FoE PNP G-Platypus Session 18

[19:01] <Mister_Clacky|GM> *****G-Platypus: The City of Broad Withers - Session 18*****
[19:01] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Repair
[19:01] <Mister_Clacky|GM> Things break all the time in the Buckago wastes. It takes effort and skill to repair them.
[19:01] <Mister_Clacky|GM> Fumbling around with something you don’t understand, though, can have serious repercussions.
[19:01] <Mister_Clacky|GM> Cross the wrong wire, explosion. Cross the wrong pony, same deal.
[19:02] <Mister_Clacky|GM> Perhaps our wastelanders need some repair of their own?
[19:02] <Mister_Clacky|GM> *****Session Start*****
[19:02] <Mister_Clacky|GM> Our wastelanders are split between the gift shop in the Prism Elemental Genetics facility and the infirmary in it’s depths.
[19:04] * Blackberry_Jam pulls back. "I'm your friend, kid. Not your master. Not your doctor. I'm your friend." She gives Thunder_Strike_ a little hug, and climbs off the table. "You stay put until that anesthetic takes effect, okay?"
[19:04] * Nyota is sitting in the elevator together with Snack_Cake, twiddling hooves.
[19:05] * North_Star is busy looking around for where those damn mares run off to now.
[19:10] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash plays with the stuffed wolves for a bit, but quickly gets bored. "So, like, wheredayat?"
[19:11] * Scrap starting to feel a bit panicky, "You don't think they left because they don't want to be around me do you?"
[19:11] * Snack_Cake decides to listen to her radio, since she doesn't know how to talk to zebras. All she knows is that zebras used to be evil terrorists, but Nyota is nice, at least. And she doesn't even really look like a zebra right now anyway! Well... maybe a little, where the stripes are starting to show a little bit again. It's all very confusing and complicated. Which is why she's listening to the radio instead!
[19:12] * Thunder_Strike shivers moment then looks at blackberry. "you.. you're my friend? but. I thought we were just companions traveling together." she says then watches her. "o..ok. ill stay put."
[19:14] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  In addition to the music channels Snack_Cake is used to, there is now an option of "PCICC" and "PCIN"
[19:14] * Nyota flicks her tail.
[19:14] * North_Star shakes his head. "As much as they act like they don't like us, they wouldn't leave without us. And without giving you a bit of a talking to."
[19:15] * Snack_Cake gives her PipBuck a confused look. That's odd. Now she's curious. She tunes into the PCICC' station.
[19:15] * Blackberry_Jam stops at the door. "Of course we're friends, kid. We all are. And nopony's going to hurt you anymore, okay?" She says before banging on the elevator door.
[19:16] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  There are a multitude of channels, most are not active. but there are a few that have the work "Active" beside them.
[19:16] * Nyota jumps up on her hooves as there is a knock on the elevator door.
[19:16] * Thunder_Strike k
[19:16] <~Blackberry_Jam> "Hey you two, I think we're all set in here."
[19:17] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  One entry stands out. "PEGCC-Active"
[19:17] * Thunder_Strike "thank you BJ" she says then looks at her nose. "I....is my nose crooked?"
[19:18] <Nyota> "Let us go back, then.. Is Thunder_Strike not comming with us?"
[19:18] * Blackberry_Jam smiles a little. "Nope. Just don't touch it any." She turns to Nyota and shakes her head. "She's not quite ready to move yet."
[19:19] * Snack_Cake is just as surprised. She glances into the room at Thunder_Strike. "Is she going to be alright...?"
[19:19] <Nyota> "I see.. "
[19:19] * Scrap after giving the room and a little of the surrounding area another look over, sits down in a corner and closes his eyes trying to keep his numerous and confusing mix of rising emotions in check.
[19:19] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  It sure /feels/ a bit crooked, but you can't really see your own muzzle well, can you?
[19:20] * Blackberry_Jam tucks some bandages back into her bags and nods to Snack_Cake. "Yep. She'll be fine. Bruised... but fine."
[19:22] * Thunder_Strike said thay caise it felt that way. of coarsse she can't really see it too well. "ok BJ I believe you." she says then lays there. "-our gonna leave me here all alone?"
[19:22] <Nyota> "So.. We are just leaving her here? Is this wise?"
[19:23] * Blackberry_Jam shakes her head. "No, no, no. Nopony's leaving you alone. We're going to wait for that anesthetic to kick in... and for our heads to clear a little."
[19:24] * North_Star trots over to Scrap. "Hey, you alright?"
[19:25] * Blackberry_Jam trots back into the clinic to take a better look at Thunder_Strike's snout.
[19:25] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash decides to spend some time cleaning slaver bits off his armor and out of his chainsaw's teeth. Snack_Cake's PipBuck still glows on the screen she left it on.
[19:26] * Scrap sits and stares at the ground he's controlling his breathing, "I... don't want to be here anymore."
[19:27] * Snack_Cake picks one of the active channels. The first one on the list.
[19:27] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Blackberry_Jam can see that Thunder_Strike's muzzle is indeed bent, though if she wasn't looking for it she probably wouldn't have noticed.
[19:29] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Snack_Cake selects PEGCC. The screen changes to a picture of an infirmary, two ponies visible inside, with two more in the elevator. 'PEG-Closed Circuit' flashes at the top. '
[19:29] * North_Star takes a seat next to Scrap again, patting his shoulder. "You're feeling that bad, huh?"
[19:29] * Blackberry_Jam frowns. "Ah... well... maybe it -is- a little crooked. Here... hold still."
[19:30] * Thunder_Strike holds still. "ok." she says also thabkful they're not leaving her alone.
