Swept & Dash

[08:14:42] * Starseeker|GM  | The Neighayenne cityscape is lit up by emergency lights as the sounds of emergency crews checking to see those that survived the Megaspell blast are in good health. Power has been questionable since the detonation, relying on a local grid that needs to cycle every four hours to prevent an overload. Rainbow Dash is standing on the decking of the Maintenance Facility, looking about
[08:14:42] * Starseeker|GM  the city. Having seen Swept again almost seemed like karma. /And the bitch had to decide now and under these circumstances would be the best time./
[08:18:13] * Swept_Wing steps out onto the deck, the grizzled stallion wearing his regular pair of glasses, Aviators tucked into a pocket on his uniform. "Hey Dash." He says, flicking his scarred ear.
[08:20:12] * Starseeker|GM  | Rainbow Dash turns in her Shadowbolt Armor to look at Swept_Wing who had just stepped out onto the deck. "What are you doing up? Thought I said everypony should get some shut-eye after the day you ponies have had. Megaspells, zebras, buildings falling apart at your hooves." She taps the rail, inviting him over after giving him a hard time.
[08:22:36] * Swept_Wing chuckles. "I'm out for my midnight stroll, what else?" He says, stepping over next to Dash, sighing as he gazed out over the city. "Under normal circumstances I'd say it was a beautiful night tonight, but considering what's happened, it's the exact opposite of that."
[08:23:53] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash scoffed a bit. "You were trouble with those "midnight strolls" of yours. All too often they ended up in my quarters. Or did you forget all the times I beat you up and send you back to your barracks promising to tell everyone what you'd done the next morning just so I could see you squirm?"
[08:26:28] * Swept_Wing rolls his eyes. "Except I never did anything, Commander." He chuckles. "Just talked."
[08:28:12] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash laughed. "Trying to turn me into a softy, you were. How long has it been now, eight years since I drop-kicked your flank into a Vertibuck and told you to get yor shit together or not show your face in Cloudsdale again?"
[08:29:40] * Swept_Wing smirks. "Ten actually. You dragged me into your damn black-ops missions, and boy if I didn't love 'em." He laughs. "You picked a good squad, the best damn fliers I've ever seen."
[08:31:44] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash says "Well, I know how to put together the best that there is. Took me long enough to get into the Wonderbolts to begin with. So what the heck have you been doing with yourself, Lieutenant? Not that I haven't been keeping tabs on you--and about every other pilot that I stamped the seal of approval on. Knew that if I didn't do it Pinkie Pie would and...don't get me started
[08:31:44] * Starseeker|GM  about her Ministry of Morale crap."
[08:33:40] * Swept_Wing grins. "Not much, been trying to get this base locked down and secure and move the civvies into it. We've got a hell of a lot of work to do if we're going to survive this..." He looks over at Dash. "And speaking of the Ministry Mares... did any others... survive?"
[08:35:28] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash sighs. "No way to know for sure. I haven't been anywhere near Canterlot yet--place is all FUBAR. Manehatten took a direct hit, and pretty sure Pinkie was...there. Haven't heard from Twilight, but she's been all crazy with this research and her IMP project. Right now, I...I might be it. AJ maybe, but..." She stops for a second and shakes off some unpleasant feelings.
[08:37:28] * Swept_Wing nods. "I'm sorry." He says quietly. "I know my squad didn't make it... Steel 3 and 4 were in Cloudsdayle, 5 and 6 were in Canterlot, and 7 and 8 were in Fillydelphia..."
[08:39:56] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash kicks the side of the railing. "Celestia-damned zebras! We should never have trusted Zecora! Now they've killed us. Pinkie was just--insane. Twilight wanted to slap her when we were at Hoofbeats that last time. Those fucking Party-Time Mintals just...hell, even /I/ stopped talking to her. She lost it."
[08:43:15] * Swept_Wing remains quiet, knowing that now would be a good time to not say anything. He extends a wing to Dash for a hug.
