Fat lot of good that is, but thanks."
[21:43] * Giddy does not seem amused by this. He's Giddy goddamned up! Does he look like he's a dock worker in this jacket? But it was his only chance of not getting chewed out. "Yeah, sorry. I'm... Guessing this is your car?" He looked back.
[21:44] * Headlong takes a deep breath. "I'll get you all the information we have on 'Celestia'. Which, quite frankly, is a lot. I'll call you if anything develops."
[21:45] * Kopesh smiles a little. The kid giving her the same kind of grief he does is a little amusing.
[21:45] <~Headlong> The stallion adjusts his ascot. "Yes it is. Well, my /father's/. Perhaps you've heard of him? Plum Drop? /The/ premier automotive writer? The /producer/ of Gear Shift?"
[21:47] * Redshift sighs. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks. Seeya." He says nothing more, but waits for the line to disconnect instead of hanging up himself.
[21:48] * Giddy tries not to geek out. He's half-successful! "Yeah! I-I know him." He was grateful that apparently, this pony wasn't into as into motor sports as his dad.
[21:50] <~Headlong> The stallion introduces himself. "Plum Pudding... I prefer planes myself... Fascinating things, they are, aren't they?" He muses.
[21:51] <~Headlong> Redshift hears Headlong sigh softly and request the 'Celestia' reference folder before the phone clicks off.
[21:51] * Kopesh takes the phone back and puts it away.
[21:51] * Scribbles_ looks at Redshift hanging up. "What did she say?"
[21:52] * Redshift hoofs the phone back to Kopesh with a grumbe as he heads outside. Weird stuff or not, he didn't like being brushed aside like that. To Scribbles_, he sighs. "That she'd call us back if she had any new info." He looks outside. "I'm gonna go check something out." Without another word, he dashes off to the harbor.
[21:53] * Scribbles_ blinks twice, watching Redshift run off. "But.. We should stick together.. Power in.. Numbers.." She trails off, sighing.
[21:54] * Redshift isn't dumb, though. Whatever's happening, he's doing his best to be realtively sneakyweaky.
[21:54] * Kopesh follows after Redshift. "He knows something. May as well humor him. He is a member of this unit."
[21:56] * Scribbles_ nods, looking around the antiques. "I'll find the rest, should let them know about this."
[21:58] * Kyrria ([email protected]) has joined #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[21:59] * Kyrria ([email protected]) has left #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[22:01] * Redshift trottrottrots to the harbor.
[22:02] <~Headlong> Redshift spots the Tide Hauler, and all four members of its crew, The Bigger Boat, relaxing on the aft deck. Other than that, he doesn't recognize any of the other vessels.
[22:03] * Redshift trots along to take a look at the other boats.
[22:03] * Giddy ponders. "Sure, what do you fly?"
[22:05] <~Headlong> Plum Pudding hmmms. "Several... I have the obvious two-seater Sesnas... A bi-plane... A Hawker..." He looks up in concentration.
[22:06] * Scribbles_ trots around the antique show, looking for Wishing_Well and Giddy
[22:06] * Kopesh keeps following Redshift.
[22:06] <~Headlong> Redshift spies a number of totally innocuous looking private boats. There are a few fishing boats, a few more sail boats, and a yacht. Kopesh also sees these!
[22:07] <Kopesh> "So, Redshift, what do you have in mind?"
[22:07] * Wishing_Well is talking with an antique trunk-peddling pony, though so far he's not having much luck in the "talking with" part.
[22:07] * Giddy raises his eyebrow. "You ever fly one of those Prench fighter planes?"
[22:09] <~Headlong> The salespony grins a wide grin. "Ah couldn't help but notice you admirin' these fiiiiine trunks! Ever seen craftsponyship so detailed?" He asks, motioning to a trunk at his hooves.
[22:10] * Redshift turns back to Kopesh and shrugs. "Not a clue." He looks around. Was there somepony overseeing the dock?
[22:10] <~Headlong> Plum Pudding hmmms. "I've seen quite a few... Never did like the way they handled... Too... /jittery/."
[22:10] <~Headlong> Redshift doesn't see a pony, per say, but he does identify the Harbor Master's office. Its not too far from the Tide Hauler.
[22:11] * Redshift hmms, as he trots over to the Harbor Master's office quickly and opens the door!
[22:11] * Kopesh sighs and follows along.
[22:11] * Scribbles_ keeps her head down as she cuts through the displays and patrons, keeping her eyes open for her stay companions.
[22:12] * Giddy smirks. "Yeah, I got to fly one of the earlier war models a time back. Those things have controls so fiddly, it felt like something straight from Tartarus' lost and found."
[22:13] <~Headlong> The Harbor Master, a soft white buck in a blue uniform and cap, is asleep in his chair, "The Sailor's Alminac" tented on his chest.
[22:13] * Redshift clears his throat loudly. "Ah-HEM!"
[22:13] * Wishing_Well looks at the trunks, chuckling. "I've not examined such well crafted trunks before, but I have a cousin who makes dolls for a living, so I've seen high-quality worksponyship before." he says, nodding. "What can you tell me about them, if I might inquire so?"