[19:31] * Snack_Cake is very confused. That's definitely not a radio station! And... She takes a step out of the elevator, watching the screen of her PipBuck.
[19:32] * Scrap almost like he's in a trance, "all I do anymore is hurt the people around me. At least when it was just me being hurt, other's were not. Everyone that ever loved me is now dead, and all I want is to join them."
[19:33] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  She sees herself move before the screen changes to the gift shop/ Scrap and North_Star are huddling in the corner. There is the bar of a chainsaw visible in the extreme foreground of the shot.
[19:33] * Nyota raises an eyebrow as Snack_Cake leaves the elevator, shaking her head she decides to spend the time meditating instead.
[19:34] * North_Star sighs, looking at his fellow stallion. "I know how you feel."
[19:36] * Blackberry_Jam frowns. Broken. That piece of... Nevermind. She roots around in her kit for that leather strip and that magazine she picked up in the lobby. "Well Thunder... thanks for drawing my attention to that. Here, bite down on this and hold still. This might hurt a little."
[19:37] <Scrap> "But, what can I do when everything I do is wrong?"
[19:37] * Snack_Cake keeps watching the screen. "...Berry? You should come look at this..."
[19:38] * Blackberry_Jam jerks her head to the side to look at Snack_Cake and- Fuck. "Fuck..."
[19:39] * Thunder_Strike "ok." her voice has a nervvous squeak to it. then she bits on the strip.
[19:39] * North_Star nudges Scrap in a friendly way. "Do the best you can with what you can do." He looks down at his flank. "That's how I got through my colthood."
[19:40] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Thunder_Strike's muzzle shifts painfully when Blackberry_Jam applies pressure. Thunder's eyes instantly water, but the crookedness is diminished from its already difficult to see bend.
[19:41] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Still, if you really, really look, there is a slight bend.
[19:42] * Blackberry_Jam coughs a little. Well, it looks fine... "Right. What it is, Snack?" She asks, waving her over.
[19:43] * Scrap comes out of his trance. A slight tinge of desperation in his voice, "but, I -always- end up doing or saying the wrong thing and then everyone ends up hating me."
[19:43] * Thunder_Strike doesn't see how biting down helped much considering she just rebroke her nosem
[19:45] * Blackberry_Jam mumbles a little. "Right, so we'll have to set it. Hold still, I'll grab some gauze."
[19:45] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The PipBuck display alternates between the infirmary, the gift shop, and the elevator Nyota is in.
[19:46] * North_Star looks for eye-contact with the depressed buck. "I can count several occasions on which you saved my hide ever since we met, Scrap."
[19:46] * Thunder_Strike whinpers and her eyes water.
[19:46] * Snack_Cake isn't looking at Blackberry_Jam, she's looking at her PipBuck. "I think... I found the cameras for this place... I can look through them on my PipBuck."
[19:48] * Blackberry_Jam puts a hoof on Thunder_Strike's shoulders. "Be strong. It's the only thing that it will make it set right, okay?" She starts wrapping the nose. "Huh, that's neat. Are the bucks in trouble?"
[19:50] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The screen turns back to the stallions still huddled and the bar of a chainsaw waving in the foreground of the shot.
[19:52] * Scrap suddenly snaps his head around to look at him, "then why didn't you thank me!?" He gets up and starts walking toward the other side of the room. "All I've done is give and risk my life for all of you and none of you seem to care." He stops and sits down where he is and gets sulky. "Except for Nyota... until she called me a murderer."
[19:53] * North_Star looks over at Scrap. "Do you think I got a nice, polite thank you for every time I saved a life? Everytime I put a dangerous pony in the ground?"
[19:55] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash stops his cleaning. "Suck it up, Boyo. That's what being a stallion is. Protecting them even when they don't want ya to. Even when they hate ya for it." He motions toward North_Star. "Ol' buck gets it, roight?"
[19:56] * Scrap getting angry again, "no, I don't! I don't expect to be thanked everytime I do something, I just want someone to care. I'm tired of feeling alone."
[19:56] * Thunder_Strike nods at her. "it freaking hurt BJ."
[19:56] * Blackberry_Jam grits her teeth and rubs her neck. "Yeah... sorry... once a nose breaks, the only way to get properly aligned is to break it again."
[19:57] * North_Star nods to Slash. "Scrap. If I didn't care about y'all do you think I'd have stuck around after we got Snack to the vault?"
[19:58] * Thunder_Strike "its ok. I'm just happy your fixing it. even after i... attacked you."
[19:59] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash goes back to cleaning.
[20:00] <Scrap> "I don't know... I... I just don't know!" He starts walking again trying to get away from his confused feelings.
[20:01] * Blackberry_Jam claps her on the shoulder. "Hey, I don't hold it against you. I've... seen my fair share of PTSD patients before, it's fine, really."
[20:03] * North_Star sighs. He was always shit at the whole 'Being supportive' deal. "Scrap. If you've got something to say, I'm sitting right here. Ears wide open."
[20:06] * Snack_Cake is more than a little confused. Whenever it gets back to the screen with Scrap and North_Star, there's something blocking the camera. "I... I don't know. There's something blocking their camera." She frowns. "I don't know what it is."
[20:07] * Scrap stops again. He looks like he's trying to figure out what to say. "I just... why am I so broken!? Everyone else seems to know how to get people to like them, but I can't and I don't know why."
[20:08] * Blackberry_Jam starts looking at her bandage work. "Well... what's it look like?"
[20:10] * North_Star stands up. "You ain't broken. You're just.. not well versed in that sorta thing." He rubs the back of his head, walking back to Scrap's side. "I'm about as bad as you are, sometimes."