[08:45:02] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash didn't see it right away, and said "Friendship died today--who am I kidding, it's been dead for a while. Just been too busy to notice it. Fighting this war..." She turned to look at him, eyes misting. "Was it worth it?" She moves to him, wings open herself for the embrace.
[08:46:28] * Swept_Wing hugs Dash, smiling sadly down at the mare. Yes he was a few inches taller [>D]. "Not entirely Dash. Friendship... friendship will never change."
[08:50:50] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash nods silently. "But your...your friends do, Swept Wing. And I didn't know my friends anymore. They were strangers, just faces I knew from times long past. Applejack, she...she stayed loyal. And honest. I just know...somehow she's alive somewhere."
[08:54:55] * Swept_Wing nods, rubbing Dash's back with his wing. "War changes ponies... I've seen it myself. It can turn the nicest of stallions into ruthless monsters..."
[08:58:23] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash nods as she feels his wing against her back, pretending not to notice. "Tell me about it. I've had to Section 8 a few ponies. It was either that or execute them. I told myself I wasn't gonna become Pinkie Pie. Celestia, why am I talking about her? She's /dead./ She was spying on me and thought that it was funny when we let Zecora escape. I never knew what happened in Canterlot
[08:58:23] * Starseeker|GM  that one night when we found her beaten to death. Nopony claimed responsibility yet, but...felt like that assassination attempt on AJ."
[09:01:52] * Swept_Wing nods. "I saw her around the hangars a few times when she was up in Seaddle, poking around the Verts. I told her to leave my babies alone." He chuckels a little, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
[09:02:55] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "Who, Pinkie Pie? You scrubbed it down and checked for bugs, right?"
[09:04:00] * Swept_Wing nods. "Every day." He chuckles. "Though she could have just checked the black box, since that records everything anyway."
[09:06:07] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash shook her head. "She was almost paranoid. Told her to get help, but. So what's the /real/ reason you're up here, flybuck? Sure ain't here for the scenery, and I think I'm a bit old to catch your eye anymore."
[09:10:18] * Swept_Wing chuckles. "You'd be surprised, and I'm not exactly young myself anymore either."
[09:11:17] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash gently poked him in the chest. "Always pushing back just a little further than I pushed you. Do you remember what I first thought of you when you were a green-skinned recruit?"
[09:11:47] * Swept_Wing shakes his head. "Remind me."
[09:13:04] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash chuckles. "You looked like you had just been thrown out of the nest, stuttered like Pinkie Pie on a sugar spree, and crashed into three obstacles on the course. Almost flunked your flank until you got it together. Still think ther's a bit of a loose-cannon potential inside of you."
[09:15:56] * Swept_Wing grins. "Surprised you when I graduated at the top of my class didn't I? And I think that's a good thing, because especially as a pilot you have to be able to come up with crazy ideas crazy fast, that will actually work."
[09:19:31] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash waves a wing back and forth. "That's one way of doing it, even though that borders on reckless and stupid. But you do what you need to out in the field, one of the many lessons I taught you in Flight Ops Class. What a snooze-fest. I could have given you the technical sheet and called it a day."
[09:22:07] * Swept_Wing laughs, nodding. "Mhm, but I paid attention believe it or not." He looks over at Dash, pushing his glasses up.
[09:23:30] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash says "That was the point, ya goof. You want a coffee or something? Commissary is keeping some hot and fresh. Or we could just stay here and...do stuff."
[09:25:38] * Swept_Wing smirks. "'Do stuff' eh?"
[09:26:47] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash nods conspiriatorally. "Yeah. "Do stuff." I'll let your imagination fill the gaps, but don't stress yourself. Don't need you getting a headache."
[09:30:21] * Swept_Wing chuckles, taking a seat on the balcony. "I'm good on coffee for now." He says, motioning for Dash to sit next to him.