[22:17] <~Headlong> The salespony scratches his chin. "Dolls, oh my. That's some serious work put into those, huh? Well, this here is straight from Coltafornia's Redwood forest. Amazing quality. We didn't even need ta finish it, it looked so good when it came off the saw."
[22:17] <~Headlong> The Harbor Master lazily opens an eye. "Eh... What's up?"
[22:19] * Redshift rolls his eyes at the Harbor Master. "Wake up, pal. I gotta ask you something important."
[22:19] * Wishing_Well nods, giving a surprised look without dropping his playful grin. "Ohhh, is that so~?" he says, leaning down to look at one of the trunks. "A fine eye for materials, and a good hoof with the saw makes the difference I suppose?"
[22:21] <~Headlong> The Harbor Master frowns a little and sets down his "Alminac". "Sure, I guess. Lay it on me." He says, stifling a yawn.
[22:21] * Scribbles_ finally spots Wishing_Well, trotting over to him and giving the salespony he's talking to a smile. "Can you give the two of us a second?"
[22:21] * Redshift points a hoof outside. "Those boats out there. Aside from the Tide Hauler, any one of them come in recently?"
[22:21] <~Headlong> The salesbuck nods happily. "Of course, ma'am. I must say, your friend knows quite a bit about woodworking! Come back and buy one, will you?"
[22:22] <~Headlong> The Harbor Master reaches for the dock logs, then pauses. "These aren't exactly public access. You with the cops? You look a little young to be a cop."
[22:24] <Redshift> "I'm with the Foundation. Do me a huge favor and just let me see."
[22:24] * Wishing_Well glances over to Scribbles_, tilting his head with a smile. "What seems to be the matter?" he asks, turning to face her.
[22:25] <~Headlong> The Harbor Master snorts. "Yeesh. They're letting kids in now?" He says, sliding the logs over to Red. The most recent entry is the Tide Hauler, which docked about four minutes ago. Other than that, the Tide Haulers original landing is the last boat that's entered port in four days.
[22:26] * Redshift looks at the last boat to enter from four days past.
[22:26] * Scribbles_ gently pulls Wishing_Well away from the salespony. "Redshift says we're being spied on, he told Holdlong the details and seemed worried. Keep your eyes peeled for anything 'spy-ish'" She more or less whispers.
[22:26] * Kopesh waits for the findings. It's nice that everyone else gets to throw the Foundation's name around and not get yelled.
[22:27] <Kopesh> at*
[22:27] <~Headlong> A fishing boat, The Market Gardener, docked four days and seven hours ago. According to the logs, it's still here.
[22:28] * Wishing_Well closes his eyes and nods. "Hmm, hmm, of course..." he says, before looking at her with an amused grin. "Curious indeed."
[22:28] * Redshift looks at the log. Does the log indicate where the Market Gardener originally came from?
[22:29] * Scribbles_ blinks at Wishwing_Well before looking around. "You seen Giddy anywhere?"
[22:30] * Giddy clops his hooves. "I think it was the DeWot 500? 501?"
[22:31] * Giddy shakes his head. "Anyway. Flying the Kittyhawk was easier, anyway."
[22:31] <~Headlong> It's registered to San Luna, an island not too far from Burrmuda.
[22:31] <~Headlong> Plum Pudding nods. "It's nice to meet somepony who actually /knows/ planes. Everyone here is just... clocks and /chests/. Dreadful."
[22:31] * Scribbles_ blinks again. There was an old car around here, wasn't there. "Nevermind. Just be careful, alright?"
[22:32] * Redshift looks up at the Harbor Master. "Hey, buddy. You know this boat?" He points at the entry.
[22:33] <~Headlong> "Sure do, 'buddy'. I know all the boats around here. That thing came in couple days ago. Owner is a real sweetheart."
[22:34] <Redshift> "Who's that?"
[22:34] * Wishing_Well shrugs. "I'm always careful." he says, chuckling again, bumping Scribbles_'s shoulder with a hoof. "You too, though." he says, turning back to the trunk salespony.
[22:34] * Giddy pff's. "Please. I've raced everything." Maybe he said too much. Meh, screw it, he was having fun. "I've been really trying to get into one of those Neighponese fighter planes. I'm told those things can book it."
[22:34] <~Headlong> Harbor Master pony waves in the general direction of the town. "Candy Corn. Sweetest old mare I ever did meet. She brings her husband up here at the end of winter so they can watch the trees regrow their leaves. Sweet, huh?"
[22:35] * Scribbles_ trots off to find that car, and in turn, find Giddy.
[22:36] * Redshift nods dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. I'm crying." He sighs. "What about the rest of the year?"
[22:36] <~Headlong> Scribbles_ finds a similar sign to the one Giddy found earlier, pointing him in the right direction.
[22:36] <~Headlong> Harbor Master shrugs. "She lives down south, where it's warm, I guess."
[22:37] * Redshift shrugs, cross-checking the log. When was the last time the Market Gardener docked prior to four days before?
