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Smoke & Mirrors; Livewire
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Topic Started: Apr 5 2013, 05:41 PM (128 Views)
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Ma'Lynn
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Apr 5 2013, 05:41 PM
Post #1
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"I be out again, girlies," 'Lynn called out to her other two flat mates as she rolled her neck, eliciting a satisfying series of cracks from it. "De'a be food in da kitchen when ju get hungry, as usual. Be back lata'." She turned then and left her place of residence, making sure to lock the door behind her before heading into the streets of Ponyville, no real destination set in mind as she moved. It was roughly six or seven in the evening, and the only thing she had to do was kill time.
It was nothing unusual to her; times like these were set aside every week or two for her personal gain, so she could get away from where she lived without getting bored of the setting or the ponies she lived with. They'd be lost without her and while it was a little silly to think about, that's just how things were and so compromises had to be made. This was one of those compromises.
The evening air was a little bit chilly, what with the storm that had happened on the previous night. It was a little reminiscent of home, in that the days were scorching while the nights were quite different than that. Sighing quietly, she shook her head and pushed those thoughts out of her mind as she continued on through the streets of Ponyville, gaze slowly moving over ponies she passed. There were none she deemed interesting enough to approach and chat with, even in the usual spots she typically had luck with. So, she figured, she'd have to do something a little bit more drastic to fulfill her need for conversation and attention.
Somewhere on the edge of town, somepony had set up a bar... which was a little amusing at first to learn had been established in a place like Ponyville. There were always ponies with problems, it seemed, even in a simple town like this. While there tended to be at least one or two ponies there who were at least somewhat worthwhile to talk to, the majority were there to just drink away their problems... and it was those kinds of ponies 'Lynn tended to try to avoid. Nothing worse than ponies who pitied themselves because something petty didn't go their way.
It took a few more minutes of walking, but she eventually found that bar standing in front of her. With her usual smirk of humor and a gait of confidence, she entered the building and slowly swept her eyes over the other ponies she passed on her way to the counter. It was always amusing to her how the ponies in these kinds of places tended to be more free where their eyes wandered, especially now with how late in the night it was. All females, of course, were their prey, free for them to do with as they pleased.
Not all of them were that way, though. There were some more content to talk with friends and drink alone than oggle a prize they could have only in their head. She had to look twice, but there was a pony that sat alone, though that wasn't what caught her eye; it was his stripes that held her attention and told her that she'd finally found what she'd been looking for all night: an equine interesting enough to talk to.
Smirk still on her face, she climbed onto a stool just a few seats away from the zebra-in-question before waving down the bartender. "Gimme an Amaretto sou'a, bredda," she said when he'd approached, then watched for a few seconds as he set about making her drink. She soon looked to the zebra beside her out of the corner of her eyes, confident sapphire eyes gazing at him for a moment before speaking up. "Gotta be interestin', sittin' alone, drinkin', lookin' so stand-offish. I still don't see da appeal ju stallions find in dat."
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Livewire
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Apr 5 2013, 07:14 PM
Post #2
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Livewire set off from the Ponyville Manor that evening, a bit put off by the new arrivals that seemed to be setting themselves up there. He could tell that Seraph was more than happy for the business, but more ponies meant more bodies that he'd have snooping around. He wasn't against answering their questions about the Manor, but when they started asking questions about him, he had to stop them there. He was a doctor nowadays, and nothing more.
The Twilight Tavern on the outskirts of town had gotten used to his presence though. He'd stopped in there at least once a week since his first visit, and the name of Doctor Therapy was well enough know to the bartender there. He always ordered the same thing; Gin and tonic, with lime. Livewire made his way through the bar's doors, and took a seat on his usual stool, right near the corner of the bar, far enough away from other patrons so he wouldn't be caught up in their common talks. Every once in a while, he'd spot somepony interesting looking, and talk to them for a bit.
On this night, however, it seemed as though the tides of fate were to reverse themselves, as a mare approached him. That was an odd enough sight in itself, for one to actively seek him out. The rings echoing sound from her legs piqued his interest though. Not many ponies wore rings that looked Zebrican in nature. He'd entertain her words for the moment, and listened as he sipped at his drink. This mare had an awfully odd accent, that was to be sure.
