The Wrong Side of Town

[Kiernan]

[45th of summer, early evening. Anypony with no prior engagements is free to join in.]

Akaitora leaned against a wall, eyes shut. His initial assumption that something big was going on was confirmed, but what it was still had yet to be seen. Mixed rumors, ranging from the princesses arguing, and the return of Nightmare Moon, to the end of the world, and the sun and moon colliding in a massive explosion, made him begin to wonder if anypony actually knew what was going on. Regardless, he had a job to do, and he intended to do it.

If there was anywhere in Equestria to find lockpicks, it was Farin. There wasn't a single alley that didn't have a booth selling something that was less-than-legal. Of course, what you payed for was all up to chance. With no governmental hold on the quality of items being sold, you could waste your entire budget on something that didn't work. And even if you did report the fraud to a guard, you're still in possession of illegal goods, and that was enough to have you thrown in a dungeon, these days. In essence, whatever you buy or sell is a gamble.

Akaitora opened his eyes once more. The cover shops were beginning to close their doors, signaling the start of the underground market. A grin flashed across his face, quickly disappearing, maintaining the desired illusion of naivety. A glance to his left, a glance to his right, and a swig of yeasted cider, and Akaitora turned, walking down the alley he had recently left.

This time, however, instead of being empty, there were ponies rushing other ponies into small groups outside of booths, claiming that their wares vastly surpass those of their competitors, directly across the way. Empty promises and trash-talk were the cornerstones of this particular economy, rather than the honesty and redirection of the recognized market. It wasn't long before Akaitora was called out to by one of these merchants, and, due to lack of a better idea, decided to listen to his little spiel.

[Nightbow]

[Just an OOC note to you kiernan; I'd love to join you, but I don't have any characters who fit in this thread. While you wait for other players to drop by, why not join Facade, which takes place later the same evening? ]

[luemas]

Geoff felt most uncomfortable in this region of town. He tried not to consider himself too uptight, coming from humbler origins, but he was a man of higher education and was greatly chagrined that he had to resort to such an area to try and find his raw materials.

All he was looking for was a little bit of saltpeter. Unfortunately with Canterlot's latest batch of attempts to crack down on bomb making, he found his favorite hobby in dire straits. Oh certainly he could resort to ammonia and fertilizer if it came down to it, but he had a sensitive nose and gagged at even the thought of it.

So here he was, the heart of Farin, looking for some illegal supplies. He cursed himself for sticking out like a sore thumb. Fortunately for him, he saw someone else who was sticking out like a sore thumb. It was clear that he did a little bit better at blending in, but his apparent distaste was clear. He saw him approach a vendor and figured that he was a pony that knew where things were. As soon as he was free he would approach him.

[Kiernan]

Akaitora broke away from the group. He had no interest in paying for a single-use, foolproof disguise. It's not as though he needed one, for that matter. With his influence... well, he decided he should just return to his task at hand.

He stopped by another stall, looking up and down the wares. Eye of ogre, adder's tongue, and ferric toadstools. A poison shop, by the look of it. Next to it, a booth selling narcotic plants, that relieved you for a moment, then killed you the next, if you weren't careful.

Finally, he reached the end of the alley, and still no lockpicks. Oh well, there were other alleys. As he turned to leave, he accidentally bumped into another pony, an earth pony, with a dark blue coat. He knew the reputation of the common Farin resident, so he thought it best to apologize, before things became... Painful.

"Excuse me, sorry, wasn't watching where I was going."

[luemas]

Geoff quickly started at the strange pony that had bumped into him. His first instinct was to pass it off nonchalantly as he would normally. Then he remembered his location.

"Just make sure it doesn't happen again." He said, trying to sound as gruff as possible, and not entirely succeeding. He sighed and took a closer look at the strange pony in front of him. Based on his mechanical wings, he looked like a pony who knew his way around a lab.

He dropped the gruff tone, tired with the pretense already. "You wouldn't happen to know where to find any saltpeter would you?"

[Kiernan]

Akaitora's first impression of the stallion he had run into was that he was quite burly, but shortly after analyzing the audible structure, he concluded that it was, in fact, a false tone. Despite this, he held back a chuckle, knowing that he wouldn't want someone to crush his delusions of... Well, it was also because he was genuinely kind, despite what was thought of him.

However, despite his trying to hide his true thoughts of the false pretense, the stallion dropped the tough act, getting right to his point.

"Saltpetre, eh?" questioned Akaitora rhetorically. "Potassium nitrate, an ionic salt." Immediately, locations buzzed through his mind, informing him of places where one might find potassium nitrate. Either this stallion knew who he was talking to, having read his horticultural advances, and was looking to built a better fertilizer from scratch, or...

"I may... Come with me," said Akaitora, motioning the stallion over to a dark, secluded corner.

[luemas]

The strange pegasus/unicorn/whatever he was motioned Geoff to a dark corner.
Geoff smiled broadly. He had been right about the stallion. Unless he was just motioning him to the dark corner to mug him. In either eventuality, Geoff had nothing to lose. He had come to Whinnyapolis with only the bare essentials, leaving most of his money with his family.

Nevertheless he cautiously followed the wise pony into the dark corner. Here goes nothing, he thought grimly.

"What do you have?" He asked inquisitively.

[Kiernan]

Akaitora took a step back, closing off the earth pony's only means of escape. If he wanted to leave without giving the answers to his questions, he would have little choice but to go through him.

"I doubt you're an efficient horticulturalist, and you don't seem to be a dietitian, either," growled Akaitora in a threatening low tone. "And if you were a pyrotechnician, you would know how and where to find it. Lastly, I doubt that anyone sent you here for pickup, so that leaves only one plausible option."

