FoE PNP G-Platypus Session 26

[20:09] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  *****G-Platypus: The City of Broad Withers - Session 26*****
[20:09] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Enemy.
[20:10] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  In the wastes, there are those who will hate you.
[20:11] <Mister_Clacky|GM> Sometimes it is justified, sometimes it is not. It can be for jealousy or justice. But you will make enemies.
[20:11] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  But the silver lining is that your enemies most likely have enemies, and the old saying goes...
[20:12] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. Don't trust anypony!
[20:12] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  *****Session Start*****
[20:12] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil remains on the fourth floor with North_Star and the others while Scrap and Blackberry_Jam share a moment down below.
[20:13] * Blackberry_Jam leans against the door frame of the building, smoking. She's still smiling just a little, having finished a pleasant conversation with Scrap. "So."
[20:15] * Scrap still smiling. "Yes?"
[20:16] * Blackberry_Jam crosses her forehooves and tosses her cigarette aside. "Do -you- think we can pull it off?"
[20:16] * North_Star was busy looking over the grenade rifle that had exploded in somepony's hooves, checking to see if there is anything to salvage.
[20:16] * Scrap 's smile doesn't waver. "Of course."
[20:17] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The grenade rifle is beyond fixing (0%) but a mechanic might be able to scavenge a few bits of it to work on another rifle.
[20:18] * North_Star looked around, remembering there was a second rifle to work with around somewhere.
[20:18] * Blackberry_Jam looks up at the ceiling. "You notice anything... strange, about North Star? Like... has he been sleeping well, talking to himself, anything?"
[20:19] * Strawberry_Daiquiri look over the room for salvage
[20:20] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The second rifle was being used by the green mare, and teleported with her to her boom/doom.
[20:20] * Thunder_Strike is heading down towards Blackberry_Jam and Scrap
[20:20] * Scrap looking curious now. "Not that I've noticed. Why?"
[20:21] * North_Star sighed. "Hey, Greenhorn. Got something for ya." He said, waving Strawberry_Daiquiri over.
[20:21] * Blackberry_Jam sighs a little. "He seems... out of it. I'll talk to him when he gets down here... Any time today!" She says, raising her voice.
[20:21] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The room is pretty barren. They detonated the explosives they had planted during the battle.
[20:24] * Strawberry_Daiquiri trots over to North_Star and says "Watch ya got there?"
[20:24] * Snack_Cake glances up at Blackberry_Jam's voice. Well... now's as good a time as ever to get moving again. She's not looking forward to what's ahead, but there's no way she's leaving her friends to face it alone! She heads downstairs to Blackberry_Jam.
[20:25] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil decides to follow the peculiar, naive mare down. Her muted steps drifting down the stairwell.
[20:25] * Scrap not sure if he can help in anyway. "What do you think is his problem?"
[20:26] * North_Star passes the wrecked rifle to the filly. "Grenade rifle. See if you could salvage the barrel." He said, "Don't try to fire it, but I'm sure you can see why." After that, he gets to his hooves, "Come on, Jam's waiting, and I don't want to sit around for too long."
[20:30] * Strawberry_Daiquiri looks to see if there is any other salavge in this room. Then heads downstairs to meet up with Blackberry_Jam
[20:31] * North_Star takes the rear down the stairs, wiping some dust from his barding.
[20:31] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The stairwell is clear. There's nothing else of worth on the fourth floor. TIM rumbles down the stairs as well.
[20:34] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The group is soon assembled on the ground floor. TIM, lacking orders, scans the room.
[20:36] * Blackberry_Jam nods once everypony is assembled. She glances around at all of them, taking an extra pause at Toil.
[20:38] * Thunder_Strike walks into BJ not watching where she was going.
[20:38] * Blackberry_Jam stops Thunder_Strike by putting a hoof on her forehead. "Featherduster. You in there?"
[20:40] * North_Star walks in, looking up at Blackberry_Jam. "We hittin' the road, Doc?"
[20:42] * Blackberry_Jam pushes the clearly confused pegasus away from her. "Yeah, we are." She says. "Scrap, take Snack to the front so she can point us in the right direction. North and I need to talk.
[20:42] <~Blackberry_Jam> ...Again."
[20:43] * North_Star contains a sigh, but resigns to Blackberry's desicion.
[20:43] * Thunder_Strike shakes her head. "Huh? Oh.. Yeah." She says coming back to reality
[20:44] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  TIM shuts down as you prepare to leave.
[20:44] <Scrap> "Ok." He looks around for Snack_Cake.
[20:45] * Blackberry_Jam wonders just what the hell is wrong with everypony today? She heads out the door, eager to get this goddessdamn show on the road.
[20:45] * North_Star follows Blackberry_Jam, wondering what it is this time.
[20:47] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil follows behind at a respectable distance, near enough to hear the group.
[20:47] * Snack_Cake is right here. She can hear Blackberry_Jam just fine. She checks her map and follows Blackberry_Jam outside.
[20:47] * Blackberry_Jam waits for the walking order to be established, with her and North bringing up the rear.
[20:49] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil walks off to the right, pointedly avoiding looking at the large crater nearby.
[20:52] * Thunder_Strike watches toil as she follows Blackberry_Jam
[20:52] * Scrap follows Snack_Cake since she seems to know what she needs to do.
[20:53] * North_Star waits for Blackberry_Jam to start talking.