"To be honest, I stay over in this corner because ponies don't usually take kindly to my kind. I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised to see you're not all like that, Miss...?"
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Ma'Lynn
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Apr 5 2013, 07:31 PM
Post #3
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The smirk on 'Lynn's face widened a bit when the stallion a few seats down mentioned ponies not taking kindly to 'his' kind. If he'd just turn his head and look for a moment, he'd see why she wasn't like that... But of course he had to play the 'cool guy' ruse, and not give her a second glance. She just giggled at him and turned back to watching the bartender prepare her drink.
"I be Ma'Lynn, mon. Jus' call me 'Lynn, t'ough. Rolls off da tongue a lot betta, ju feel me?" At that, the bartender slid her drink across the counter to her to which she returned the favor with a wink and a couple of bits pulled from the bitpurse hung around her neck. She then lifted the beverage up and took a healthy drink from it before exhaling loudly after swallowing. "So ponies don't take kindly to 'jur kind', hm? I gotta wonda' if dat happened befo'a dis wa' too... an' why in Equestria stripes would dissent stripes."
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Livewire
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Apr 5 2013, 07:46 PM
Post #4
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Hmn, Ma'Lynn. Odd name for a pony. For some odd reason, she was giggling at him now, no doubt finding his wearing of a cloak and sunglasses indoors funny. Still, it wasn't as though he had anypony better to talk to at the moment, and it would be rude to break off of a conversation without some sort of legitimate reasoning, of which he had none. Her accent though...there was something off about it. It didn't feel like it was from the Equestrian mainland. Perhaps somewhere more tropical?
"Pleasure to meet you then, Miss Lynn." He watched as her drink was passed to her, and paid for. What she said next brought the entire conversation into clarity though. The comment about stripes...suddenly, it all made sense. "A-ah, you'll have to forgive me. My sight isn't what it used to be. I was unaware that you were Zebrican as well." He took another drink of his gin, much more relaxed now. Other Zebras probably wouldn't judge him as much. "I'm Doctor Therapy, local medical practitioner."
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Ma'Lynn
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Apr 6 2013, 08:19 AM
Post #5
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Finally, after her talking about their sharing stripes the stallion next to her caught on to what she was... though it was still strange that he didn't really catch on before. Even if his sight wasn't as good as it used to be, surely something like this was at least somewhat noticable? Unless... he was blind. But even that didn't make sense. Although she couldn't see his eyes past the heavily tinted sunglasses he wore even while inside, he at least seemed aware of things going on around him. So... What was his deal? Was he hiding something? Or was she missing something?
'Lynn canted her head to the stallion when he introduced himself before climbing out of her seat and moving to one of the ones next to him. After settling herself in that seat and pulling her drink over to her she returned her attention over to Doctor Therapy with a raised eyebrow. "A docta', den? I gotta wonda' what kind o' docta' ju be, 'cause I ain't neva' heard o' ju befo'a. Ju be one o' dem we'a'd docta's dat practices in da voodoo an' hexes an' such?" She paused for a moment, taking the time to drink from her glass once more before speaking again.
"Oh, an' befo'a I fo'get... As much as I appreciate ju bein' a gentlecolt," she said, tossing a wink over to him as part of a test. "I ain't a lady--'propa'' ain't my t'ing anymo'a. So drop da 'miss' an' call me 'Lynn, would'ja Doc?"
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Livewire
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Apr 6 2013, 04:41 PM
Post #6
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Seemed as though the Zebra didn't care for mannerisms. That was fine in it's own right. He only gave off of the air of respect for those he didn't know in the event that they actually thought they deserved it. It was a rare case when they actually did. "As you will then, 'Lynn. I'll refer to you as such from now on then." He took another sip of his gin, being careful not to allow himself to fall prey to it's colorful traps again. Tsikor would have to wait for another night.
"I assure you that I am in fact a doctor. A great deal of my patients call on me from out of town though, so I travel quite a bit. That may be the reason of why you haven't heard of me before." So, it seemed as though everyone around Ponyville hadn't heard of him yet. That was good. It meant that he still retained some small sense of anonymity. "My medical field usually deals in surgery, and removal of unwanted things. Parasites, pathogens, ruined organs, and the like."