[09:32:01] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash trots over and sits down, looking up to see the eerily greenish sky, tinted with backwash of megaspell detonations and balefire burning places. The stars are out, but muted and fuzzy with the wash of necromantic energies and dust in the air.
[09:33:51] * Swept_Wing puts his wing around Dash, gazing up at the sky with her.
[09:35:56] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash looks up, and says "We need to come up with a plan if we're going to survive. Right now the local guardsponies and griffons and keeping things from going to shit, but it won't last long. Soon enough ponies that survived will be heading this way, and looking for answers. Won't be long until the pegasi might initiate that security lockdown protocol that I helped to invent in
[09:35:56] * Starseeker|GM  case of megaspell attack."
[09:38:42] * Swept_Wing nods. "We'll need to get everyone organized, make sure they all have something productive to do. We'll need crews to start help rebuilding and patrols to keep the perimiter secured."
[09:40:31] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash nodded. "And secure the borders. This is probably the last bastion of safety, although I'm shocked that Neighayenne itself didn't get took badly damaged. Weapons, supplies...it's gonna be interesting."
[09:42:23] * Swept_Wing nods, rubbing Dash's back again with his wing. "Mhm, hell we've got some serious military hardware at our disposal still."
[09:43:00] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash finally sniffles a bit. "Swept...one of my best trainees. What did we do?"
[09:44:25] <Swept_Wing> "Honestly Dash? I have no clue. We did our jobs... and everything went to shit." He says, pulling Dash close. "They bombed us, we bombed them, and that was that."
[09:45:38] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "But...not even that, I knew. We all knew. How do you think we knew to get everypony in the Stables? There wasn't enough time for a quickevac. Hell, it was supposed to be a couple of days from now. Apparently somezebra over there got overly anxious."
[09:46:41] * Swept_Wing shrugs. "It's not your fault Dashie, what happened happened, and all we can do now is try to pick up the pieces..."
[09:48:32] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "What happened is something I've been carrying around for a month and not able to tell anypony. A month, Swept. No Loyalty just earns itself back when I can't even tell the ponies in my own Ministry that the Death Clock's been started and we can't shut it off. I didn't fire a single missle, I know that. But we...we all failed each other."
[09:49:52] * Swept_Wing nods silently. "I know... I remember begging you to let me take my squad out and try to find their megaspell sites..."
[09:51:05] * Starseeker|GM  | Rainbow Dash looked to Swept. "And it would have been a suicide mission, plain and simple. Be it anti-materiel rifles or dragons they had guarding those sites, what would have taking one of them our mattered in the long run?"
[09:54:53] * Swept_Wing meets Dash's gaze, his blue eyes showing wisdom beyond his years, a veteran of more battles than anypony cared to count. The chunk missing from his ear testament to his long and dangerous service to the war. "If only it would have mattered, but we can move forward with 'if onlys'."
[09:57:18] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "'If Onlys' sound like something Twilight would say. Dammit. My friends are dead. Ponyville is gone. Applejack's in one of those damned Stables. I'm never going to see her again. Where do I go now?"
[09:58:58] <Swept_Wing> "Right here Dash. You've got friends still... they're not all gone."
[10:01:40] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash looks to Swept. "Knew I could count on you, Swept. Always had a feeling that we'd end up meeting again, just...not here, not like this. Do you...still feel the same way?"
[10:04:58] * Swept_Wing smiles at Dash, fixing her in his gaze. "After meeting you again... I think my feelings... might have changed some." [assuming she's referring to their relationship previously?]
[10:05:31] <Starseeker|GM> (Yup)
[10:05:50] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "Oh. Another mare catch your eye, or are you still an equal opportunity stallion?"
[10:06:37] <Swept_Wing> "Well, a mare /did/ catch my eye, one with a very distinctive mane..."
[10:07:19] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash chuckles. "If it's Rarity, I'll let you know that you were wasting your time."
[10:08:59] * Swept_Wing smirks. "I've always been the straight-forward type... It's you Dash."
