|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:08 am
 The weekend! Was there anything better than the weekend? Star Spangled didn't think so. It was the time of week for baseball games and NO SCHOOL and FREE TIME and not having to hang out with stupid jerk brothers who totally and completely on PURPOSE stole her favorite mitt and pretended it was his.
And there was always hanging out at the Phonyland Autumn Carnival, too. It had been several hours now of rage-shooting cork guns at plates and throwing balls at targets and she had amassed a seriously ridiculous number of tickets to cash in at the Carnival Prize Station.
She stood outside the structure, looking at the wares doubtfully. Heck, she'd already traded some in for a stuffed octopus she could barely lift! But as long as the prize corner didn't have already-broken-in beautiful catchers' mitts, Star Spangled wasn't too sure what she was going to do with the rest of her hard-earned tickets.
At least she wasn't mad anymore.
Mostly.
Almost.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:29 pm
Game lights flashed alongside the excited cries of young children throughout the amusement park. The Prize Station was well stocked and Dark Water had long ago set her sights on two particular toys among the ranks; a spinning top for her young brother and a squeaky rubber "stress" toy for her sister to squish under hoof.
The only problem was that she barely had enough tickets for one. Dark Water narrowed her eyes. Only getting one thing was unconscionable. She didn't trust White Death to not break the top if it was the only thing she came back with, either in her unbridled enthusiasm, anger, or as some misguided lesson to their withdrawn sibling. All the same, if she returned with only a toy for Death, then poor little Gloomy Glade would feel neglected and upset.
"The machines are rigged," Dark Water hissed at the proprietor. Her meager amount of tickets were scattered on the counter top. "I've been trying all day and this is all I've got!"
"Sorry, it's the same for everyone. You need the tickets for the prize."
"Can't I just get the rest of the tickets to you later?"
He raised a dubious brow. Dark Water snorted and narrowed her eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:45 pm
Star Spangled leaned against the counter, half-dazed, as she stared at all the prizes. Stuffed dragon? Please. It barely looked like a lizard. She could get Mossflower something... but then, if one of her many critters chewed up a stuffed animal or choked on one of the plastic toys, she'd feel awful. Ughhnnnnn, why couldn't she just buy food with these tickets?
She was called back to the present by a dark filly who seemed pretty steamed up about something. She was glaring at the pimple-faced ticket-guy, the same one who had nearly fumbled her super-octopus into the dirt.
Oh! She didn't have enough tickets, apparently!
Star scootched closer.
"Ahem," she said, forgetting the actual coughing part. "Is this guy giving you any guff?"
She laughed, trying to dispel any awkwardness. She pulled out some of her load of tickets, offering them forward. "Would any of these help?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 1:49 pm
Pale blue eyes narrowed at the starry red-head upon her thoroughly unsubtle approach. Dark Water's gaze was quickly pulled to the counter as the pegasus slid a messy collection of tickets her way. She frowned, staring at the other foal with utmost scrutiny. For a brief moment her gaze flickered between Star Spangled, the tickets, the guy, and the prizes.
"Are you trying to trick me?" Dark Water asked slowly, looking down her nose, "What do you want for them?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:13 pm
Immediately, Star shook her head as fast as it would go. "Oh no no no no no no no no no no!" she said, laughing a little. "Sorry. I guess that was a little abrupt, wasn't it?"
She slid the tickets a little closer to Dark Water. "I'm Star Spangled. I just... kinda forgot where I was for a while and played too many games." She gestured behind her at the massive hill of broken plates she'd left in her wake. The carnival attendant was sweeping them with a look of shock, shaking his head. "So I've got a bunch extra. Are you sure you wouldn't like some?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 5:19 pm
The darker filly started on discerningly, though with how quickly Star Spangled apologized Dark Water seemed to ease up just a little.
"Dark Water," she stated dryly. Star Spangled's gesture toward the games behind them was ignored in favor of continued observations. The eldest kelpie child furrowed her brow and studied the offered tickets that were pushed ever so slightly closer. "I didn't say that," Dark Water corrected before falling quiet again.