[20:12] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The closed circuit feed loops back to the gift shop. The bloody bar less so, and the stallions are now barely visible in a different corner. The sawblade wobbles back and forth in the frame.
[20:13] * Snack_Cake frowns and goes over to show Blackberry_Jam the PipBuck. "It's easier to look at it. Here!"
[20:15] * Blackberry_Jam takes a glance at it, and does a doubletake. "Chainsaw... well shit... I think they found Slash..."
[20:17] <Scrap> "But, you were able to get a mare you didn't even know to kiss you and the others respect you, but they don't respect me. Why?"
[20:17] * Thunder_Strike_ "PTSD?" she asks confused. "what's that? am I sick?"
[20:18] * North_Star scratches his head. "Don't ask me how I do it, Bucko."
[20:18] * Snack_Cake goes wide-eyed. "Slash? He's here?" She frowns a bit. Slash is a scary pony.
[20:20] <Scrap> "Does that mean you don't know or that you just won't tell me!"
[20:21] <North_Star> "I really don't know how I do it. Mares just seem to go for the stallion with a gun."
[20:22] * Blackberry_Jam shakes her head and turns her attention back to Thunder_Strike_. "No more than any of us, really, kid. PTSD is short for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It just means that you'v seen some bad stuff in your time. If you want, I can try to help with it."
[20:26] * Scrap looks very confused by that statment. "You mean I have trouble because I fight with my hooves?"
[20:26] * Thunder_Strike_ "oh.... sorry." she says then starts to nod and her body starts going limp.
[20:26] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash snorts. "Mares are fickle and crazy. If you judge yourself by what they think you might as well just roll a dice, roight?"
[20:27] * Blackberry_Jam lifts her chin up and smiles a little. "What the heck are you sorry for?
[20:29] * Snack_Cake frowns a little and gives Thunder_Strike_ a careful hug. "We're your friends... we want to help."
[20:29] * North_Star shakes his head. "No, no. I mean, I have the look of the old grizzled hero. Like you hear stories about in bars n' stuff. Mares eat that stuff up."
[20:30] * Thunder_Strike_ "I juff... I bought you wuff... I dun bo." she says as best she can through the anesthetic.
[20:31] * Blackberry_Jam smiles and nods to Snack_Cake. "There we go. Try not to talk too much until it wears off."
[20:32] * Thunder_Strike_ would hugs Snack_Cake back but can't move.
[20:33] * Scrap looks even more confused, "But, I risk my life all the time. Is that not good enough to be a hero?"
[20:35] * Thunder_Strike_ it was all in her head appearently. she manages to hug Snack_Cake and BJ.
[20:36] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash motions to Scrap. "Com'ere."
[20:37] * Scrap goes ahead and walks over.
[20:38] * Blackberry_Jam backs away from the hug and lights up a new cigarette, glad that the smoke detectors seemed to have stopped working in here.
[20:40] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Ya need to let this hangup of what other ponies think go, Boyo. Ya gonna get yaself killed. Don't judge yaself by what other think. You matter most to you, roight?"
[20:41] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash's voice drops to a whisper. "Ya wanna know how the ol' timer get's tha mares, roight?"
[20:42] * Thunder_Strike_ starts to sit up.
[20:43] <Scrap> "I know I'm valuable, I just don't know why others don't agree."
[20:46] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Ya think ya know ya 're valuable. But ya ain't actin' like it Boyo. Tail tucked between ya legs, boo-hooin'. The ol dog? He spits confidence. Reaks of it. Hold yer head high, Boyo. All the time. Make'm look up ta ya."
[20:51] * Scrap falls silent as he ponders what Slash said. This one will take a little thought before he fully gets it.
[20:52] * Blackberry_Jam eases Thunder_Strike_ on to her hooves. "Just give me a nod if everything works."
[20:55] * North_Star watches Slash give Scrap a pep talk. By jove, the crazy old buck knows what he's talking about.
[20:55] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash isn't quite old. He's 27.
[20:57] * Thunder_Strike_ stands and tests all of her motor skills and all seem to be fine. she looks at Blackberry_Jam and gives a nod.
[20:58] * Scrap 's mind begins to poke holes in the advice, "but, I've done things confidently and they still turned out be wrong."
[20:59] * Blackberry_Jam returns the nod and looks between all the mares. "Well... Let's go topside. Unless, Thunder, you want some time to think. I mean, Scrap'll be up there."
[20:59] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Did ya mope about it afta? Or did ya own up ta it?" He picks a largish sliver of bone out of the saws guard.
[21:01] <Scrap> "Of course I owned up to them! I own up to all of my faults!"
[21:01] * Thunder_Strike_ looks at her and nods then points the elevator with her wing.
[21:04] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "But did you own up like a bitch?"
[21:05] * Scrap looking confused again, "what does that even mean?"
[21:08] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash waggles a hoof absentmindedly, some splatter dripping off his rag. "Thar's a difference between owning a mistake and throwin' a hissyfit 'bout it. 'Pour me, my awesome is lost on these mares!' Don' whine about it, Boyo. Cop to it, and don't take no mo' shit 'bout it, roight? You can be strong in failure too. Head up, right or wrong, Boyo."
[21:09] * Blackberry_Jam nudges Snack_Cake and Nyota into the elevator, and helps Thunder_Strike_ in there too. "Let's get out of this place."
[21:10] * Thunder_Strike_ nods and walks with blackberry. she leans on BJ as she walks though.
[21:12] <Scrap> "But, I don't whine about it. I mean I am now, but I don't then. I just apologize if I need to and try to move on."