[20:53] * Blackberry_Jam turns to the side to look North_Star over as they walk. "So, you probably know what I'm going to say, don't you?"
[20:54] * North_Star looks over at Blackberry_Jam. "Is this about the explosives or Toil?"
[20:54] * Snack_Cake leads the group toward the right direction.
[20:55] * Blackberry_Jam lights a cigarette midstep. "It's about everything." She says. With a roll of her shoulders, she looks him in the eye and delivers a firm slap to the side of his face.
[20:56] * North_Star rubs the side of his face, his tounge checking to see if all his teeth are in place.
[20:57] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slaughterhouse is still several days journey on hoof without faster transportation.
[20:57] * Blackberry_Jam narrows her eyes. "Listen, North, something is wrong with you. If it's your alcoholism, then there's an easy fix for that, but if it's something else, you need to tell me, and you need to tell me -right now-, before you do something that gets us all killed."
[21:01] * North_Star sighs, "Maybe this will help. One time, I had to dig through Doc's office. For evidence." He clarified. "He kept a file on me, and I figured that since it was about me, it wouldn't hurt none to look through it. It was mostly nothing a good look at my scrapes and scars couldn't tell, but there was one thing I never asked him about. 'Shows signs of Atychiphobia.'" He looked up at Blackberry_Jam. "That any help?"
[21:02] * Blackberry_Jam she looks ahead at the ponies in front and gives a slight nod. "Yes, I suppose... but for somepony afraid of failing, you sure have no qualms about... well..."
[21:03] * North_Star rubs his head. "Afraid of failing... That, actually explains plenty. For me, that is."
[21:04] * Thunder_Strike opens her wings and flus up to Snack_Cake. "H..how you feeling?"
[21:04] * Blackberry_Jam rubs her neck. "I'm not convinced. If you were afraid of failing, you wouldn't be as much of a moron."
[21:06] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil drifts closer to Snack_Cake, subtly looking her over and taking her measure.
[21:06] * North_Star checks on Toil in the distance. "Well, ever since I was a colt, everypony said I wasn't afraid of anything, to be honest, I was. I just covered it by getting mad at it. It worked for bullies, my step-father, and the small-ish sized critter. Suppose failure don't scare easily, huh?"
[21:09] * Snack_Cake glances toward Thunder_Strike. "I've been better, Thunder... but I can manage. I could use a couple of years to rest and cope... but I can manage."
[21:09] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil mumbles, "No wonder you get tired, walking everywhere..."
[21:10] * Thunder_Strike "good. Your starting to sound more like a wasteland we than a stable pony." She says gently hugging her.
[21:10] * Blackberry_Jam frowns slightly. "You can't intimidate failure. You can't see it, you can't touch it. You only feel it. And, if you keep doing what you're doing, you're going to feel it -hard-."
[21:11] * North_Star looks over at Blackberry_Jam, "Thanks for feeding my fears, Jam." He said in a half-jokingly tone. "There's something else I think you might want to know."
[21:12] * Snack_Cake gives a little bit of a sigh. "I don't know if I like that idea..."
[21:12] * Blackberry_Jam rolls her eyes. "This isn't funny, North. You're going to get yourself, or one of us, killed."
[21:15] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil looks around, spying Scrap nearby. Two pegasi... quite a score if they weren't her defacto allies.
[21:15] * North_Star sighs again. "That brings me to my next point. After I'd lost Scratch, I'm sure you can imagine I was depressed. Felt pretty useless, like all I'm good for is a gun and a knife, like ponies would be better off if I weren't around to let them down..."
[21:16] * Blackberry_Jam continues to listen.
[21:16] <North_Star> "At that point, I had a gun, I had nothing to lose." He looks up at Blackberry_Jam, "I was mulling it over when you guys showed up at that graveyard."
[21:17] * Thunder_Strike boops Snack_Cake. "I know you don't, but once you start thinking like a wastelander. You have a better chance of surviving."
[21:18] * Blackberry_Jam turns to look him in the eye. "You were going to kill yourself, and you stopped because we gave you a reason to live. Is that right?"
[21:19] * Snack_Cake gives a slight nod. "I know... I just... don't feel like I could ever get that used to it."
[21:19] * North_Star nods. "Nail on the head. Suppose that'll explain why I'm so careless with myself." He paused. "And why I almost lost it when I saw what I did to Featherduster."
[21:24] * Thunder_Strike "lots of ponies thought the same." She says sighing. Then hugs her again.
[21:24] * Blackberry_Jam 's expression changes from intrigue to concern. "Your fear of failure is overridden by guilt, isn't it? Otherwise, you'd do -anything- to keep yourself alive."
[21:25] * Snack_Cake is glad for Thunder_Strike's comfort. "Thanks..."
[21:25] * Thunder_Strike "you're welcome Snacky." She says then lands beside her.
[21:25] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil snorts nearby. "You all are the softest bunch of tenderhooves I've ever met..."
[21:26] * North_Star nods once more. "Sounds about right to me."
[21:26] * Blackberry_Jam growls at Toil. "Come over here and say that..." She shakes her head. "Sorry. Know how I know that, North?"
[21:27] * North_Star scratches his head. "You've read it in a book?"
[21:28] * Blackberry_Jam shakes her head. "No. I've seen dozens of ponies just like you." She points to Scrap who is somewhere up front. Then, she points to herself.
[21:29] * Scrap has taken flight by now to let the others talk unbothered.
[21:29] * North_Star blink blinks, finding that a little hard to believe on Berry's part.