[10:10:01] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash bops Swept in the side. "You must have feathers in your ears: I said /another/ mare, not me, ya goof. Good to know I still got it."
[10:12:33] * Swept_Wing rolls his eyes, ruffling his wings. "You would think after being friends for 17 years I'd have made my move sooner, and certainly not like this."
[10:13:46] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash acts hurt. "I kept wondering what the hell was taking you so dang long. I mean, it's not just any pony that gets the chance to saddle up with the Dash...or have them saddle her up."
[10:15:03] * Swept_Wing wraps his wing around Dash's waist. "Wait really? You had your eye on me the whole time?"
[10:15:34] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash facehooves. "Well, duh! Or were you really that oblivious to not notice? And you call yourself a pilot!"
[10:16:08] * Swept_Wing blushes a little. "I'm... not the best with that sort of thing."
[10:16:56] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "You're joking? The Swept Wing is actually /shy/ around mares? Somepony get a press pony on the line, we've got a breaking story for Gabby Gums!"
[10:17:55] * Swept_Wing rubs the back of his neck. "Heh, yeah. Who woulda thought?" He chuckles a little.
[10:18:18] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "You know I'm going to be teasing you about this for the rest of your life now."
[10:18:36] * Swept_Wing groans. "Just don't tell my sister..."
[10:19:08] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash smirks evilly. "She /is/ asleep, right? Maybe we should go down and make sure."
[10:20:10] * Swept_Wing puts a hoof around Dash's shoulders. "Nahh." He says, curling his wing around her waist a bit more.
[10:21:34] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash says to Swept "You know I can break out of this if I really wanted to."
[10:21:56] <Swept_Wing> "Mhm, but you're not."
[10:22:40] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "Because I like it here. Cuddling with you. Getting you...nice and vulnerable emotionally. Why does it take a near-world ending thing to get you to be true to your feelings?"
[10:24:37] <Swept_Wing> "Because nearly everything and everyone I've ever cared about is gone... My parents are likely dead, all but two of my squadmates are gone, my home is gone... all I've got left is Swoop, and you."
[10:26:03] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash says "And I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else but stuck at the end of the world with you if I had a choice."
[10:29:53] * Swept_Wing meets Dash's gaze, his hoof going to stroke her mane gently. "How long have you had your eye on me...?"
[10:30:33] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash looked at him coyly. "Sorry, flybuck. You don't get to unlock me that easily. Just hug me, you fool...and maybe I'll play nice and give you a kiss."
[10:32:51] * Swept_Wing chuckles, wrapping Dash in a hug, a smile on his face.
[10:33:20] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash near melts into Swept_Wing, sniffling softly.
[10:34:41] * Swept_Wing gives Dash a light nuzzle, just holding her with a happy sigh.
[10:35:38] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "You know that this'll change things. No longer CO you to you if we do this, friend. Didn't say lover, so if that Little Wing is getting any ideas, tell him to stow em."
[10:37:14] * Swept_Wing nods. "It's the end of the world Dashie, everything's changing."
[10:38:09] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash nods. "It's getting cold. Weather'll start changing soon. Might want to enjoy the warmth while we have it."
[10:39:57] <Swept_Wing> "Mhm, I looked at the reports earlier..." He holds her closer, giving her a light nuzzle again.
[10:41:15] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash says "I don't know what we're going to do. We'll have to come up with some way to create heat. Otherwise we could all end up freezing to death in the coming "winter"."
[10:42:55] <Swept_Wing> "Well... I can come up with something. Juryrig something up."
[10:43:22] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "When did you get so inventive? Oh, wait...that's after I taught you everything I know."
[10:46:05] * Swept_Wing smirks. "And after fixing a crashed Vertibuck and flying it back to base from behind Zebrican lines."
[10:46:30] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "That's my boy. Man. Pony. Don't say it, Swept."
