Pony's Bizarre Adventure - On Set

Violet's breathing catches imperceptibly at the mention of stand users. "S-stand... users...?"

She looks at the pair of strangers with an expression of confusion on her face, like she has no idea what's going on - mostly because she genuinely doesn't, and the sudden appearance of these two really concerned her. They seemed to be after something, and she wasn't eager to find out what. But if she ran now... it would seem all the more suspicious. Despite her instincts telling her to flee, she steeled her nerves and stood her ground (fine, cowered, but the two are pretty much the same anyway).

A1C Bronymous wrote:Splendor snickers at Optic's frustration. "That's what you get for giving the glasses to the filly and not the old stallion!" He calls over tauntingly. "Try again, this time on the correct pony!"

Optic glares back at you. The glasses levitate once again and begin to make a beeline towards the old pony while he's looking at you after you called out...

The words finally clicked - Stand Users. It was what it called itself when she was attacked...

That won't do at all.

"S-stop right there!" Violet calls out to the best of her ability with her shaky, timid voice, as again, a vine-wrapped golden hoof reaches out to stop the glasses.

And since it's Mint, that really means stop-- if she can, that is, as there's definitely something off with the glasses that might get in the way of her powers.

AleneShazam wrote:"S-stop right there!" Violet calls out to the best of her ability with her shaky, timid voice, as again, a vine-wrapped golden hoof reaches out to stop the glasses.

And since it's Mint, that really means stop-- if she can, that is, as there's definitely something off with the glasses that might get in the way of her powers.

As soon as the hoof reaches the glasses, close to the old pony, it stops. Stops immediately. Stops completely. Even when the hoof moves away from the glasses, they remain in the air, completely still. The old pony turns to see this display, and inspects the scene that has happened...

The unicorn, who was in the middle of turning back his attention to his glasses, also stops. A slight shock is frozen on his face as his unmoving eyes look towards the glasses. No words or breath escapes his lips, no twitch in his body, even his mane, at the time moving with the momentum of the unicorn swinging his head back, now hangs unnaturally in the air...

It's been so long since she's seen Mint activate on a living thing that Violet almost immediately dispels the Inanimation - though not before stripping the glasses of all momentum and having Mint apply a nudge backwards so it goes back towards the unicorn rather than continuing forwards when it reanimates.

Now Mint is completely in view to those who can see her - a tall, imposing mare with a green body and golden highlights, vines wrapped around her body, large leaf waving behind her like a mane. She stands in front Violet like a guardian angel, and behind her, Violet looks a little more confident in herself.

"P-please, uhm, explain yourself first." Violet insists, even though her voice is still slightly shaky. "I, uhm, don't know if this is a prank or not... but I won't tolerate anything untoward to my customers."

Image Reference for Violet and Mint:

Splendor narrows his eyes at the sudden mare and his friend's paralysis. He coolly strides forward, coming to stand next to Optic, glaring at the other stand. "I think we found what you're looking for." He remarks offhandedly, and then glances at the stallion. "What do you know about all this, then? Anything relevant?" He emphasizes the last word, as an ethereal, starry rope, tied like a lasso, appears from nowhere and snares around his neck- snug, but not tight.

AleneShazam wrote:"P-please, uhm, explain yourself first." Violet insists, even though her voice is still slightly shaky. "I, uhm, don't know if this is a prank or not... but I won't tolerate anything untoward to my customers."

The unicorn stares at you, seemingly miffed that your stand seems way better than his one. "We want to know everything about stands, nothing more," he answers...

A1C Bronymous wrote:Splendor narrows his eyes at the sudden mare and his friend's paralysis. He coolly strides forward, coming to stand next to Optic, glaring at the other stand. "I think we found what you're looking for." He remarks offhandedly, and then glances at the stallion. "What do you know about all this, then? Anything relevant?" He emphasizes the last word, as an ethereal, starry rope, tied like a lasso, appears from nowhere and snares around his neck- snug, but not tight.

The old pony watches on shocked as the lasso catches him before he can react. "What?" the pony calls out in response to your actions. He looks unnerved, but to Violet, he is no longer being absent-minded, he seems more in control of himself. "Wait, let's not do anything rash here. What do you want to know?"

"We're civilized ponies, yes? Introductions, then, to start. I am Splendor, and that entrancing lasso around your neck is my Stand, Space Cowboy." Splendor speaks magnanimously, gracious despite the implied threat of violence lingering over the situation.

A1C Bronymous wrote:"We're civilized ponies, yes? Introductions, then, to start. I am Splendor, and that entrancing lasso around your neck is my Stand, Space Cowboy." Splendor speaks magnanimously, gracious despite the implied threat of violence lingering over the situation.

"Nice to meet you Splendor," replies the old pony, speaking calmly and maybe slightly lying about how it is nice to meet you, "My name is Rapid River."

"Uhm... Shrinking Violet... and my stand Mint..." Violet says. Looking between Splendor and the other pony, she then asks, "What about your, uhm, friend, Mr. Splendor?"

AleneShazam wrote:"Uhm... Shrinking Violet... and my stand Mint..." Violet says. Looking between Splendor and the other pony, she then asks, "What about your, uhm, friend, Mr. Splendor?"