In an attempt to stave off of the feelings of alcohol, he withdrew a flask from his cloak, and drank from it for a longer time than one would've imagined the water inside of it would've lasted. "Of course, that doesn't mean that I don't take part in the Zebrican branch of my medical fields as well. I've been known to brew up potions and elixirs in my free time." Livewire turned back to the zebra mare, having told about himself to what he considered a fair degree. "And what of you, 'Lynn? What do you do, here in fair Ponyville?"
Edited by Livewire, Apr 6 2013, 04:43 PM.
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Ma'Lynn
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Apr 6 2013, 05:18 PM
Post #7
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"T'anks, bredda," 'Lynn said in response to Therapy's acknowledgement to her request. Always easier when ponies just called her 'Lynn; no need for unnecessary titles or anything of the sort. She leaned forward after that and crossed her front legs on the counter in front of her as she continued to look over at Therapy, listening to what he said next, about his actually being a doctor. Though he said he specialized in surgery, it sounded like he did a lot of weird stuff--mostly because of the things he specified rather than just saying he was a surgeon.
She continued to watch with a raised brow as Therapy then drew a flask from that cloak whose purpose she still hadn't figured out yet, and took one of the longest pulls from it that she'd ever seen a pony--or zebra--take. It was a little odd, but 'Lynn just shrugged it off as she took another sip from the drink in front of her while Therapy spoke about brewing potions and elixirs in his spare time. "What do I do he'a in Poneville?" she mused, glancing up to the ceiling above for a moment before looking over to Therapy.
"Well he'a in Ponyville I make food fo'a my flatmates since dey bot' be lousy cooks. Ot'a dan dat, I spend my time wand'rin' town, meetin' ponies. It's been ha'da' lately 'cause o' dis damn wa', but I just gotta deal wit' it, ju feel me? Now, as fo'a what I do when I ain't in Ponyville," she drew out, humor returning to her features. "One o' my flatmates be a professional snowboa'da', an' I be her spotta'. It's rat'a fun, bein' flown t'rough da ai'a in a carriage, but it ain't all fun 'n' games up de'a when ju gotta keep track o' obstacles fo'a speedin' pony."
After another sip of her drink she eyed the cloak at Therapy's back, trying to take a mental stab at trying to figure it out before continuing. "So if ju make potions 'n' t'ings in jur spa'a time, what a' some t'ings ju've made befo'a? Ju got me curious now, 'cause it don't seem like any two alchemists I've met have made da same t'ings. O'a maybe dey have, an' I just wasn't payin' enough attention?" she asked, another smirk on her face.
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Livewire
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Apr 6 2013, 06:24 PM
Post #8
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Walking around town, cooking for her housemates, and spotting for a...snowboarder? What in the world was a snowboarder? Someone who boarded on snow, no doubt. He wasn't certain about how one could be a 'Professional' snowboarder, but he wasn't about to ask about it. That seemed like an entire world in itself, as snow was a regional thing. He hadn't even seen snow until he'd come to Equestria. "Sounds like an interesting bit of work."
Her eyes were drifting to his cloak for some odd reason, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Although it was made not as severe by the fact that she was allegedly a Zebra, he still didn't enjoy anyone staring at him, cloak or not. "My potions range from having any number of effects. Simple potions for increasing, or rejuvenating stamina. A bit of combustible liquids for dealing with beasts on my journeys, should such a thing be necessary, and-" Hmn. DME-4 was still in reverse production from Flask's serum, and DME-34 hadn't had any solid test subjects yet. It couldn't hurt to speak of DME-63 though. "There's also a much more rare strain, that I have labeled as DME-63. A scientist up in Canterlot accidentally experimented a bit too much with some Poison Joke, and somehow released it to the water streams, swapping everypony's gender from Canterlot, to down here in Ponyville. I was among those that helped create an antidote for it, and kept a bit of the main derivative for myself."
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Ma'Lynn
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Apr 6 2013, 08:29 PM
Post #9
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Therapy noticed 'Lynn inspecting his cloak.