[21:31] * Blackberry_Jam puffs a ring of smoke in the air. "Fact of the matter is, not too many ponies -aren't- afraid of failure. Even less aren't guilty of something. It's all about coming to terms with your grief... and, as daunting as that sounds, it is possible."
[21:31] * North_Star takes all of that in for a moment before looking up at Blackberry_Jam. "Alright, Doc. Anymore advice?"
[21:33] <~Blackberry_Jam> "Got any moonshine on you?
[21:33] <~Blackberry_Jam> "
[21:34] <North_Star> "No. I don't. "He says, clearly dissapointed by that fact.
[21:34] <~Blackberry_Jam> "Whiskey?"
[21:34] <North_Star> "I'm as dry as Timberwolf skin, right now."
[21:35] * Blackberry_Jam smirks. "Best keep it that way. You buy any more alcohol, and I'll pour it right out."
[21:36] * North_Star sighs. "If anyother pony said that, I'd tell 'em that they would have to the get bottle out of their plot first. But..." He looks up at Blackberry_Jam, "Since you're both a doctor, and the closest thing to Caravan Leader we have, I suppose I've got to listen to you."
[21:36] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil pulls a flask from her pack and hammers it home. The high proof booze warming her deliciously from the inside out.
[21:37] <North_Star> "I won't like it one bit, but I suppose it's for the best."
[21:37] * Blackberry_Jam adjusts her beret a little. "I don't know if you know this, but alcohol makes ponies make -very- poor decisions. It is -absolutely- for the best."
[21:38] * North_Star nods. "Doctor's orders, I guess. Anything else?"
[21:39] * Blackberry_Jam gives him a faint, hopeful smile. "You stay alive, for me, if nopony else."
[21:40] * North_Star looks over at Blackberry_Jam before shaking his head with a smile. "Doctor's orders."
[21:40] <~Blackberry_Jam> "Doctor's orders."
[21:41] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil offers her flask to Snack_Cake, since she did give her that pastry.
[21:41] * North_Star nods, "I've lived this long, might as well see how far we can go." He looks up at the head of the group. "Now, about Toil..."
[21:42] * Snack_Cake gives it a curious look. "What... it is?"
[21:42] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Warming little brew. Good for you, make you tough."
[21:42] * Blackberry_Jam 's smile quickly fades. "Yeah, about her."
[21:43] * Thunder_Strike slows down a bit. And walks beside Blackberry_Jam
[21:43] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil levitates the flask of Buck-Hardy 151 in front of Snack_Cake.
[21:44] * North_Star sighs. "She wants Hack dead as much as you or I right now, I know she's tried to kill us before, and I understand that. If she starts any trouble, I'll end it before she can blink. If you have anything to say, please say it now so we don't have to deal with it later."
[21:46] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil gives a disarming smile. "You shared with me, I'm sharing with you. Friendly like."
[21:47] * Snack_Cake is a little hesitant, but decides to give it a shot. She grabs the flask in her teeth and tips it up. Bottoms up?
[21:47] * Blackberry_Jam puts on her blunt cap. "I don't like her. I don't trust her. And... she's about to give Snack something in a flask. It seems that all of you only like to take my advice half of the time."
[21:49] * North_Star looks up to the front. "Oh brother. I'll go up and draw the proverbial line, anything else you wanna talk about?"
[21:49] * Thunder_Strike she's drinking it herself. It's probably just whiskey. I'm kinda trusting her cause I know what she's been through."
[21:49] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  It's warming, in a burning-holy-shit-that's-strong! kinda way. It heats /all/ the way down.
[21:52] * Blackberry_Jam is already trotting up there. She doesn't seem to happy about that. "Yeah. You're all idiots." She mutters.
[21:52] * Snack_Cake was not expecting that. She starts coughing a bit. She drops the flask almost immediately.
[21:53] * North_Star follows Blackberry_Jam. "Nice to see somethings never change," He noted, picking up the flask.
[21:54] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Blood red magic catches it on the way down, not spilling a drop of the precious fuel.
[21:54] * Blackberry_Jam steps between Toil and Snack_Cake, looking at the stable pony. "Snack? Oh Luna... what the hell did you give her?"
[21:54] * Snack_Cake takes a few deep breaths, giving a little shake of her head. "...Wow. Oh wow."
[21:55] * Scrap looks down, hearing the commotion.
[21:55] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Of course shared with Thunder_Strike too. Sharing is what friends do! Hurray friendship!
[21:56] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Just a little drink, for the cake. Share and share alike?"
[21:56] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil points to Snack_Cake. "And she likes it. Want another?"
[21:56] * Blackberry_Jam turns and pokes Toil in the chest. "What was it? Rum? Vodka? Rubbing Alcohol?"
[21:57] * Thunder_Strike looks at the flask. "No thanks. I'm not old enough."
[21:57] * Blackberry_Jam rolls her eyes. "Neither of you are old enough..."
[21:58] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil frowns, not fond of the poking. "A little Buck-Hardy is all."
[21:58] * Thunder_Strike sticks her tongue out at Blackberry_Jam.
[21:59] * Snack_Cake relaxes a bit. "I just... wasn't expecting it to be so strong."
[22:00] * Blackberry_Jam glares. "Wonderful. Just... wonderful."
[22:00] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil smiles. "See, she's a champ!" The flask floats back down the Snack_Cake.
[22:01] * Thunder_Strike "blackberry, relax a bit." She says shaking her head.