[21:16] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "All I know is, there's a time to take it and a time to take it by the scrote, Boyo. It's why I'm here. Show yaself to soft fa too long, ponies forget who ya are. An' maybe you do too."
[21:16] * Blackberry_Jam has no idea how to elevator. "Snack, wanna get us back to the gift shop?"
[21:18] * Scrap gives him a look of utter confusion, "...what? Take it by the... what?"
[21:19] * Snack_Cake frowns and asks, "TOM, could you take us back to the gift shop?"
[21:20] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash snorts. "The balls! The balls, Boyo! You grab all the world by the balls and tell it, "Remember me!? I fucked you once before, I'll fuck you again! Don't you forget who ya're messin' with!"
[21:20] * North_Star chuckles. "I think what he means is it's about time you stood up for your choices. Slam your hoof on the table and say 'Yeah! I made that choice! And I don't have a damn problem about it!' North explained, slamming the counter for emphasis. "And if you ain't happy about it, be that way. I don't care!"
[21:21] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Fuck yeah, ya ol' bastard! Roight-O!"
[21:22] * Scrap with dawning understanding, "oooooooooh, ok."
[21:22] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The shifty elevator takes its random and twisty path back up to the giftshop. The door slides open.
[21:23] * Blackberry_Jam sways and holds a hoof to her mouth. "I am... never... going to get used to that..."
[21:23] * Thunder_Strike_ "woah..ow." she says surprised by the odd elevator.
[21:26] * Scrap looks at the elevator, "there you are. We were looking for you."
[21:27] * Blackberry_Jam stares right through Scrap with her piercing blue eyes, but says nothing.
[21:27] * North_Star looks up at the elevator, "It's about time y'all showed up. Where'd you dissapear too?"
[21:29] * Blackberry_Jam looks at North_Star with the same gaze. "Where do you think?" she asks venomously. It's worth noting that Thunder_Strike_'s nose is bandaged up now, and her face is probably still bruised.
[21:30] <North_Star> "The land of sugar and gumdrops." North said with a dry tone.
[21:31] * Blackberry_Jam snorts, blowing a puff of smoke out of her mouth. "Really, Hot Shot?"
[21:31] * Snack_Cake steps out of the elevator, off to the side. Much longer in this place and she might start getting a little bit claustrophobic. And she's a /stable/ pony! She can't imagine how the others are dealing with it.
[21:31] * North_Star shrugged. "You asked. I gave an answer."
[21:32] * Blackberry_Jam stares daggers at him. "You're better than that."
[21:33] * Thunder_Strike_ comes walking out of the elevator leaning on BJ. she looks at scrap past her bandaged muzzle. she doesn't look as angry as Blackberry though.
[21:33] * North_Star sighed. "Look. I know you're still pissed about the whole ordeal earlier. Can't you cut him some slack? He did what he thought was best."
[21:34] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash runs a rasp long one of this chainsaw's many, many teeth. He stays reclining behind the counter staying out of the way.
[21:35] * Blackberry_Jam looks away. "I've cut ponies enough slack to know that, eventually, they just choke themselves with the extra line. And that's the problem. I don't think he thought at all."
[21:36] * Scrap let's them argue and asks Thunder_Strike, "I'm sorry, but I didn't want you to hurt anyone. Are you ok?"
[21:37] * North_Star sighed. "Alright. Next time we find ourselves in deep shit, I'll take five minutes to asses the situation before actually getting stuff done."
[21:38] * Thunder_Strike straightens out and walks over towards Scrap and pats him with a wing. " you bwof. muh smoup." she says as best she could.
[21:40] * Blackberry_Jam trots a little closer, past Scrap. "That's not what I meant, and you know it. He didn't even try to talk her down. He just..."
[21:42] <Scrap> "I'll find a way to make it up to you."
[21:43] * Thunder_Strike "you've done enough. I'm happy you didn't let me hurt anyone. especially BJ. but you didn't have to damage my face." she says then walks past him following BJ.
[21:43] * North_Star sits up straighter, leaning on the counter. "He just saved us a few knife wounds. He saw there was trouble, knew Thunder was having some sort of episode, and brought her down as softly as he could." He looked over at Thunder_Strike, giving a slight smile to her. "If Scrap didn't punch her out, I would have."
[21:45] * Scrap as she walks by, "You're right. I didn't have to, but that's why I'm going to make it up to you."
[21:46] * Blackberry_Jam can't believe what she's hearing. "I don't have time to lecture you in psychology, so I'll let you figure out what happens when you hit an esca-... I... I can't believe that you would."
[21:47] * Snack_Cake doesn't like this argument. It makes her nervous.
[21:48] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  The begored Slash leaves the chainsaw on the counter and walks around toward Snack_Cake.
[21:48] * Thunder_Strike quickly turns her head at BJ then sighs in relief when she catches herself but is still nervous looking at the others the scrap. "don't worry bout it. I'm angry yeah. but I'm sure I can forgive you somewhere down the line. but for now, just have to tolerate you."  i
[21:50] <Thunder_Strike> love and tolerate*
[21:50] * Snack_Cake doesn't like that either! When she sees Slash, she scurries off toward Blackberry_Jam.
[21:50] * North_Star drops his posture a bit. "You gotta do what you can to bring the peace around." He sighed in his head. "I ain't sayin' I'm proud of it, but I ain't above it either."
[21:51] * Scrap accepts the hope and says no more.
[21:52] * Blackberry_Jam looks between North_Star and Scrap. "Well, looks like I'm a fool for thinking you would be." She says, turning to see Snack_Cake, and gives her a smile. "We should be going." She added, making a start for the door.
[21:52] * Thunder_Strike tries to smile but numbed cheeks prevent that. she pats him with her wing then scurries over to Blackberry.
