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- > The train rattled out of the station, the cloying stench of stale smoke and staccato rhythm luring me into sleep.
- > It'd be easy as pie to drift off right there.
- > The smells, the dull yellow light flashing in the windows, the faint rumbling.
- > It's like a mickey finn mixed for your soul.
- > "...are you even going to read the files?"
- > Sparks, sitting opposite in the cabin and reading by the light of her horn.
- > The cabin lights don't work.
- > That's why I picked this one.
- > My hat is pulled down over my eyes, shielding them mainly from the withering look she's no doubt aiming my way.
- > If her looks could kill, I'd have taken a dirtnap a long time back.
- "It's a long journey, sweetheart. I've had a longer day. Kick back while you can, there'll be plenty to do soon."
- > Hearing her frustrated sigh escape cracks a smile on my face.
- > That's what I was aiming for.
- > She's so straightlaced, can't help but ruffle her up for kicks.
- "Fine, fine..."...
- > ...I play the defeated party and pull myself up to a sitting position, lean an elbow on the table and start the self pat down.
- > There we go.
- > Top right pocket, a crumpled packet of mareboroughs.
- > Never leave home without them.
- > I play out looking for a light, until Sparks looks annoyed enough to cause it to burst into flames on it's own.
- > With a little true reluctance making the con all the more real, I sigh and tuck them away.
- > "...thankyou." She say's and her eyes return to dance over the contents of the manilla file.
- > I pick up one of the files and thumb through it.
- > The words flow into one another.
- > Can't focus.
- > My mind is still back in that alleyway.
- > Pushing the pieces around, seeing what shape it makes.
- > None of them are pretty.
- > All keeps coming back to Scoots.
- > Scoots and the man that shouted for help.
- "Sparks. I'm gonna need to talk to Smiles again."
- > She hates doing this.
- > Ready for a plee bargain in three... two...
- > "Anon. You already told him everything he needs. We have work to do. Seeing as you have your eyes closed, ONE of us better keep at it."
- > She's lowered the file onto the little, burn marked, java stained table that wobbles with each movement of the train.
- > Lights from a passed building trace across her face, highlighting those hard purple eyes.
- "Get him on the horn."
- > I hold the handset and stand there waiting.
- > Twilight is sitting there, forelegs folded across her chest and pouting.
- > The train inspector is doing a damn poor job of not laughing his ass off checks our stubs.
- > "This is humiliating."
- "Grin and bear it, dollface."
- > The handset looks like your common mike stand, but handheld.
- > A wire halo surrounds the part you speak into.
- > From the bottom a copper wire runs, trails across the table and coils around the horn of a pissed off unicorn.
- > The unicorn doesn't have to be sulking.
- > I just think it helps lighten the mood.
- > Twilight's eyes glow a bright purple and then, with a deeper voice she says...
- > ..."...I g-t it, thanks. Hey. Anon. This thing on?" It's Smiles voice she's speaking with.
- > Magic's a wonderful thing.
- "It's on Smiles. Listen. I need you to try something. I know were trying to place the male voice right now, but I want you to follow up with Scoots."
- > "...Why?" Straight to the point, our Smiles.
- "A hunch. She was there, Smiles. She tapped down the doe. I want to know what she saw."
- > "That's going to be tricky."
- "She's the only solid lead. Let the labcoats trace the doe. 'Till then, try to find Scoots."
- > "Didn't say I wasn't gonna do it."
- "Good p0ny. I'll fetch you back a carrot."
- > "Buck you, monkeyman."
- > Twilight shivers a little as you uncoil the wire, wrap it around the speaking wand and tuck it in your coat pocket.
- > "...I hate doing that." She whispers, her voice still deeper than usual.
- "Part of the job, Sparks."...
- > ...I say as I put a steadying hand on her shoulder and place my hipflask infront of her.
- > A purple glow unscrews the top and it shakily hovers up to her mouth.
- > She takes a hit, wincing as the liqour works a magic of it's own.
- > The shakes leave her and pass on to me.
- > I settle back, take a slug myself to chase them off and whisper...
- "ew, p0ny spit."
- > ...just loud enough for Sparks to hear.
- > She smiles and starts to adjust her mane with hoof and horn.
- > Sparks keeps her hair up most days, in a severe bun.
- > Makes her look like a librarian, I tell her.
- > She kinda likes that about it.
- > I don't tell her I do too.
- > She unfurls her mane, and lets it hang low, allowing you to see fully that distinctive pink stripe you love so much.
- "Get some shut eye, doll. You need it."
- > Can take a lot out of them, transmitting.
- > "uh-humm." She almost purrs as she tucks her hind legs round and underneath her.
- > Her head slides slowly down until it rests on her folded forelegs, her eyes sliding closed shortly after.
- > After ten minutes of holding a file and failing to read, I hear the first little snore.
- > I stand and drape my trusty coat over her.
- "G'night Twilight."
- > I don't get to call her that enough anymore.
- > If she was awake, she wouldn't let me.
- > The city falls behind us.
- > First we leave the towerblocks, proud and tall with lights shining defiance against the night.
- > Then the densely huddled suburbs, clustered close to the city as they can get.
- > They thin out further and further, like tendrils of light reaching out into the dark.
- > It's as if the city is reluctant to let us go, clinging on to the last moment...
- > I watch the city as the traintrack curves away.
- > The tendrils of light make her look like some great luminous jellyfish in an ocean of Black.
- > Beautiful.
- > It's only when you're too close to do anything about it, you notice the poison.
- > ...and then the last tendril of light is slipped and all we have is the dark.
- > Sleep follows soon.
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