[22:02] * Blackberry_Jam turns to say something to Thunder_Strike, but hesitates. "I -just- talked to North about his alcoholism. The last thing we need is -more- of you getting wasted!"
[22:02] * North_Star pushes the flask back to Toil with a hoof. "Toil, could we have a word, off to the side? Just for a moment."
[22:03] * Scrap looks down, remembering all the times his master told him not to drink and why.
[22:03] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The flask disappears in a flash of magic. "Certainly." Snack_Cake's saddlebag is suddenly heavier but about a flask's worth.
[22:04] * Blackberry_Jam continues to glare. "Oh no, you give that flask to me. Now."
[22:05] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil levitates a flask from her pack, after tilting it back a bit she offers it to Blackberry_Jam. "Fine, now I have to have a talk with the stallion."
[22:06] * Thunder_Strike sighs and just flys up to check on Scrap
[22:06] * North_Star leads Toil away from the group, "I'm not sure if you noticed, but you're not exactly in a good standing with most of the group right now."
[22:07] * Blackberry_Jam upends it, pouring it on to the ground a good distance from the core of the group. She'd always prefered Appleton, anyway.
[22:07] <Scrap> "Hey, Thunder_Strike."
[22:09] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "I'm /trying/ to play nice! And take the edge off..." She pulls another flask from her pack, taking a pull. "How about it while the harpy isn't looking?"
[22:09] * North_Star shakes his head. "Can't, doctor's orders." He said, "And that 'harpy' is the head of this little caravan."
[22:11] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "More for me then." She takes another pull with a grin.
[22:12] * North_Star eyes the flask. "Look, maybe it's best to hold off on that stuff until we're back in town or something."
[22:12] * Blackberry_Jam turns to Snack_Cake. "Feeling all right?"
[22:14] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil's face contorts into a mixture of anger and sadness. "My sister's a crater. I'm drinking for two."
[22:15] * Snack_Cake watches as Toil goes to talk to North_Star, then looks back to Blackberry_Jam. "I'm fine... But... You shouldn't be so harsh." She pauses a moment to glance at Toil again. "She was only trying to be friendly..."
[22:15] * North_Star drops the subtle routine, "And I've been drinking for two dozen, and I'm sure you can see the affects." He said refering to his scars and such.
[22:17] * Blackberry_Jam keeps a stern look on her face. "I don't need to explain to you what alcohol does to a pony's judgement, Snack. Sometime's it's more than the thought that should count."
[22:17] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Listen, I intend to help you kill Hack and get those whoevers out for you. Revenge for Trouble. And I'm /trying/ to be friendly. But you're not my Dad and if I want to drown my sorrows with a few toasts, you can join in or shut up."
[22:18] * Thunder_Strike "how are you feeling scrap?"
[22:21] * Scrap thinks for a momemt and then smiles. "Happy. I'm getting better and Blackberry_Jam is being nice to me because of it."
[22:21] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil stumbles a bit as she turns to walk away, but keeps her hooves. She levitates the flask back into her bag.
[22:22] * North_Star huffs. "You just made somepony's first drink two steps backward from kerosine. That's a little excesive for being friendly if you ask me."
[22:23] * Thunder_Strike "glad to here it." She says flying next to her fellow Pegasi
[22:24] * Snack_Cake gives a little sigh. She's not going to argue with Blackberry_Jam. "Could you at least... try to be a bit nicer to her? Here..." She noses around in her pack for a moment, taking out another cake, and giving it to Blackberry_Jam. "Give it to her. Be a friend. For me?"
[22:25] <Scrap> "How are you feeling, Thunder_Strike?"
[22:25] * Thunder_Strike "I..I don't know how I feel." She says looking down at the group.
[22:25] * Blackberry_Jam hoofs the cake back to her. "Not because I want to. For you. But I'll do it my own way, all right?"
[22:27] * Scrap a look of concern on his face. "Why's that?"
[22:27] * Snack_Cake gives a little bit of a frown, but nods. "She needs friends." She puts the cake back away.
[22:28] * Blackberry_Jam keeps trotting. "While I've got you here, Snack, let's talk... about TOM."
[22:28] * Thunder_Strike "I feel sorry for toil, but at the same I'm unsure if I can trust her." She says looking down. "Then something wants me to tell at BJ for being mean to here. I don't know why..."
[22:31] * Scrap not totally sure what to say since he's used to being the receiver of advice. "Well, we don't need to fully trust her to be nice and friendly. And, Berry's mean to everyone, sometimes I wonder if she should be yelled at."
[22:32] * Snack_Cake frowns even more. She sticks with Blackberry_Jam. "What about him...?"
[22:33] * Blackberry_Jam does her best to dance around the touchy subject. "Well, you know how Toil was only trying to kill us because she was forced to?"
[22:35] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil looks back over her shoulder. "First drink? For serious?"
[22:36] * Snack_Cake doesn't know where this is going. "...Yes?"
[22:36] * Thunder_Strike "I dunno. She might yell back." She says kinda giggling.
[22:36] * North_Star nods. "She's a still a youngin'. Hasn't had much experience in that depertment."
[22:38] * Blackberry_Jam coughs. "Well, TOM is the same way. He's a computer program, designed to... do whatever it is he makes us do. He's not a pony in control of his actions. I know you hate him, because he used you and the Kid, and I know he can't give us a straight answer, but the truth is... we'd be dead if it wasn't for him."