It wasn't by any sort of direct acknowledgement, but his body language, the way he sat when she did so and the way he shifted under her gaze told her volumes. Yet why, then, did he not react at all to her smirks or winks? There was no such body language she could read when she did so. But the way he seemed to squirm as she looked at him, she ruled out that he didn't like showing emotion in that way, so that told her there was something else she was missing. His eyesight was bad, to the point where he couldn't even notice her stripes... but he could see. Why? What would make him know that she was looking at what he was wearing, but not know what expressions she was wearing on her face?
She idly ran a hoof around the rim of her drink as she listened to Therapy talk about the potions he could make. She snickered quietly at the potion he described about increasing or rejuvenating stamina, knowing that there would be a huge market for something like that, then raised a brow yet again when he spoke of a combustible liquid that could be used as a defense. That was a very wide range of potions that went unsaid, even as he began to talk about one of his other potions, DME-63. She laughed at the description Therapy gave for it and turned in her seat so she could face him fully, one leg held against the counter next to her to help prop her up.
"Genda'-bendin' potions an' stamina potions, Doc? I can only wonda' what kinda clients ju got fo'a dat kinda t'ing. O'a, if ju don't got customa's fo'a 'em, why ju ain't capitalizin' on dose t'ings. I be su'a de'a'd be tons o' ponies who'd appreciate dose kinds o' t'ings... Myself included~," she purred, taking on a half-lidded expression as she stared Therapy down for a moment, putting him through yet another of her tests. "Furt'amo'a, why'd ju decide to keep some o' da genda'-bendin' potion fo'a jurself? A' ju into dat kinda t'ing, Doc?" She giggled at that, making it hard to tell whether she was teasing or asking a serious question.
"An' I actually be kinda interested in seein' what ot'a potions fall unda' da 'an' everyt'in' in between' aspect o' t'ings, if ju got potions dat interestin'." Upon finishing her last statement, 'Lynn adopted the best look of anger she could muster and directed it at Livewire, testing him one final time as she waited for his response.
Edited by Ma'Lynn, Apr 6 2013, 08:34 PM.
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Livewire
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Apr 6 2013, 11:32 PM
Post #10
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Why didn't he have customers for this sort of thing? Because most of his potions were still imperfect, and likely led to side-effects after prolonged use. Unfortunate, melty side-effects. He was fairly certain that his stamina potion had led to at least one pony exploding as well. It wouldn't be smart to market out such things to the commonfolk, for fear of persecution, and execution, if caught. "Most of them aren't exactly ready, is why they're not widespread across the land. Had I more willing test subjects, I'm certain that could accelerate the progress of my work." He looked back at her half-lidded expression, and rolled his eyes behind his glasses. "Yourself included, if you'd so wish."
"As for the DME-63, I didn't exactly have a choice the first time the main strain was used on me, as it affected the entire town's water supply. Now, I usually have a rule against experimenting with my potions on myself, but as there didn't seem to be any ill side-effects after I was done curing it, on any of the patients, I did decide to keep some of it around, and replicate it." He downed another shot of his alcoholic drink at the Zebra's giggling question. "And although I still do use it myself on occasion, I assure you that's simply for a scientific viewpoint. I'm not into that kind of thing, as you put it."
He gave her a skeptical look at her look of pure anger when she asked about the rest of his potions. "I-I'm sorry. Is something wrong, 'Lynn?"
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Ma'Lynn
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Apr 7 2013, 06:45 AM
Post #11
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So he could see her expressions. What the hay was this guy's deal? Her theories so far had completely crumbled now with their foundations, leaving her back at square one. If he couldn't even notice her stripes, but could notice her expressions and the fact that she was inspecting his cloak, what was the reasoning for that? There had to be something, but she had no other ideas.
Regardless, the look of anger 'Lynn had worn melted back into her normal facetious smirk as she shook her head at his question, even accompanying the gesture with a dismissive wave of her hoof. "Naw, bredda. Ain't a t'ing wrong--I ain't actually mad, I was jus' tryin'a figy'a somet'in' out, since ju were uncomfo'table when I was lookin' at jur fancy cloak de'a, but couldn't see my stripes. T'ought maybe ju could see shapes in general o'a somet'in', but dat didn't account fo'a ju knowin' I was lookin' at jur cloak, an' ju didn't really react to anyt'in' else I've done, so I was satisfyin' my curiosity. Gotta say it's left me wit' mo'a questions dan answa's t'ough. Like as to why ju could see I feigned anger... but couldn't see da stripes. Lemme know if I be needin'a spell it out fo'a ju more, yeah Doc?" she asked teasingly, winking to him once more as she brought her drink to her lips again.