[21:56] * Scrap is quite surprised and relieved that all he got was a glare. He looks at North_Star, "thank you."
[21:56] * Blackberry_Jam trots past Scrap and mutters a "We'll talk later." amidst a cloud of smoke.
[21:56] * North_Star leans back in his seat. "Go on ahead, then. I'll take the rear."
[21:58] * Snack_Cake sticks right next to Blackberry_Jam as they head out. Slash REALLY makes her feel uncomfortable.
[21:59] * Blackberry_Jam trots out of the building for the last time. "Ponies... let's get the hell out of here."
[22:00] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Blackberry_Jam comes upon the dead slaver, and if she climbs the stairs, the carnage outside. Along with anypony following.
[22:00] * North_Star gets up and follows the group outside, taking this time in the back of the group to mull over some thoughts.
[22:00] * Thunder_Strike follows Blackberry and Snack_Cake out.
[22:01] * Blackberry_Jam looks over Slash's handiwork. "You know, Slash, I don't think you killed them enough. Snack... you probably don't want to look at this."
[22:02] * Scrap walks next to North_Star, happy to have someone that will stick up for him again finally.
[22:02] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash is too busy not being there to respond. He's munching some vittles back in the giftshop.
[22:03] * Snack_Cake is right up next to Blackberry_Jam... so she can see it as soon as she can. She mutters a quiet, "Oh dear Celestia..."
[22:04] * North_Star doesn't look as happy as Scrap. He seems to be in a sort of half mourning-half inner conversation right now.
[22:05] * Blackberry_Jam lowers her head. "So Snack... remember how I said I used to be afraid of blood?"
[22:06] * Thunder_Strike looks at Snack_Cake and pats her side with a wing letting her know he is here.
[22:06] * Snack_Cake nods slowly, averting her eyes.
[22:06] <Thunder_Strike> she*
[22:07] * Blackberry_Jam tugs at the neck of her barding and starts trotting around the carnage. "Well... this is sort of how he got me out of it."
[22:07] <~Blackberry_Jam> "My father, that is."
[22:08] * Scrap knows that look, his master had it often. It would be wrong to not offer support after North_Star supported him, "do you want to talk about it?"
[22:10] * Thunder_Strike follows them through the carnage. she would fly but she's still alittle tired and slightly dizzy.
[22:10] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slaver corpses are strewn about in places... all kinds of places... The slaver's wagon sits empty and nearly sawn in half.
[22:10] * North_Star looks over at Scrap. "You had somepony to look up to. Would you believe me if I said I had the same, once upon a time?"
[22:11] * Snack_Cake squeezes her eyes shut and follows Blackberry_Jam. She's leaning up against her so she doesn't have to open her eyes. "What do you mean...? 'This'?"
[22:14] * Blackberry_Jam makes sure to keep Snack_Cake close. "Well... there was a nasty shootout Downtown once. We were sent down there to clean up and... well... I wasn't afraid of blood anymore."
[22:14] <Scrap> "I would have been surprised if you didn't have someone, we all have our teachers."
[22:14] * Snack_Cake gives a quiet 'ick' in response. "I couldn't do that... ever."
[22:15] * Blackberry_Jam sighs a little. "Well... he didn't give me a choice. He understood that it was something I'd have to do in order to become a doctor..."
[22:15] * Thunder_Strike listens to BJ's story while she follows staying ouut of there way.
[22:15] * North_Star drew his revolver from it's holster, "When I was a young colt, living in a big-ish city. There was a stallion that came around my family's business. Always wore black, hardly ever spoke, didn't look like he had a friendly bone in his body."
[22:16] <North_Star> "I had heard him speak once. And that was to break up a fight that two bucks were having over my ma."
[22:17] * Scrap listens intently, he loves hearing other people's stories.
[22:18] <North_Star> "One time, he saw me keepin' a couple of the rougher colts from beatin' on a poor younger fella. I think I broke one of their noses... He said I reminded him of himself. Asked me to sit by him once in a while at the bar."
[22:20] <North_Star> "I did, he taught me a few things about life. How to shoot. Why ponies are the way they are. How to get mares to tell ya the time of day. All sorts of stuff."
[22:20] * Blackberry_Jam shrugs. "I know we've all said this, Snack, but it's true. This kind of thing... is pretty commonplace outside. And it's something that you'e going to have to accept. You don't have to like it, but you have to get past it."
[22:21] <North_Star> "Told me once that I was like him. Natural borne leader. Of course, my young self didn't see what he saw, so I just smiled and nodded."
[22:23] * North_Star passed Scrap the revolver to look at. "One day, when I was a old enough to be called a stallion, he gave me this. Said I'd earned it, and the right to know the truth. I was confused at first, didn't have very long to be though. Raiders ended up gettin' through the gates and were tearin' through the streets. Actin' like they owned the damn place."
[22:23] * Snack_Cake frowns. "I don't like it out here..." she mutters in reply.
[22:24] * Blackberry_Jam nods understandingly. "I don't either."
[22:24] * North_Star picks his chin up, just a bit. "We never had a sheriff back there, but everypony owned at least one gun. Yet, nopony went out there to challenge 'em. Said nopony would be brave or stupid enough to go up against those odds."
[22:25] * Thunder_Strike looks down for a moment listening to them both then seems to just wander off a bit but stays in view.
[22:25] * Scrap takes the revolver. This story was sounding -very- familiar.
[22:26] <North_Star> "I couldn't tell you what got inta me, but I stepped out there, that very same revolver in my tail, and told their leader to fuck off."
[22:27] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash finally comes out of he stairwell, stretching as he crests the top. He settles to his haunches by the exit.