[22:38] * Scribbles_ follows the signs, looking out for Giddy.
[22:38] <~Headlong> Almost a year before that.
[22:39] * Redshift looks up to the Harbor Master. "What's the boat doing here in spring, then?"
[22:44] <~Headlong> The Harbor Master blinks a few times. "Watching the trees grow back..."
[22:46] * Redshift sighs. Right. He really should get some sleep. He doesn't think that won him any points with the Harbor Master...he sighs, looking back at the log. What about other ships?
[22:50] <~Headlong> Redshift comes to the realization that if a spy was going to perform illegal activities on a Foundation site, they probably wouldn't register their boat with Foundation employees.
[22:50] <~Headlong> Scribbles_ spies Giddy conversing with some poshly stallion.
[22:51] * Redshift does know that. A foreign shpee would not be stupid. But another thought does occur to him. How many boats were currently registered as being docked in the harbor? He looks outside. How many boats were there actually out there?
[22:53] * Scribbles_ trots up to Giddy, looking up at the pony he's talking to with a friendly smile. "Could you give us a minute?"
[22:54] <~Headlong> According to the log, there should be eleven ships out there. He counts... Eleven.
[22:54] <~Headlong> Plum Pudding nods. "I must be going anyway. Goodbye, sir. Ma'am."
[22:54] * Giddy nods. "Right, see ya." Scribbles now had his undivided attention.
[22:56] * Scribbles_ turns to Giddy. "Alright. Somepony might be spying on us. Redshift heard a conversation over one of the radios and called up Headlong, she got worried about it and told us to keep our eyes open for anything suspicious. Got it?" She explained, giving Giddy the jist of things."
[22:56] * Giddy sighs. "Got it. When are we leaving?"
[22:57] * Redshift looks up to the Harbor Master. "You sure these are the only boats out here?"
[22:58] * Scribbles_ shrugs. "These spies are on a boat, so I don't think leaving will do much good as sticking around.
[22:58] <~Headlong> "Almost one hundred percent." the Harbor Master replies.
[22:59] <Kopesh> "Isn't your job to be one hundred percent?"
[23:00] <~Headlong> The Harbor Master lids his eyes at Kopesh. "I am /one hundred/ percent certain."
[23:01] * Kopesh nods. "Thank you. We'll be going now and leave you be."
[23:02] * Wishing_Well finishes talking to the trunk salespony and trots off, looking to catch up with the rest of the crew.
[23:03] * Giddy starts heading towards the harbor. "Any chance you know if their boat is made of wood?"
[23:03] <~Headlong> The salespony is a little disappointed that Wishing_Well doesn't purchase a chest...
[23:03] * Scribbles_ follows Giddy. "No, I don't.. Wait, you saw a sailing ship too?"
[23:04] * Redshift sighs. "Alright." He shoves the log back at the Harbor Master. "Thanks. I might come back."
[23:04] * Giddy rose an eyebrow. "Wait, you did?"
[23:05] * Scribbles_ nods. "Just when I started coming down stairs, there was a foghorn and a few bells.
[23:05] * Kopesh heads outside. He waits for Redshift to come out too. "So, what exactly did you hear?"
[23:07] * Redshift looks more than a little peeved, sparing Kopesh only a glance. "You heard what I saw. Some transmission, a bunch of accented voices talking about Equestrians and a ship in the harbor, and something about pulling Celestia out of the harbor."
[23:08] <Kopesh> "Well, sounds like they've already left then. What frequency was it on? Do you rememeber?"
[23:10] <Redshift> "250m. I even told the lady on the phone."
[23:11] <~Headlong> The groups eventually meet outside the Harbor Master's office.
[23:12] * Headlong ([email protected]) Quit ( Connection closed )
[23:16] * SpencerDespenser|GM ([email protected]) has joined #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[23:16] * ChanServ sets mode +qo SpencerDespenser|GM SpencerDespenser|GM for #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[23:16] * SpencerDespenser|GM is now known as Headlong
[23:20] * Scribbles_ looks around at the group. "Well. Have we learned anything new?
[23:21] <Redshift> "That we have a jerk of a boss?"
[23:21] * Giddy blinks. "Well, shit. Let's go there."
[23:22] <Kopesh> "Just now learning that, Redshift?"
[23:22] <Redshift> "I'm new. So sue me."
[23:22] <Kopesh> "At least you learn quick."
[23:23] * Wishing_Well shrugs. "I think she's got plenty of character." he says, grinning.
[23:24] * Scribbles_ facehoofs, grumbling to herself.
[23:29] <~Headlong>  ̩͔̩͉̖P̴͇L̤̹̗͜A̶̟̻̟͍̘̠Y̙͉͚͞ͅḄ̬͇̰̜̠ͅA͙͖̙̼̥͖C̦͙͍̰̮̭̥Ķ͍ ̳̦̮C͕Ơ͎̥̱̳ͅR̢̻̤͉͖R̩̗̰̙̬ͅŲ͙̠̺̫̟̬ͅP̙̠̬̀TȨ̞̣ͅḐ͇