"As fo'a testin' dem potions, de'a'd hafta' be somet'in' innit fo'a me... an' ju'd hafta tell me why dey 'ain't ready'. Dat 'jus' fo'a da sake o' science' crap don't cut it wit' me, ju feel me?"
Edited by Ma'Lynn, Apr 7 2013, 06:46 AM.
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Livewire
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Apr 18 2013, 06:51 AM
Post #12
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So, that was her game. She was just trying to figure out exactly how his method of sight worked. Well, it wasn't as though he hadn't told ponies before, albeit usually in a more private environment. He'd just have to hope that no one was eavesdropping on the two Zebras sitting at the corner of the bar. Livewire took off his sunglasses, and placed them on the bar, motioning to Lynn to be careful, in the event that she wanted to pick them up.
"At the moment, as you can see from my eyes, I am completely blind, due to a bit of an...accident, involving my brother, several years back. I crafted those sunglasses as a way to both block out my eyes to hide the fact that I'm blind, and, with their enchantment, allow me to see the basic shapes of all things, via the soundwaves that reverberate through all things. My world is constantly bathed in varying shades of blue, in what I suppose could be likened to a sort of sonar. If you'd like to see for yourself, feel free, but be careful."
As his drink was still in his hoof, he brought it up and took a drink from it again, before putting it back down again, next to his hoof so he wouldn't lose it. "As for my potions, although I'm not extremely wealthy, I could still afford to compensate you for your time and help with testing them. They're not considered ready because, well...I've yet to get the dosages quite right. My only willing test subject at the moment has a fairly high metabolism, and I can't get a good reading on how fast they should be burning through somepony's regular system. Some last too long, others not long enough for the intended purposes, and the like."
Edited by Livewire, Apr 18 2013, 06:51 AM.
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Ma'Lynn
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Apr 19 2013, 04:08 PM
Post #13
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With a raised brow, 'Lynn watched as Livewire finally took those sunglasses from his eyes and set them on the bar in front of them. She quickly turned her gaze to his eyes after that, confirming what he was now saying about his being blind. She glanced back to the glasses when he talked about them being his key to sight, wondering just how in the world something like that could be.
When he gave he consent for her to see for herself, she gladly took the opportunity and carefully took the glasses up with both hooves before setting them to her eyes. With wide, surprised eyes, she looked around the bar with this new vision, able to make out shapes but completely aware that if she had to rely on this vision to see, she would be unable to do so. It was so strange, and it was actually kind of disorienting to her.
So, just as carefully, 'Lynn removed the glasses from her eyes and turned them around before setting them back on Therapy's face, attempting to situate them there as best she could. "Ju got some strange voodoo magics de'a, Doc," 'Lynn said as she scooped her drink up, taking a long drink to finish off the rest of what was inside before returning her attention to Therapy after releasing a long sigh.
"Alt'ough it be pretty interestin'. I coulda sworn I read somet'in' somewhe'a about... a super-pone havin' a powa' simila' to dat, but I could just be t'inkin' of a dream I had o'a somet'in'." She shrugged at that before continuing. "I still don't really see how ju could see how I was lookin' at jur cloak o'a how ju could see my expressions but ju know what? I ain't gonna poke at da issue. My curiosity be satisfied, so dat be dat.
"Anyway, 'bout dem potions... I might be interested in testin' some o' dem out, dependin' on what dey do, o'a what da risks be. I gotta look out fo'a my livelihood too, ju feel me?" she asked, winking teasingly to Therapy. "But, fo'a da time bein', ju got anot'a tenative helpa'." She glanced over to him, then, once more eyeing the cloak at his back. "Okay, I gotta ask, what be da deal wit' jur cloak? Ju tryin'a hide unsightly sca'hs? An extra limb? O'a ju be one o' dem ponies who does it tryin' to look cool?" she finished, her trademark smirk on her lips.
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