"Hmph." A tiny speck of pink light blitzes out of the glasses on the floor and quickly into the glasses the unicorn wears, with the other pair being levitated towards him afterwards. "I am Clear Optic, and my stand is titled [The Scientist]." He turns to Splendor and whispers "You appear to have these ponies under control, so I shall leave the conversing with you."

"So, uhm... Mr. Splendor..." Violet scrapes her hoof against the ground. "Introductions have been made, we're all civilized ponies, so maybe we could put our stands away?"

She glances uncomfortably at the noose slung around Rapid River's neck. "I think you've, uhm, made your point."

"So long as there's no running off or sudden Surprise Stand attacks. Fair enough." He seems almost bored, the noose floating away from the stallion before disappearing completely. "So shall we have this discussion here, or is lunch appropriate?"

A1C Bronymous wrote:"So long as there's no running off or sudden Surprise Stand attacks. Fair enough." He seems almost bored, the noose floating away from the stallion before disappearing completely. "So shall we have this discussion here, or is lunch appropriate?"

"We can talk at my home," answers River, "I have food there, and I'd rather not talk about stands in public."

"And I'm sure it's just delightful. Lead on then."

---

Alt Script: Stands! STANDS! WE'VE GOT STANDS HERE!

Violet breathes a quick sigh of relief, and waves her hoof, wrapping up her rug and merchandise and setting it on her back. She's still not sure about these two, and she's not about to give the two stand users a chance to harm Rapid, regardless of their intentions.

Nodding quietly, she follows along with the rest, not speaking up but keeping a watchful eye on the duo of stand users.

The trip to Rapid River's house was a bit on the longer side, with the home near the edge of town and towards Tall Tale's forest and the North Luna Ocean. The building isn't special: a two-story structure with an attic and similar looking to other homes in Tall Tale, except more isolated. Its only noticeable difference from other houses is an open shed with a wooden rowboat and paddles inside. Once inside, River offers tea and sandwiches. "I use to be more open to talking about stands in public," comments River as he pours the tea, "But a few years ago I was attacked by a Stand User who overheard me and thought I was going to expose his stand. Since then I've acted absent-minded and senile to not draw much attention to myself."

"Mr. River..." Violet starts, before pausing for a moment, mulling over her thoughts carefully before continuing, "Just, uhm, who are you? You know about stands, and, uhm, didn't seem too surprised by Mint... I think it's safe to assume you're more than just an elderly stallion who likes jasmine tea..."

Her voice trails off as she wonders if she said too much, but she still looks at Rapid River for a response.

AleneShazam wrote:"Mr. River..." Violet starts, before pausing for a moment, mulling over her thoughts carefully before continuing, "Just, uhm, who are you? You know about stands, and, uhm, didn't seem too surprised by Mint... I think it's safe to assume you're more than just an elderly stallion who likes jasmine tea..."

"You are right," River responds solemnly as he puts the kettle down, "I am more than that. I am an elderly stallion who likes jasmine tea and taking photos of fish. Hohoho." He sits down at the table next to Violet as he finishes his laugh. "No no dear, I am nopony special, I just have a lot of experiences with stands. Comes with old age, you know."

"It doesn't. I can name 4 grand parents and a dozen ancient great aunts and uncles who have never heard of such a thing." Splendor scoffs, preferring to remain standing for the moment. "So far the only ponies I've met that know about stands are other stand users- so go ahead, enough with the big secret, show us yours."

A1C Bronymous wrote:"It doesn't. I can name 4 grand parents and a dozen ancient great aunts and uncles who have never heard of such a thing." Splendor scoffs, preferring to remain standing for the moment. "So far the only ponies I've met that know about stands are other stand users- so go ahead, enough with the big secret, show us yours."

"I was talking about experience in general..." mumbles Rapid River, as he blows his drink to cool it down, "But before I show my stand, I want to know why you both are here. Why you are really here. Because, maybe its the experience or the old age talking, I feel that not knowing my stand is the reason you haven't show off the power of yours."

"Some lunatic accosted me in an alley and shot me with a magic arrow, leading to my acquisition of Space Cowboy." As he says the name, the lasso in question appears to twirl over Splendor's head in a lazy arc. "And Optic here already had his demon glasses, and when he heard about my space rope, he told me he was looking for answers. A short trip into town later and here we all are."

"...Magic arrow? I got Mint after I... uhm, well, she just showed up one day..." Violet tilts her head, confused.

A1C Bronymous wrote:"Some lunatic accosted me in an alley and shot me with a magic arrow, leading to my acquisition of Space Cowboy."

"A magic arrow?" repeats River, a hint of distraught in his words, "Are you sure that it wasn't a regular arrow, and the stressful situation caused the stand you always had to manifest for the first time?"

"The arrow struck him in the throat," answers Optics as he points towards Splendor's neck, "But there is no wound. Not to mention Splendor could not see The Scientist before then."

"I see..." River's distraught is now beginning to appear on his face. "I see... Well, thank you for informing me. I will need to write some letters in the evening. Did the pony, or whoever did this to you, tell you do something? What did they look like?"

"So, wait... is this, uhm, arrow thing normal? You sound like you've heard of it before..." Violet asks hesitantly.