[22:38] <Scrap> "Heh, yeah she would."
[22:40] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil gives a flippant smirk, "Looks old enough to me."
[22:41] * North_Star sighs, "Not the point. If you wanna be friendly next time, just stick to words." He says, "And save the rest of that flask until we settle down for the night,"
[22:41] * Thunder_Strike chuckles. "So. Um.... I forgot what I was gonna say."
[22:43] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil gives a whatever shrug.
[22:43] * Snack_Cake gives a nervous glance at her PipBuck. "I..." She tries to put her thoughts into words, but is having a hard time. "I don't... hate him. I'm... hurt. And a little afraid."
[22:44] * Scrap shrugs. "It's ok, I can wait in case you remember. It's not like I'm doing much else." He says with a chuckle of his own.
[22:45] * Thunder_Strike "same." She says looking ahead.
[22:46] * North_Star flicks his tail. "Also, one more thing. If you see a way to get on Berry's good side, I'd take it. Because if you have a problem with her, you have a problem with me." The sound of a hammer being pulled back could be heard behind them both, "And I'm not the kind of stallion you want to have a problem with. Comprene?"
[22:47] * Blackberry_Jam gives a slight nod, her expression softening. "Well, that's understandable. The unknown is scary, and TOM's not telling us anything. If we want him to, we'll have to play along."
[22:47] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Buddy, if I had 'a problem' with you, I'd be gone."
[22:48] * North_Star nods. "Just to make sure you understand, right now, you have a will, you're competent, and you have a way. But if you turn out to be more trouble than you're worth, one way or another the trouble will stop."
[22:49] * Snack_Cake gives a slow nod. "It... helps to have you there when I have to talk to him."
[22:50] * Blackberry_Jam 's expression turns into a smile. "Really? Well... I'm happy to help, Snack. If there's ever anything at all that you need, don't hesitate to ask... As long as you're not asking for alcohol."
[22:50] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil's scowl deepens with each unfortunate utterance of the word 'Trouble', but she doesn't say anything, instead turning and walking back toward the others.
[22:51] * North_Star called over to Toil. "Keep towards the rear, Jam doesn't like ponies crowding the front."
[22:52] * Thunder_Strike flies back down to the ground and lands back near Snack_Cake. "You alright? How's your throat?"
[22:53] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  She moves up to listening distance of the party, keeping pace.
[22:54] * North_Star rejoins the party, walking alongside Blackberry_Jam. "Well, she listened well enough and I remember why we had cells to dump drunk ponies when if they were a hastle." He tells her, "I think we're making progress."
[22:54] * Snack_Cake smiles at Thunder_Strike. "It's fine... I just wasn't expecting that." She glances to Blackberry_Jam as well, and responds, "Thanks... both of you. It feels nice to know you're both looking out for me."
[22:56] * Blackberry_Jam smiles a little more. "Progress is good. And speaking of that... Snack, can you we take a look at the map?"
[22:57] * Thunder_Strike "you're welcome." She says smiling. "I like helping ponies, giving them hope."
[22:59] * Snack_Cake pulls up the map on her PipBuck again, taking a look, and showing it to Blackberry_Jam.
[23:01] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slaughterhouse is still a couple days travel away, you should arrive right before the deadline at your current pace.
[23:03] * Blackberry_Jam frowns. "It'll be close... but we'll make it on time. And then there's the rest of Cask's family... Cripes... this is going to be one hell of a week."
[23:05] * North_Star looks down the path ahead. "Ain't no sense in gripin' about it. Admitedly, I just thought of asking Cask for a ride up there in his wagon."
[23:06] * Thunder_Strike "yeah no kidding." She says looking at BJ
[23:06] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil pipes up. "In a couple miles we'll be in range of one of our hideouts..."
[23:06] * North_Star looks over his shoulder. "Any occupants?"
[23:06] * Blackberry_Jam turns to look at the slaver. "Oh? Does that mean we'll have to fight our way through it?"
[23:07] <~Blackberry_Jam> ex-slave, duh*
[23:08] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Not a slaver hideout. One of ours... mine..."
[23:09] * North_Star glances at Blackberry_Jam. "You sure it'll be alright, nopony will come looking through it?"
[23:09] <~Blackberry_Jam> "So what's there? Rations? Ammo? Transport?"
[23:11] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "We set up places to teleport to, in case of emergency. Some supplies. Since he blew us up..." Her voice turns bitter at this, "...Nopony will come looking even if they knew about them."
[23:12] * Blackberry_Jam 's face shows that she doesn't like this, but she nods. "Take us there."
[23:13] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Little out of my range right now, need to get another mile or two up the way, then I can port us there in a couple hops."
[23:13] * Snack_Cake feels very, very sorry for Toil.
[23:14] * North_Star looks up at Blackberry_Jam, then to Toil. "Guess she listened after all." He muttered.
[23:14] * Blackberry_Jam keeps moving, a little faster. "Double-time it, then."
[23:15] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil keeps pace. "Two groups of three. I suppose you're going to have a preference in who goes when?"
[23:16] * Blackberry_Jam shakes her head. "As long as you don't try anything funny, there won't be an issue."
[23:17] * Scrap looks down. "I'm willing to go first if you're afraid of what might be there."
[23:18] * Thunder_Strike looks at them. Listening to them quietly
[23:18] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  They make good time as they trot along at a brisk pace. In the distance is the bones of a skyscraper. "Close enough." Her horn lights and she disappears with Snack_Cake, Scrap, and Strawberry_Daiquiri .