Hesitantly, one hoof slid closer to the ticket collection. "You don't want anything for them? There's no catch?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 12:23 pm
Star's smile returned when it seemed like Dark Water was maybe (kind of, sort of, a teeny bit?) loosening up. Not that Star could blame her. If a random filly had come up to her so abruptly, she'd be pretty wary of the new crazy-craze, too.
"No catch. I don't want them to go to waste, and I already got that huge octopus thing, and it's better than me bringing a ton of useless stuff home with me! So, yeah, uhm, please! Help yourself." Star's smile became encouraging.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:14 am
Her eyes narrowed as Star Spangled laid out the offer. Dark Water glanced toward the 'huge octopus thing' in question, lips taut into a thin line. For a few moments longer, she stared the glittery eyed filly down with her hooves against the counter. Others around them continued their exchanges.
Slowly, while maintaining eye contact, Dark Water slid her hoof over and pressed it upon a few of the tickets. "Thanks..." she offered tentatively, though her expression never wavered. The tickets were pulled closer, as if testing Star Spangled's honesty on the matter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:33 am
Star Spangled watched the slow draw of the tickets with an expression of blank cheeriness. It looked for a moment like a slo-mo scene from a particularly vapid movie, the tickets crawling across the counter while nobody moved and nobody's expression changed. It was only when Dark Water was finally in possession of the tickets that Star piped up again.
"Awesome!" she said. "Whatcha gonna get?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:44 am
Only when all of the tickets were piled together in front of her did Dark Water take her eyes off of Star Spangled. She looked down at the much healthier collection, then back to the assortment of available prizes. Yes, there were still a few left of the things she wanted. Good.
Then the filly opened her mouth again. This must have been the catch: continuing to talk to her even after she did her part. Dark Water frowned.
"The spinning top and stress toy," she told the ticket guy, rather than Star Spangled, with a point of her hoof. He reached his hand toward a big squishy ball. "No-- the ugly clown." Certainly White Death would enjoy stomping repeatedly on a small rubber clown whose squeaker wailed and eyes bugged out. It would, hopefully, keep her attention away from Gloomy Glade's spinning top which she figured would be a good way for him to practice his magic while his two sisters had none of their own.
Both items were set in front of her and the guy in the booth took the needed number of tickets. There were a lot leftover. Dark Water took the baggy of toys in mouth and squinted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:15 am
If there were any discomfort with her continued attempts at conversation, Star was totally oblivious to it. She watched Dark get her toys with pleasure, although a mild confusion settled over her as Dark asked for the clown. It WAS pretty ugly… maybe it was for a dog?
"Well," she said, grinning. "That's awesome! Have fun with that stuff."
She made as though to turn, thinking Dark would take her time to select a toy and didn't want to hover.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:30 am
Even as Star Spangled spoke, Dark Water continued scrutinizing the pile of tickets. Was that really it? Of course the filly said there hadn't been a catch and... well... there truly didn't seem to be. That was a surprise. Dark Water watched briefly as her companion (?) made to leave the counter.
"Hold on," she started, narrowing her eyes first at Star and then at the tickets, "I don't need all of them."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:45 am
Star paused in her tracks, turning. She was caught off-guard by Dark Water's speech. Was she sure? She seemed to be suspicious of the tickets being given to her in the first place, and now she was giving some back? Maybe she didn't want to be held responsible for the rest of them? She hemmed and hawed.
"Are you sure? I'll take them if you don't want them."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:53 am
Dark Water raised one brow dully. Was there really anything to debate here?
"They're yours," she said matter-of-factly. The filly was convinced of this even after Star Spangled shared them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 10:36 am
"Oh!" Star sounded surprised. It didn't seem like a MEAN statement or accusation or anything -- it just sounded like it was an obvious fact to Dark Water. Normally, Star would have argued or insisted or something… but it dawned on her that the other phony was being generous and humble, not shunning a gift. She just wasn't LIKE all the other phonies Star had met.
Well, it took all kinds, Star thought, accepting the remainder of the tickets. "Well, thank you! Have a great rest of your day, okay?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