[10:46:56] * Swept_Wing nuzzles Dash again. "Say what~?"
[10:47:08] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "Smart answer."
[10:50:51] * Swept_Wing grins. "But really, how long have you had your eye on me?"
[10:51:22] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "You /really/ think I'm going to answer you, don't you?"
[10:52:34] <Swept_Wing> "Maybe~"
[10:53:12] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "It's a number between 1 and 17 years. You get 3 guesses."
[10:54:47] * Swept_Wing hmmmms. "5?"
[10:55:02] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "Nope.
[10:55:28] * Swept_Wing chuckles. "Higher or lower?"
[10:55:44] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "That isn
[10:56:05] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "That isn't a number, one guess left." She then smiles evilly.
[10:58:04] <Swept_Wing> "Uhhh, 12?"
[10:58:25] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "Heh. Guess it's your lucky day."
[10:59:34] * Swept_Wing grins. "12 years? Holy shit. Well I guess I better start making up for them now."
[10:59:59] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "I didn't say that you were right, Swept. Just said it was your lucky day."
[11:00:42] * Swept_Wing chuckles. "Oh?"
[11:01:16] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "Yup. Now you get to go get a blanket for us to bed down on, cause I'm too lazy to want to go downstairs to my quarters."
[11:03:23] <Swept_Wing> "Or you could ride on my back."
[11:03:48] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash laughs. "Fine, fine...I guess I'll get up and stop being lazy..."
[11:04:53] * Swept_Wing offers his back to Dash, chuckling.
[11:05:29] * Starseeker|GM  stands up and slides onto Swept_Wing's back. She's a little heavier than when the two first met, pushing down on Swept_Wing slightly.
[11:06:26] * Swept_Wing is fairly strong, and stands up with relative ease with Dash on his back, heading off the balcony and down to the barraks, heading for Dash's room.
[11:06:48] <Starseeker|GM> (Might be time for me to bed-down myself...)
[11:08:47] <Swept_Wing> [you good for another 52 minutes? :3]
[11:09:13] <Starseeker|GM> (Ehh...yeah)
[11:09:43] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash smiles as the warmth of the inside of the Depot strikes her and causes her coat to bristle slightly. "Not that cold out there...yet."
[11:10:29] <Swept_Wing> "Not yet." He says, stepping into her room.
[11:11:31] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash laughs. "Well, isn't this a familiar situation. So are we just going to talk?"
[11:13:15] * Swept_Wing looks back at Dash. "Well..." He blushes. "If you wanted to do something other than talk..."
[11:14:29] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash laughs as she moves to the bed and flops down onto it. "Maybe. Not yet, you haven't even taken me out for dinner yet."
[11:16:10] * Swept_Wing flops down next to Dash. "Well if there's any restraunts still operating..." He smiles at her.
[11:16:46] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "You and your reality to muck everything up. Stop being so serious for a minute, and let's just talk shop like we used to do."
[11:18:43] * Swept_Wing lies on his back, staring up at the ceiling. "Swoop's going to find out at some point... She'll never forgive me." He chuckles. "Did I ever tell you I've punched every single one of her coltfriends at some point?"
[11:21:38] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "You quite enjoyed watching them squirm as Big Brother came in kicked some flank."
[11:23:33] * Swept_Wing nods, chuckling. "They got three chances, and none of them were able to pull it off."
[11:24:41] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "How many did you need to "gently show the door?"
[11:25:01] <Swept_Wing> "Ooooh, five or six I think."
[11:25:59] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "Only five or six? Swept...you forgot to bring the new ones in to keep the pattern going."
[11:26:43] <Swept_Wing> "Well after I beat up the last one she stopped dating for awhile."
[11:27:15] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "And did she return the favor in causing you pain?"
[11:28:06] <Swept_Wing> "Heh, well, I've never really dated before so uh... yeah." He blushes again.
[11:28:40] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash facehoofs. "I meant did she beat *you* up after you beat up a boyfriend?"