Akaitora paused for just a moment, rapidly considering his options. He could use this pony as a distraction if needed, should he allow him to follow, or as a patsy if the situation turned out of his favor. They both stood out, so if suspicion were to be cast upon Akaitora, there would be something to fall back upon. On the other hoof, having someone with you that stood out like a brandy stain on white linen could be dangerous, as well. Although, he could feign dissociation if this earth pony were to be adept at following orders. Akaitora decided to hold off on his final judgement until one more specific question was answered.

"You seem to be intelligent," Akaitora whispered, so only the two of them could hear, despite the fact that nopony else was anywhere near them. "It is as though you've studied. So why are you building explosives?"

[luemas]

Suddenly this strange stallion blocked off Geoff's escape. Well Fiddlesticks he thought. He felt his heart rate skyrocket, and the cold clammy claw of sweat. He gritted his teeth and remembered that he was in fact bigger than this strange stallion.

He puffed his chest out a little and raised himself as big as he could. If need be, intimidation was always a good defensive tactic. He may not be able to fight well, but every little bit counted.

And then the stallion leaned in close and whispered "'You seem to be intelligent. It is as though you've studied. So why are you building explosives?"

Geoff smiled, and not a tad creepily. "Why, why wouldn't I be building explosives? It never hurts to have a few fireworks lying around, even though I can't say I always use them for recreational purposes."
"I could ask you the same thing however. Why do you have saltpetre on hand? I'm new to town, so I'm merely building up my reserves. I can't imagine that you'd have need for such resources, especially in this part of town."

[Kiernan]

[Just an OOC remark, you have an unneeded quotation mark, Lue. Right at the end of purposes. But While I'm here, let me just say that this is so much fun. I haven't enjoyed myself in this way for far too long...]

Akaitora's eyes narrowed, and he grinned. This one would do nicely. "I never said I had any on hoof, nor did I say I knew where to find any. Nor am I admitting these to be falsehoods, either. You followed me back here under the assumption that I was going to help you, or at the very least, bring no harm to you."

The smile vanished from Akaitora's face, and his brow furrowed. "That being said, had I wanted to cause you any harm, I would have done so, taken whatever belongings I could carry, and been on my merry way by now, so take note that it is not my will to do so."

Akaitora opened his wings with a sharp screech, turning his back on the stallion in the corner. "I will, admit, however, that you are correct: it's never a bad time to equip oneself with a few combative amenities.

"So here is my proposition for you:" Akaitora spun around once more, to face his quarry. "I will tell you where to find your potassium nitrate-- nay, I shall show you, if you agree to assist me in... a little sniffing around." The smile once more crept across Akaitora's face, albeit with his brow still furrowed. "What say you?"

[luemas]

[It is jolly good fun isn't it? And technically I had two unnecessary quotation marks. Also: I hope you know where you're going with this.]

Show off thought Geoff. He thought carefully and slowly. It would serve him well to have such an... intimidating fellow with him. And it wasn't like Geoff had anything better to do.

And then he suddenly found something better to do as his stomach reminded him that he had yet to eat that day.

He grimaced and thought it over. Saltpetre or food. The pyro in him won.

"I'll go with you, on one condition."
Geoff slowly enunciated.
"You show me where to get some good food."

[Kiernan]

Changing the conditions... thought Akaitora, pleased with his results, albeit not displaying it. This fine fellow could be exactly what I need to... He paused, collecting his memories, and discarding them. He knew some of the thoughts to be false, and until he knew the truth, anything that might be incorrect would be best left untouched.

"So, it's food you want, eh?" grinned Akaitora. "I can make that happen. So as the deal goes," Akaitora extended his foreleg to the stallion, "I will feed you something edible, capable of being digested, and safe, and then show you where you can find some potassium nitrate, and in return, you will be my external eyes and ears, paying rapt attention to your surroundings, and reporting to me your findings."

Akaitora smiled broadly, an evil-looking grimace, as the innocence of his words were immolated behind his pupils. "Know that I speak only honesty. Have we an agreement?"

[luemas]

[Haha good. I just wanted to make sure things didn't get out of hoof here]

It sounded like a fair enough deal to Geoff. He didn't even need to pay his new guide...friend. Whatever. He did have the look of a cat stalking his prey, but Geoff wasn't exactly sure he was his prey.

"Deal. What shall I be on the look out for? Or is this on a need to know basis? I shant mind too much either way."
"Let's shake on it." Geoff said extending his hoof.

[Kiernan]

[oh... What was that one movie where the guy extends his hand for a handshake, and the other guy does the same thing, instead of actually going for the handshake? That's how I feel right now.]

Akaitora, foreleg already extended, brought his hoof to meet that of his new comrade. "Right. Now, first things first, let's have some food. I have a temporary encampment, hidden in the hills just south of town, if you don't mind home cooking."

Akaitora turned motioned for his acquaintance to follow, and set off at a brisk pace, southbound, not making eye contact with the stallion until it would become safe to do so. Unfortunately, dark alleys became more scarce as you approached the borders of town. When one did show up, just on the outskirts of town, Akaitora turned down it, voicing the next line as he came to a hold, without turning at all. "Are you still with me?"

[luemas]

"Of course I'm still here" called Geoff from about 10 paces behind. He wasn't as agile as this young un, but he also didn't give up easily.

"And I'm not too picky when it comes to food, just as long as it's plentiful." he said nonchalantly.

"You know, if you wanted to get rid of me, you could've just told me." He joked.