[23:19] * Blackberry_Jam blinks. Right... take the weak, nubile fillies off to your lair first. "Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me."
[23:19] * North_Star watches the tower, "Well, if she does try anything, Scrap with cave her ribs in."
[23:19] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  They reappear in a red-carpeted room /very/ high up in that blasted skyscraper. There is an expansive view.
[23:20] * Thunder_Strike "well, she could have teleported us first and left them out here to get attacked."
[23:20] * Blackberry_Jam snorts. "I'm -sure- that's what she was thinking."
[23:21] * Strawberry_Daiquiri looks at Blackberry_Jam "if you want to find traps the hard way be my guest, but don't come whineing to be when you break a hoof nail"
[23:21] * Scrap falls down, unable to maintain lift in the sudden transition ans looks around after jumping to his hooves.
[23:21] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil looks around. "Ooo! This one is /stocked/!" She trots around the desk and pulls a picture off the wall. She quickly gets in the safe and pulls out several bottles of high-proof booze.
[23:21] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Strawberry_Daiquiri is not with Blackberry_Jam at the moment, having been in the first group to be teleported to the office high in the skyscraper.
[23:22] * Snack_Cake was not expecting that to happen at all. She feels a little dizzy, so she sits down to get her bearings.
[23:22] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil turns to the three. "Anypony up for a friendly drink before I bring the killjoys?"
[23:22] * Scrap asks Toil. "Did that need to be so sudden?"
[23:23] * Strawberry_Daiquiri "no thanks"
[23:24] * Strawberry_Daiquiri carefully looks around the room.
[23:24] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "She said it didn't matter, why invite a bunch of yakking when we can just get it done. Besides..." She pours a trio of shots. One levitates to Snack_Cake and another to Scrap, she takes the third. "You're the fun group."
[23:25] * Scrap shakes his head. "No thank you, my master said to stay away from that stuff."
[23:25] * Blackberry_Jam taps her hoof. "They definitely ditched us."
[23:25] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The office has a desk and chair, there are also a pair or sofas, although only one of them matches the rest of the room. "Two for Snack_Cake then!"
[23:26] * North_Star sighs, "Who wants to go storm the tower?"
[23:26] <Scrap> "So, arn't you getting the others?"
[23:26] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  She downs her shot. She looks at Snack_Cake expectantly. "Easier stuff this time, Elysium Hill."
[23:27] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Yeah, yeah, just getting a drink before the killjoys get her to poo-poo all the fun."
[23:27] * Blackberry_Jam rolls her eyes. "No, no... But staying out in the open isn't a good idea either. Let's at least get off the road."
[23:27] * Snack_Cake scrunches her nose a bit. She gives it a hesitant glance. "I don't know if I should..."
[23:27] <Scrap> "Just hurry up, I don't like leaving them out there."
[23:28] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Alright, I get it, don't split the party. I'll be sad if those aren't gone when I get back though. Right, new friend?" Her horn lights and she vanishes.
[23:29] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  ...and appears on the road where she left the others.
[23:29] * Blackberry_Jam doesn't look too happy. "And here, I thought you'd ditched us."
[23:30] * North_Star looks a little less unhappy, but still unhappy, "Took your sweet time..."
[23:30] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  She wobbles a bit, and starts digging in her pack. "Yeah, yeah..." She pops a pill.
[23:30] * Thunder_Strike "yeah. I started to doubt you too toil." She says then looks back at Blackberry_Jam
[23:31] * Snack_Cake glances at Scrap and Strawberry_Daiquiri. She doesn't want to leave them out for Blackberry_Jam to see. After a moment's thought, she goes to put them someplace out of the way.
[23:32] * Scrap finds this a little odd, but says nothing.
[23:35] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Blackberry_Jam can see the pill looks very similar to a standard Buck capsule, but the shape is a bit wrong. Searching her memory she's seen them only in a few old medical journals. Mindbuff. It does for unicorn spellcasting what Buck and Dash do for the physical.
[23:36] * Snack_Cake is a little curious though... maybe a little tiiiny sip when nopony is looking.
[23:36] * Blackberry_Jam narrows her eyes a little. "Feeling worn out?"
[23:37] * Strawberry_Daiquiri glares at Snack_Cake >=
[23:38] * Snack_Cake made sure nopony was looking, not even Strawberry_Daiquiri!
[23:38] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil throws her head back to swallow the pill, she takes a deep breath and her horn sparks a bit. "Normally split the burden..." Her horn lights and they suddenly appear in the office.
[23:38] * Scrap wonders why Strawberry_Daiquiri finds it so wrong, but again says nothing.
[23:40] * Blackberry_Jam shakes herself off. She's not entirely sure she likes being teleported. She's willing to bet that Mindbuff is probably highly addictive and hazardous to one's health. "Nice place. Medical supplies?"
[23:41] * Thunder_Strike wobbles a bit feeling dizzy. But eventually shakes it off. She glances around and smiles. "Nicest place I've seen so far.@
[23:41] * North_Star steadies himself. Teleporting was something he'd done before, but it wasn't a regular thing. Then he goes right to what he does best, scrounging for guns.
[23:42] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil pants a bit, making her way to a sofa to lay down. "Some meds in the desk, booze in the safe."
[23:43] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "If you go in the hall, don't go in the red door."
[23:43] * Blackberry_Jam is already on her way to the desk. "Mines?"