[11:30:05] * Swept_Wing shakes his head. "No, she thanked me for a few of them actually."
[11:30:59] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash snerks. "You got a good sister there. Oh...oh, no, snap, fuck dammit! Scootaloo! Where's Scootaloo?!?"
[11:31:42] * Swept_Wing blinks. "Scootaloo?"
[11:35:07] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash "VIce-President of Stable-Tec, yadda yadda yadda...the plan was to meet in Clouds...da...le. Wait! Maybe we can see if there's a trace of hope that she survived:
[11:35:21] * Swept_Wing nods, sitting up. "How?"
[11:36:18] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "I don't know. But...damnit, Swept, if she dies...alone, out there..."
[11:37:30] * Swept_Wing nods, placing a hoof around Dash. "We could search for her if you want... I've got scanners for my Vertibuck."
[11:37:51] <Starseeker|GM> (Hitting that wall)
[11:38:11] <Swept_Wing> [mks, pick it up tomorrow?]
[11:38:19] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "We should do it first thing in the morning...we can't take off now, I'll be too panicked and bad thing'll happen..."
[09:50:31] * Swept_Wing nuzzles Dash. "The longer we wait, the less of a chance we have of finding her alive..."
[09:50:37] * Starseeker|GM  | Rainbow Dash then pauses, looking at a nearby wall with a sense of detached apathy. "No, we...we can't. I want to, but we'd be endangering ourselves in the process to find her. Besides, she's a tough pony. She can take care of herself, she doesn't need me to look after her all the time. Those days are long past."
[09:52:02] * Swept_Wing nods. "Alright." He srokes Dash's mane gently. "Now what were we talking about?" He asks with a small chuckle.
[09:54:20] <Swept_Wing> strokes*]
[09:54:36] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash sniffles for the briefest of seconds, as she realizes there's yet another pony she's going to never see alive again. "Flyboy, your timing could use some work. This is /Scootaloo/, one of my biggest fans, and I can't save her without worring about killing myself in the process. We were talking about us, you and me and if we stand a chance in this wonderful world of our making."
[10:00:47] * Swept_Wing hugs Dash, not replying immediately. "I'm sorry." He says quietly to her after a moment. "And I think we do. There's always a way to survive."
[10:02:26] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash looks up to Swept_Wing in the hug. "You're dense at times, Swept. I meant /this/, our romance, love...you know, what I thought we were talking about? Survival isn't an issue: we can survive here if we're still alive and not having our PipBucks start clicking like mad from radiation."
[10:06:53] * Swept_Wing nods, nuzzling Dash's cheek, meeting her gaze. "I think we stand a chance in that regard too Dash." He says quietly. "Because if there's one thing you are, it's Loyal, and that, for me, is the most important quality in a mare."
[10:10:24] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash manages a smile. "There are ponies in...what's left of Cloudsdale that will disagree with you, love. I hope they'll be busier taking care of their own to not worry about just one pony. Shadowbolts were...on training assignment, not in Cloudsdale, but---they're not as loyal to me as they used to be. Politics change ponies, Swept, just as they've changed you ever so slightly."
[10:13:24] * Swept_Wing nods lightly. "Whatever they're doing up there, if I still had my squad together I'd take 'em up and show 'em a lesson." He says, smiling back at Dash. "And I haven't changed one bit." He pulls Dash a little closer.
[10:14:53] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash raises her eyebrow at that. "Oh, really? You sound pretty darn sure of yourself, Lieutenant. When was the last time you pulled a kamikase run and aborted just at the last second, laughing all the while as your hapless co-pilot is looking around the cabin for something to hurt you with? And I know Swoop doesn't let you get away with that: hell, she /helps/ you with it."
[10:17:46] * Swept_Wing chuckles. "See? Not one bit." He nuzzles Dash again, his tail flicking to twine with hers. "And I've done crazier stuff like cutting the engines at 30k and dropping straight down, starting them back up again right before going splat."