[22:28] * Scrap says faintly, "I didn't have the courage to."
[22:30] * North_Star smiles and shook his head at the memories of his own bravado. "Two of 'em drew. Put a bullet in each of their hearts before they could even touch a hammer. Their leader came at me with his fancy power hoof, I planted one right between his eyes. That's when the fear finally hit. I only had three bullets from there. There was still a dozen more raiders, aimin' to string my guts all across their brand new town."
[22:31] * Blackberry_Jam rolls her shoulders. "But you know what? I'm going to tell you something I told Stripes a while ago, Snack. I told her that out here, in the Wastes, the only way to find happiness is to make it yourself."
[22:33] <Scrap> "I hid and watched as they ripped him apart."
[22:33] <North_Star> "Before I knew it. The butcher and the gunsmith where right by my side. Followed by the smith's wife. Then the crazy old coot who rounded up scrap metal all day. Before long, half the town had filled the streets, armed to the teeth and ready to fight."
[22:34] * Thunder_Strike sighs and looks at the slave wagon. then she looks over and Slash and walks over to him.
[22:35] * Snack_Cake quietly says, "If I had my way, I'd be back home right now... And we tried... but I'm stuck out here..."
[22:36] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash notices her approach, but doesn't make a move to get up.
[22:36] * North_Star shakes his head. "It's a bit of a blur from there, I remember plugging another Raider in the heart, and the townsfolk just charged 'em. Cleared them right outta town." He took the revolver back. "By the end of it all, everypony was cheerin' my name, hoistin' me up, offering me drinks. I was in a haze, wondering where the hell this white star on my flank came from." North said, smiling a little bit.
[22:38] * Blackberry_Jam pats her on the shoulder. "Snacky, we all know what that's like. None of us are here by choice. So what we have to do is make our own home. It's funny, I really had this same conversation with Nyota..."
[22:39] * Thunder_Strike takes a seat in front of him. "so... your brother is a slaver huh?"
[22:39] * North_Star sighed again. "After all the commotion calmed down, I wanted to talk to the old stallion. Couldn't find him at the bar, couldn't find him on the street. I went up to his room, to see if he fell asleep." North paused. "He was in his bed.. He was sleepin'.. Couldn't wake him up."
[22:40] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash looks up at Thunder_Strike. He gives a curt nod.
[22:41] * Thunder_Strike her ear twitches a bit then asks. "why aren't you? I'm glad your not but.. curiousity won't stop bugging me."
[22:42] * Snack_Cake gives a bit of a depressed sigh. "I don't know if I can ever get used to it..."
[22:43] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash spits to the side. "Ponies are supposed to be free."
[22:44] * Thunder_Strike smiles her respect for slash growing a bit more. "I'm glad you think that way." she says then toughes her ear to make it stop twitching.
[22:45] * Blackberry_Jam looks away, towards Railyard. "It's not easy, I'll tell you that much. But... do you want to?"
[22:46] * North_Star opened up the chamber in his revolver, spinning it a little. "I went to my room. Locked the door. I wanted a bit of silence. A moment alone. I took the revolver and opened the chamber to load it, and I found a note tucked into the chamber." He pointed to a chamber with a star engraved around it. "I didn't know what the stallion ment by 'knowin' the truth' but I did then.
[22:46] <Mister_Clacky|GM> e He looks up at the clouds. "Anypony should be able to understand tha, yeah? Mum and Pappy passed, an' then he brings this sweet lil' filly inta camp. Chain tied round her. I says to 'im, I says, 'this is wrong.' He tells me it's more caps."
[22:48] * Thunder_Strike "and I'm guessing that lil filly was slag?" she says watching him.
[22:48] * North_Star tucked the revolver into his holster. "Note said everyin'. Explained everythin'. Why me and my pa didn't look alike, why me and my pa never got along, why livin' in that city never felt right."
[22:48] <North_Star> "That stallion... He was my pa."
[22:49] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Yeah. An' later at night, she looks at me. She's cryin'. And I just knew, yeah? I ain't gonna let 'im hurt 'er. Shived his slimy new guards real quiet like an' took 'er."
[22:50] * Snack_Cake has to think about that for a moment. "I hate it... I hate that the world is so terrible out here... but I hate feeling this way... I hate feeling helpless..."
[22:51] * North_Star kicked a loose bone to the side. "He and my ma and a spring for a while, 'til he found out she was a cheatin' harlot. He packed up and left, but he didn't know about me until he showed up at that bar to cash in on a debt. Knew who I was right from the start."
[22:51] * Blackberry_Jam pats her on the back again. "You know, that was some damn fine shooting back there."
[22:52] * Thunder_Strike nods at him. "that was very noble of ya." she says then looks to the side a bit. "I was born a slave. mom and pop killed before my eyes for hving a foal. 6 years later I.... I leanred that mares are better." she says shivering.
[22:52] * North_Star took a breath, looking back to Scrap. "I asked my ma about it, she fessed up. That was all I needed to know. I packed up my gun, what caps I had saved, and left that town for the wastes."
[22:53] * Scrap asks surprised, "you just left her?"
[22:54] * Snack_Cake glances up at Blackberry_Jam. "You... think so?"
[22:56] * North_Star sighs. "I was mad about it. Mad they kept the truth from me. Mad I had to spend my colthood under the wing of some bastard who didn't even care, somepony who'd shove a small filly aside to get a cap off the ground." He shook his head. "I was just pissed. Later, I figured, Ma had him, they were well off, they could've handled themselves."