[23:44] * Snack_Cake frowns and heads over to Toil. "Are you alright? You don't look so good..."
[23:44] * Strawberry_Daiquiri "just what is behind the red door?"
[23:44] <~Blackberry_Jam> "She's using too much energy teleporting, Snack. It's why she's taking that drug."
[23:45] * Thunder_Strike wonders around the office. Like Snack_Cake she too was curious to the taste of booze.
[23:45] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Yeah, needed a little boost. It's a lot of strain by yourself. Just need to lay back for a minute. Nothing dangerous up here except behind the red door."
[23:46] * North_Star looked over at Toil. "You're acting like you're keeping a Hellhound behind the red door or something."
[23:46] * Blackberry_Jam digs around in the desk for medicine.
[23:47] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The safe is stocked with a wide variety of high-proof liquor, there's also some tamer stuff in a clear case against the wall. "Something like that, seriously, don't go through the red door."
[23:47] * Thunder_Strike looks around to make sure Blackberry_Jam wasn't looking.
[23:50] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  There is a syringe of Med-X, a tin of Mint-als, two potions, a super potion, three packs of radaway in the desk.
[23:50] * Scrap looks out the breach admiring the view while the others search (or get drunk).
[23:50] * North_Star nods. "Noted." He says, continuing his search for firearms and/or bullets.
[23:51] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  There is also a tube Blackberry_Jam is unfamiliar with, it gets enveloped with magic and levitated toward the mare on the sofa.
[23:51] * Blackberry_Jam takes all of it. After all, they were "friends" now. "Hey now. What's that?" She says, nodding to the tube. "More horribly addictive chemicals?"
[23:53] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  She pops the lid off to expose a ball set into the tip. She rubs it around the base of her horn and her forehead. "Pain reliever, apply directly to your horn."
[23:54] * Blackberry_Jam applies her hoof directly to her forehead. "For fuck's... nevermind." She stashes everything in her bags and flops on to another couch.
[23:55] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "What do you drink?" She looks over to the other sofa.
[23:55] * Blackberry_Jam sighs. "What do you have?"
[23:56] * Thunder_Strike takes a quick sip of alcohol then smiles. "It's not.. That bad." She says then puts the bottle away and puts the glass somewhere else.
[23:56] * North_Star isn't drinking until he either finds or doesn't find anything.
[23:57] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Well, for rum we have Buckhardy 151 and Captain Mornin's. Whiskey wise, we got Elysium Hill, Old Crow, and Wild Pegasus..."
[23:58] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Grey Goose's Vodka... some wines... yada yada pussy stuff..."
[23:59] * Blackberry_Jam covers her face with her hooves. No Appleton's Estate. They -never- have Appleton's Estate. "Get me the Goose..." she mutters.
[00:01] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil moves a bottle out of the way to get the vodka. There are no weapons in this room.
[00:01] * Blackberry_Jam sighs. "At least you've got a good taste in liquor."
[00:01] * Thunder_Strike goes and flops onto a sofa.
[00:02] * North_Star waves a hoof. "I'll pass. I'm sticking to Shine from here on."
[00:02] <Thunder_Strike> She didnt really pay much attention to which sofa had who on it.
[00:03] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil manage to curl up her hind legs in time for Thunder_Strike to plop down on the other end without landing on her. It's a bit tight, their rumps touching.
[00:04] * Thunder_Strike really doesn't care about that she just wanted a place to sit. Considering how long it's been since they were able to relax.
[00:05] * Blackberry_Jam fixes herself an old fashioned Screwdriver. No Rad-Away in this one, though.
[00:06] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil looks over to Snack_Cake, sharing a wink. She didn't, after all, see any full shotglasses when she got back.
[00:07] * Snack_Cake goes to sit with Blackberry_Jam. It's nice to have a moment to relax!
[00:07] * North_Star sits with Blackberry_Jam, disspointed in his lack of findings.
[00:08] * Blackberry_Jam takes a sip, and shifts to make room for Snack_Cake. "I must admit... it's nice to just sit back and put my hooves up.
[00:08] * North_Star blinks as he is brushed off for a place to sit.
[00:09] * Snack_Cake tries to see if she can make room for North_Star as well. She's not a selfish pony.
[00:09] * Blackberry_Jam gives North_Star an apologetic smile around the rim of her cocktail as she scoots over.
[00:09] * Thunder_Strike "you said it Blackberry_Jam." She has leaned back with her eyes closed.
[00:10] * North_Star finds some room on the sofa. "I'll say."
[00:10] * Scrap lies down on the floor and pulls out Faust to read.
[00:11] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Three fit seated on these sofas, two fit tightly when sprawled out. Toil lays back with her legs up and leaning against the back of the sofa. Her tail is curled up modestly between her legs and up on her stomach. There /are/ stallions present.
[00:13] * Blackberry_Jam smiles as she spies Scrap reading. Good on him. "Would you like one, Hot Shot?"
[00:13] * Thunder_Strike thinks her tail being curled up between her legs is a good idea too and she does that.
[00:14] * North_Star shakes his head. "Like I said, only straight shine for me." He says, cracking open his own book.
[00:14] * Blackberry_Jam frowns. "You... are... guh. Nevermind."
[00:15] * North_Star blinks and can only offer a flat "What?"
[00:16] * Blackberry_Jam shrugs. "I tell you that if you ever by more alcohol, I'll pour it out. Or did you miss that bit?"