[10:19:25] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash chuckles. "Gotcha. You didn't answer the question. You were an eager runt when I first got assigned you. First to have their wing in the air. A couple of your classmates were convinced that our relationship was far more than student/teacher even backt then."
[10:22:04] * Swept_Wing smirks at Dash. "Last time I did something like that was last month. And I was egar. I loved flying, I still do."
[10:23:45] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash says "Just the planes or actually using the wings that you were born with? I've known too many pilots who forget the basics and atrophy over time. Then they get /fat/ and I need to whip them back into shape. Do you know how much fun that is?"
[10:25:20] * Swept_Wing chuckles. "Both Dash. But sitting behind the controls is an experience of a lifetimes. I'll be honest, I loved dogfighting. Pushing an aircraft to its limits like that is the most fun I've ever had."
[10:27:27] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash smirks. "Yes, my maintenance techs know you on a first name basis. They just wait for you to arrive with your newest technical malady and charge you double for it. You definitely took that credo literally."
[10:29:05] * Swept_Wing strokes Dash's sides lightly with his wings, chuckling. "Oh yes, I know. My bird has been through hell and back on a regular basis, but it's always gotten me home."
[10:31:42] * Starseeker|GM  | The mare snickered. "And...home. I'm, Swept, this...this will be home for me now. I'm not leaving. I can't. I know I should, but I'm--I have to run to Canterlot soon. Finish a job for Pinkie Pie, and her Ministry, and I'll be straight home after that."
[10:33:59] * Swept_Wing shakes his head. "No, not Canterlot... It's too dangerous! You'll die before you make it 10 feet even."
[10:36:04] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash looks to Swept_Wing. "There's connecting tunnels for the Ministry of Peace building. I stock up on Healing Potions, Super Restoration Potions and get the hell out of there before I become part of the scenery. If it hadn't been for her and her stupid Pinkie Sense this time, I would have refused. You're not talking me out of this, Swept. She /was/ my friend. I can't elect when
[10:36:04] * Starseeker|GM  I'm going to be loyal or not."
[10:36:57] * Swept_Wing nods, stroking Dash's mane slowly. "When do you leave...?"
[10:37:53] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash : "After we explore the Ministry of Wartime Technology building. It's four hours' flight. I /will be back/ before the day is out. Well...that is, unless..."
[10:40:31] * Swept_Wing shakes his head. "No... you'll come back."
[10:42:11] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash: "Bloodied, maybe. Before I came down here I heard them planning--they're sending someone to kill me. The best, and they're...related, in way. They're sending Gilda after me. Anyone else, no sweat. Her? She might just get the better of me."
[10:43:25] * Swept_Wing bites his lip. "...let me come with you then."
[10:45:06] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash shakes her head. "No. You can't. You aren't authorized to make it through the security in my Ministry. You'd be killed faster in there than you would outside. I know about the Pink, and...fucking zebras had to do something like that. Awesome's inside is triple sealed and reverse compressed. Not bad for an unmarked and forgotten warehouse that Luna said she didn't need--but a
[10:45:06] * Starseeker|GM  great place for covert ops."
[10:46:52] * Swept_Wing nods. He strokes Dash's cheek with his hoof slowly, looking down at her. "Just come back to me alive, alright?"
[10:47:47] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash kisses him on the cheek. "I don't plan on dying just yet. Somepony's got to make sure you don't wreck all of our two remaining helicopters, and I don't see this griffon Ironwing able to pull that off."
[10:52:02] * Swept_Wing chuckles lightly, blushing slightly at the kiss. "You better not." He says quietly, his normally rugged and stoic face softening as he gazed down at Dash, stroking her mane with one hoof and her cheek with the other.
[10:53:05] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash pulls Swept_Wing gently to her and onto the bed. They make a *pomf* sound as the two are now lying right next to each other. A nearby wall-clock indicates the time is 0032.