[22:56] * Blackberry_Jam nods, flashing Snack_Cake a smile. "You bet. I never trusted those Energy Weapons, but in your hooves? You kicked some serious Cinderwolf flank. Between that and your cooking, I'd say you're ready to start making your own safety. Heck... maybe you can open up next to my flower shop." She says, her smile widening even more.
[22:57] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash tenses, a stone underhoof cracks under the pressure. His voice stays even. "I'm sorry ta hear that." He half raises a foreleg but looks at the bloodies limb and it hangs there midmotion.
[22:58] <Scrap> "But still, you abandoned her, she raised you."
[23:00] * Thunder_Strike looks at him and touches his foreleg. "that day I stepped into your shop for the first time. was the same day I escpaed." she says with a sigh.
[23:01] * North_Star once again, shook his head. "She was too busy keepin' stallion's droolin' over her to raise anything other than... Well, you get the point.. Her lover was no better, didn't want a thing to do with me."
[23:04] <Scrap> "Oh. My father was way into mares. I wish he hadn't cared enough to bother with me."
[23:04] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash gives her fetlock a squeeze with his own, then returns his hoof to the ground. "After this business, ya know Railyard's 'bout as safe as it gets. No slavers take anypony for Railyard."
[23:06] * Snack_Cake gives a curious look. "Next to your... flower shop?"
[23:06] * Thunder_Strike nods. "yeah. I know." she says then looks back at him. "your not bad. for a stallion" she says with a giggle.
[23:07] * North_Star gives Scrap a sympathetic look. "Ever since I left, I haven't heard a lick about 'em. I bet Ma hears about me every once in a while, but bar rumors can't be trusted."
[23:08] * Blackberry_Jam chuckles a little. "When I was little, my mother would always talk about owning a flower shop... And I guess the idea's grown on me, too. She was always going on about how flowers could change Equestria forever... and it would all start with just one little shop."
[23:08] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash cracks a dopey smile, a bit of his Railyard personality bubbling up through the seriousness of his wastelander vibe. "I am /great/ for a stallion!"
[23:11] * Thunder_Strike chuckles at him then winces cause it cause somepain to her snout. "yeah. I might let you in one day. Might. unless your a colt cuddler." she says teasing.
[23:11] <Scrap> "I guess I did get my wish when he disowned me and after he..."
[23:12] * North_Star pats Scrap on the side. "I can guess where it goes from there, Bucko.
[23:14] * Snack_Cake smiles a little. "Flowers are nice... So much prettier than how it looks now."
[23:14] * Blackberry_Jam rolls her eyes and ruffles Snack_Cake's mane. "Nice, yeah. Yeah they are."
[23:15] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash snorts. "Nah. I don't want in on anything with Slag. Too much like family, yeah? But pink roots or nay, I ain't a colt cuddler. Doc can..." He quickly closes his yap.
[23:15] <Scrap> "No, you probably can't." He instinctivly wipes his snout where his burn is. "But, then I got to live with my master and he was always nice to me. So, it's not all bad."
[23:17] * Thunder_Strike giggles and pokes him with a hoof. "finish that sentence. I dare ya." she says giggling. "and I didn't mean with slag."
[23:17] * Blackberry_Jam flicks her ears. She can't say why, but she felt the overwhelming urge to punch Slash right now... weird...
[23:18] * North_Star has finally put the pieces together. "And then he.. And you..Oh.."
[23:20] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash just kinda stares, cogs visibly turning in his head. It's like the light is on but the hampster is dead. Didn't she say she was opposed to stallions?  His mind-clutch re-engages and his head un-tilts. "Well... Just so ya know I have stipulations..."
[23:21] * Scrap looks nervous and wonders if he's actually guessed it. His ears flatten again and he speaks quietly, "I hide it because it tends to make ponies unconfertable. They also tend not to trust me as much if I don't cover up."
[23:22] * North_Star is now lost. "Whoa, hold up. Slow down a bit there."
[23:23] * Thunder_Strike chuckles then groans. "relax slash. I'm just fuckin with ya. you know I'm into mares. I can't believe you started to believe me."
[23:23] <Scrap> "What?"
[23:23] * Blackberry_Jam yawns a little and turns around to look at the ponies behind her. Hey! "Hey, slowpokes. Let's pick up the pace a little. We've got places to be."
[23:24] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  "Well... it happens all the time, ya see." Slash looks up at the convenient voice calling. Bless the good Doctor! "Best we catch up, yeah?"
[23:25] * North_Star titls his head. "I just got that you had lost your master to a group of raiders. I think you got that mixed up with another secret."
[23:27] * Thunder_Strike giggles and nods. " yes. we should." silences her littlepip sized curiousity wanting to know what he was saying then gets up to follow.
[23:31] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash trots slowly toward Doc and Dead_Weight. He isn't rushing much, they'll close sometime soon, but for now they are still out of earshot.
[23:33] * Thunder_Strike "you know... I bet mares think your cuter if you'd quit hiding your true color." she says giggling while she walks along side him.
[23:33] * Snack_Cake is definitely ready to leave. They've been here waaaay too long!
[23:33] * Blackberry_Jam frowns and turns entirely around. "Stallions. Asses. In gear. Let's go."
[23:35] * North_Star looks up at Blackberry_Jam. "We're right behind you. Quitcher yellin'."
[23:35] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash looks up at his mane... kinda... best he can. "Yeah, Slag found ma stash, yeah? The pink streak isn't too bad, I guess."
[23:36] * Blackberry_Jam rolls her eyes. "And we're moving at a snail's pace. We're sort of on a deadline, and stopping here set us back again."