[00:16] <~Blackberry_Jam> buy*
[00:16] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  A voice crackles out of the terminal at the desk. "Should we move the specialty goods?"
[00:18] * Thunder_Strike "what was that?" She says sitting up.
[00:18] * North_Star chuckles, "You don't expect Cask to be offering us barrels of Moonshine when we get back? Besides, it's just an excuse-" His ears perk as he looks over at the desk.
[00:19] * Scrap ears perk as he looks up from his book.
[00:19] * Blackberry_Jam flicks her ear at the noise.
[00:21] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil doesn't seem to pay it any mind.
[00:21] <~Blackberry_Jam> "And what, praytell, is that?" She asks, pointing.
[00:23] * Snack_Cake frowns and glances over at the terminal.
[00:23] * Thunder_Strike "looks between Blackberry_Jam and toil, then nudges the mare with her hoof.
[00:24] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Radio intercept." She shifts a bit. "Like to keep tabs on the bosses. He hasn't contacted me directly since... he killed us... but that picks up pretty much anything coming through his usual frequencies. Backup."
[00:24] * North_Star looks over at the terminal. "And specialty goods would be..?
[00:25] * Blackberry_Jam mutters, "Pretty sophisticated tech..."
[00:27] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Specialty. Goods. Could be anything somepony considers special. Pegasus, certain ages, pure, whatever. This place had an intact dish, so we put it to use. There's a factory downtown Mr. Butcher has got putting out some basic two-way radios and some higher end stuff."
[00:28] * Thunder_Strike relaxes again. " well we do have the element of surprise then. Cause he knows we were close enough to you both."
[00:28] * Blackberry_Jam visibly tenses at the name 'Butcher'.
[00:28] * North_Star nods. "Pretty much. As far as he knows, we're either vapor, or ghouls right now."
[00:28] <Thunder_Strike> She freezes. "Pegasus? What's so special about us anyway?"
[00:29] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Mr. Butcher has a collection. Guess he figures it's good to have a hobby."
[00:30] * Blackberry_Jam sets her glass down a little harder than she intended.
[00:30] * Thunder_Strike "collection? Of Pegasus?" She says looking at her.
[00:31] <Thunder_Strike> Pegasu*
[00:31] <Thunder_Strike> Si*
[00:31] * Scrap scowls a bit as he remembers how his father considered his mother a commodity and a trophy.
[00:32] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Yeah. Pays top caps for them, from what I hear. Especially if it's one he doesn't have." She levitates a glass over to her.
[00:32] * North_Star notices the tension in the group and thinks it's best to change the subject, "So, Toil. Hardly anypony can live long without a story behind 'em, so what's yours?"
[00:33] * Thunder_Strike looks around a minute. "I'm glad I escaped....."
[00:35] * Snack_Cake thinks for a moment. "Toil... do you think you could tell me what the signal you've intercepted is? Maybe it can be intercepted by my PipBuck..."
[00:36] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Not much of a story. Born into it. Collared all out lives, especially when we got out cutie marks. Teleporting doesn't do you any good if you blow up  when you get to far from the tower. Master Hack was different... or played it that way... And here I am." She looks over to Snack_Cake, "It's all there in the terminal, help yourself."
[00:37] * Snack_Cake gives Toil a nod and goes to check out the terminal. Hopefully she can get something to work out...
[00:37] * Blackberry_Jam says rather quietly, "Didn't spend any time downtown, did you?"
[00:38] * Thunder_Strike "so pretty much same story as me. Born into slavery along with my twin brother."
[00:39] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Toil's ear swivels to hear Blackberry_Jam. "Born Southside, got sold and spent time in Meatlocker before Hack. Good deal of time Downtown."
[00:39] * Blackberry_Jam looks up as she pours another screwdriver. "Ever turn over a place called... 'Wisdom Tooth's?'"
[00:40] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Snack_Cake accesses the terminal with ease. It takes a bit of fiddling, but she is able to copy the decryption algorithm and get it working on her PipBuck.
[00:41] * Thunder_Strike listens to toil and Blackberry_Jam she realised she was butting in and shuts up.
[00:41] * Snack_Cake makes sure to test it to make sure it's working properly on her PipBuck.
[00:43] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "That old dentist office? Yeah, once. Trouble broke her leg teleporting blind to get away from a beating, big mistake. There wasn't a floor in the building she popped into and she fell into the basement. The Doc not only set her leg, but straight-up refused to take our horns. I guess he had some pull, cause we got a new overseer after that..."
[00:44] * Blackberry_Jam turns to look at her. "Wisdom Tooth was my father."
[00:45] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "No shit? Small Wasteland." She chuckles.
[00:46] * Blackberry_Jam mutters. "Yeah... too small."
[00:46] * North_Star looks between Blackberry_Jam and Toil, "Gettin' smaller everyday."
[00:47] <~Blackberry_Jam> "How long ago was that?"
[00:48] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  She opens her mouth to speak but the terminal crackles again. "The Mistress' priority filly's gone. No need to hold on to the Aces in the Hole. Move them to population tomorrow."
[00:48] <Mister_Clacky|GM> *****Session End*****
[00:49] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  2000 XP. +2 karma for Snack_Cake for being nicest wastelander. +1 for everypony else for showing acceptance and friendship.
[00:52] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Snack_Cake bumps into the desk causing a bottom drawer to open! It contains 10 Little Dolly's Zebra Cakes!