[10:56:15] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash looks right at Swept_Wing. "So...what are you thinking?"
[10:57:34] * Swept_Wing is practically muzze-to-muzzle with Dash now, their bodies pressed against each other. She could feel his breath as he inhaled and exhaled deeply. "I'm thinking... about you." He says. "Nothing else. Just being with you..."
[10:58:33] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash shivers a bit from a sudden and unexpected breeze of cool air from the base's environmental systems. "And...what would you pay to be with me, if a cost was asked of you?"
[10:59:37] <Swept_Wing> "I would give my life for you."
[11:00:47] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash says: "What about...something more personal for you? Something that I might need to make an order."
[11:02:24] <Swept_Wing> "Like?"
[11:03:49] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash sighs softly. "I know you have a penchant for letting your heart overwhelm your common sense. Until I get back after we do the investigation, I don't want you leaving anywhere with the Vertibucks. Tomorrow at our briefing I'm going to ground Steel One indefinitely. I just don't know how well your sister will take it."
[11:04:54] * Swept_Wing nods. "I understand." He replies. "And... Swoop won't take it well, but I'll try and help her."
[11:07:24] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash nods as she shakes her rainbow-colored mane around, showing more streaks of silver than she'd like. "Guh...getting old sucks. They don't sell rainbow-colored hair dye."
[11:09:32] * Swept_Wing strokes his hoof through her mane. "Heh, tell me about it. I'm going to start going grey any day now." He smiles at Dash, hoof going from her mane down to her back, rubbing in between her wings gently.
[11:10:20] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash scoffs. "You, need hair dye? You were being trained when you were still wearing diapers. You, go grey? Now /that/ will truly be the end of the world."
[11:14:03] * Swept_Wing chuckles lightly. "I'm 34 Dash, that's not young." He pulls her a little closer. "And I look a lot older than I am..." This close dash could see the small scars criss-crossing his face, the chunk missing from his left ear, among others.
[11:16:28] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash looks over the pilot, examining the wounds and blemishes on Swept_Wing. "Yeah...time has not been kind to you. I'm in my 50s, young buck. Age is a number and buck anything else. It'd be just like Twilight to lecture me on whether or not I was older. Twi...dammit. This is gonna be hell, love. Already is.
[11:20:44] * Swept_Wing strokes her cheek gently, nodding once. "I'm always here for you Dash..." He leans a little closer, his scarred ear flicking slightly. "And I always will be."
[11:22:09] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash says "When we get to MWT, I want to access their servers. Stable-Tec might be unmanned, but the systems are still online. And I'm not Black Ops for nothin. I can see if Applejack's alive. Even if one of them made it...just one of my friends did, I'll be happy. But we're not gonna do that if we don't get some sleep."
[11:25:29] * Swept_Wing nods in agreement. "Indeed..." He takes a shaky breath, and closes the small gap between their muzzles for a kiss.
[11:26:35] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash locks him up in the kiss for a couple of seconds, letting this warmth help to offset the length of the day. She breaks it after three seconds, looking to him. "Not tonight, love. Just hold me. Right now, I...I need it more than you know."
[11:28:34] * Swept_Wing nods, wrapping his hooves tightly around Dash and pulling her close, stroking her mane soothingly. He started humming softly as well.
[11:29:46] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash listens to the soft humming, a smile of previous days coming to the forefront. Her eyes close softly as Swept_Wing soothes her body and mind with his touch and music.
[11:32:23] * Swept_Wing continues humming and holding Dash, making no indication that he was going to stop.
[11:33:09] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash whispers softly: "Swept, I'm not going anywhere. This bird is crashed for night. Make sure I don't snore..."
[11:34:50] * Swept_Wing nuzzles Dash's neck. "Goodnight Dash." He says quietly. "Sweet dreams~"
[11:35:17] * Starseeker|GM  | Dash nods gently, mumbling "night"