[23:36] * Scrap upset by his own slip. He sighs, North_Star told him his story, it's fair for him pay him back, "my father was a trader and... a slaver. My mother was his most prized slave because she was a pegasus. He was an earth pony and thought that all other races and breeds should be subservient to them. Imagine his shock when his son was a lesser being."
[23:38] * Blackberry_Jam blinks at Scrap, who is apparently right behind him. "... And then there's that."
[23:39] * Thunder_Strike nod. " yeah she did and no it isn't bad. but you shouldn't be shamed of it. one of the slavers in the camp I'm from had a hot pink coat." she says following them all.
[23:39] * North_Star looks back to Scrap. "Oh, I see." He pauses for a moment. "Would it help if I said my ma was a unicorn?"
[23:39] * Scrap looks at Blackberry_Jam with a look of shame. He was trying to keep his voice down so as to not be over heard.
[23:41] * Blackberry_Jam puffs at her cigarette and shrugs. "Both my parents were unicorns, too."
[23:42] * Scrap looks at them both, "race doesn't matter to me, I was just saying that it did to him."
[23:43] * Blackberry_Jam nods a little and starts trotting backwards. "Just making sure you didn't think of yourself as 'lesser' because of it."
[23:45] * North_Star looks over at Blackberry_Jam, then back to Scrap. "So. what exactly are you hiding, if you don't mind me askin'"
[23:45] * Thunder_Strike looks at Blackberry and the others. then nods at BJ before looking back to Slash
[23:46] * Scrap glares at her, "I'm not a lesser being!" His expression immediatly softens. He quickly says, "I'm sorry, I know you don't think that."
[23:47] * Blackberry_Jam blinks a little. "Whoa there, Kamikaze. Don't regress on me. None of us are saying that... I mean, if anything..."
[23:48] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash keeps pace. He grimaces as he takes a little skitterstep. He slides a hoof under a plate and pulls out a sliver of metal. "Missed one. But, yeah, dye was a hidin' thing, don't know why i've kept it up so long, roight?"
[23:49] <Scrap> "If anything what?"
[23:50] * Blackberry_Jam mutters something and looks away. "Nothing, nothing. Now I think -both- North and I would like to hear exactly what you're hiding."
[23:50] * Thunder_Strike nods at him. " roight. she says smiling. "next time I see you. I wanna see pink. not that cause... its just not you." she says thinking she's smiling but looks emotionless
[23:52] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash gets his big dopey grin again. "Well, if ya wanna see my pink, lass..."
[23:52] * Scrap starting to get annoyed, "no, wbat do you mean by that?"
[23:53] * North_Star scratches his head, kinda wishing his normal speaking voice wasn't so damn loud.
[23:54] * Thunder_Strike looks at him a moment then face hooves. "ow... why the fuck did I do that." she says then looks at Slash. "Not that pink dopey. your mane."
[23:55] * Blackberry_Jam taps a hoof to her chin and looks to North_Star. "Well, Hot Shot just sort of asked if you were mixing up stories, and I think that maybe, if you tell us, I can try to understand why you... are you."
[23:56] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash shakes his head. "Nope, I know what ya /really/ want to see." He sticks his big, thick, pink... tongue out at her.
[23:57] * North_Star removes his hoof from his head, "She does have a point there. If we can't trust each other with secrets, how can we trust each other to shoot for our lives?"
[23:58] * Thunder_Strike rolls her eyes. "ha ha very funny." almost thought about bucking scrap for punching the straight back into her.
[00:00] * Scrap back and forth at them. He said with a bit of a desperate tone. "You... you don't think I don't like you because of my father do you? I hated him, but I don't blame earth ponies."
[00:00] <Scrap> Says*
[00:01] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash maintains his tongue-stuck-outedness, the tip waiving like a slithering sidewinder. Mechanic ponies have tremendous dexterity.
[00:02] * Blackberry_Jam puts her hooves up in defense. "Whoa, whoa. No way, Scrap. That's really not it."
[00:03] * Thunder_Strike giggles. "alright I see it."
[00:04] * Snack_Cake stays out of this conversation. It's not a nice one.
[00:04] * North_Star smiles and gives Scrap a comforting pat. "Absoultly not, Scrap. Contrary to what you may hear, sometimes the acorn falls very far from the tree."
[00:07] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash withdrawls his slithering mouth-serpent.
[00:09] * Blackberry_Jam hmmms again. "But we can't keep secrets from each other if we want trust. And to be honest... you could certainly use a little help in that department."
[00:11] * North_Star looks up at Blackberry_Jam. "Somethin' on your mind, Doc?"
[00:11] * Thunder_Strike taps her hoofs fast as she walks. "damn it scrap. you did punch the straight into me.." she says sighing.
[00:11] * Blackberry_Jam shakes her head, eyes on Scrap. "Just him."
[00:13] * Scrap looks at each of them again. He looks nervous at the thought of having to relive the pain, but with their help, he'll be ok. "Thank you. For wanting to listen and not thinking I don't like you."
[00:13] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash glances over to Snack_Cake again, not hearing Thunder's little aside. "Real armor, eh? And is that a pistol? Glad you're wisening up, yeah?"
[00:14] * Snack_Cake shies away from Slash. He really, really intimidates her.
[00:14] * Blackberry_Jam looks at him dubiously. "Don't thank me for not caring what you think of me." She says, occupying herself with a cigarette.
[00:15] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  Slash gives a little sigh.
[00:15] * North_Star gives Scrap a nod. "Out here, a long time caravan becomes family. Family looks out for family.." He said, shooting an offside glance at Blackberry_Jam.
[00:15] <Mister_Clacky|GM> *****Session End*****
[00:18] <Mister_Clacky|GM>  1000xp. No karma change. Slash has joi... is kinda nearby the party.