[IC] Equestrian Radio Show's Adventure Variety Hour: Explorers of STOMP

CoffeeHorse · Mar 6, 2023

Once his hearing had recovered from Maples exuberance, Scarlet headed over to congratulate the winners.

"I do believe congratulations are in order you guys. Well played. We'll beat you next time though," he said with a grin.

"Sorry Steel. I huess my bowling skills were a little off tonight. Its been a while since i've played."

"Thanks, Scarlet. Something tells me I'm going to want to spend some more time here to stay in practice." Static gave a brief look over to the ones who harassed Melon Hide earlier.
"Maybe we could build a Keep team to help humble some others whose heads are a bit too big for their own good.

"It would be nice to be good at bowling, but I'm okay with not being good at everything," Misty says. "Besides, I've got other things I'm good at!"

Static packs his things up. "Hey, Night! Hold up. I'll follow you home, see if there's a place we can stop for a victory drink. First round's on me!"

"I know a few places," Static said with a grin.

[A few Anchors wouldn't be too thrilled to know I know about.]

[Hey! I haven't been there in a loooooong time!]

[I bet Skivey's sister really misses you.]

"There's a few that even sell the soft cider. Just...don't let on that you're drinking the soft stuff."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 6, 2023

"Hey Misty... do you maybe wanna go with those two?" Maple wiggles her fore hoof at Static and Night Cap.

Scarlet headed over to return hid rental. As well as get yhe ball (no pun i tended) rolling on getting a custom ball made. He talked it over with the desk pony, explaining that he wanted an emerald green ball, with a diamond silver shooting star on it. Hearing snatches of the others conversation, Scarlet decided that perhaps he would ask to tsg along next time.

"Hope you all have a good night," he called.

"Where are they going? Is it someplace fun?

Static's eyes widen in an oh crap moment.

[I was just going to buy Night Cap a round as a victory celebration. I don't have the money to buy for the entire Keep bowling league!]

[Well, maybe if it's just Misty and Maple...maybe Snowy if he wants to come along. It's just the first round...right?]

[This could easily get out of hoof.]

[Relax! It hasn't gotten out of hoof yet]

"I think it's fun." Static responds to Misty's question. The place I'm thinking of has kareoke...which I will NOT be participating in. They also have pool ! tables. And if things get crazy enough, you may find some ponies dancing on the table tops."

[It would be the first time I've done that sober]

[Here's to new experiences!]

Static looked Maple over then looked at the clock. "If you're going to come with us, we better get moving, though. They start carding in a couple hours and anypony not meeting the age limit has to leave. Snowy? You in?"

"Mm, sure." Snowy decides with a grin. "Someone has to keep you all out of trouble."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 6, 2023

"That's sweet of you Static, but I'll be fine..." Maple just left the statement hanging with no further explanation.

beyond a wink and a grin.

Sunbeam:
"Mm, sure." Snowy decides with a grin. "Someone has to keep you all out of trouble."

Static puts on his most innocent looking face possible. "Who, us? Why, I don't know what you could possibly mean by that!"

"That's sweet of you Static, but I'll be fine..." Maple just left the statement hanging with no further explanation.

beyond a wink and a grin.

"Uhh, better keep an extra close eye on this one, Snowy."

Static nods at Night Cap and turns back to Scarlet. "Sure you won't come with us, Scarlet? I mean, you are a part of...the team. You're definitely invited."

"Yeah! You have the opportunity to watch me drink alcohol for the first time in 10 years!" Snowy adds. When no one was looking, he had quietly packed up his ball in the provided case, tacitly deciding not to replace it.

"And you can see me...not drinking alcohol. Sorry. Too soon for me. But that doesn't mean I probably won't wind up making a fool out of myself by the end of the night...again. That alone should be worth coming along to see."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 6, 2023

"What's alcohol? Is it like coffee?"

Static winces at Misty's curiosity. "It's actually like the exact opposite of coffee. Coffee get's you wired of. Alcohol calms you down. It's...okay...in moderation. My problem was the moderation part. And once you have a problem with it once...well...probably better not to start bad habits you don't already have."

Misty cocks her head to one side, then to the other, as if literally weighing the thoughts in her head. "Maybe I'd better just pass on trying it," she says at last.

"That could be said of coffee or alcohol." Static notes. "I suppose you'll find out all about it soon enough, Misty. Just...do yourself a favor. First time drinking, take it slow. Head starts feeling fuzzy, it would be a good time to stop for the night."

[Editor note: this is not an accidental duplicate on my part.]

Misty cocks her head to one side, then to the other, as if literally weighing the thoughts in her head. "Maybe I'd better just pass on trying it," she says at last.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 6, 2023

"Probably a wise choice," Static said with a nod.

Maple opens the flap on her saddle bag and starts getting out her Wrestling gear while the others are talking.

Static raises an eyebrow. "You take that with you everywhere you go?

Maple has the tag for the zipper in her teeth, but then finishes drawing it up her neck with a wing tip so she can answer Static.

"It doesn't take up much space if I leave the boots out."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

Having finished setting up his custom ball order, Scarlet was musing on another quiet evening with a book and hot chocolate. Then Static turned towards him. Surprised, Scarlet looked from Snowy to Static.

"You sure you don't mind. Really? I guess i just thought that... Oh well, nevermind that. Thanks.

Although i think i'll try to have maybe one or two drinky drinks at yhe most. Alchohol tends to have one of two effects on me. Its either really funny, or i wind up feeling miserable for no reason."

As the STOMP team walked down the street, pretty soon the blue-green glow of neon could be seen about a block away. Static's ears drooped. "Oh no! Don't tell me it got closed down."

Static quickened his pace, not so much that the others couldn't keep up, but he was definitely concerned about something. As they got close to the neon lights, Static stopped and his head hang down. "They closed it!" he said with a pout. "Well, might as well see what it's become! Come on."

As the group made it to the front they saw the neon signs in all their glory, they could see the words "Ocean Dive's Night Club."

Static shrugged. "Ocean...Dive? That's Skivey's sister! Heh! So she finally made it out of the slums! C'mon, guys! This I gotta see!"

As the STOMP team entered the club, they could see a very clean, very sleek bar around them. Aluminum stand up tables with bar stools peppered the lower level. The walls were painted a metallic eggshell blue. Heavily diffused spotlights several different shades of blue danced across the walls and floor in a way to make it seem everything was under water.

The upper level could be seen overlooking the ground level. It was above the spotlights, which cast the entire level in shadow. There were laser light shows illuminating the walls and floor. The rest of the light came from glow sticks and dim neon lighting that lined several areas of the dance floor. Shadows of ponies barely illuminated by the glow sticks could be seen dancing around like crazy to the heavy beats of dub step and synth rock music.

A big island bar was centered in the room. To be owned by the sister of Skivey, it was amazing how everything was spotlessly clean. A bright orange earth pony mare with a teal mane was tending bar. "That's Skivey's sister alright!" Static walked up to see her. "Hey, Ocean! Nice to see you made it out of the slums. I bet Skivey's happy for you."

The teal mare looked suspiciously at Static. "Do I know you?"

Static winced. "We...met...a few times...where you used to work." Ocean shrunk a bit, almost disappearing behind the bar. "I'm didn't realize you were Skivey's sister at the time. But hey! Looks like you're doing alright for yourself now!"

Ocean nodded stiffly. She became a lot more animated when she saw Maple. "Oh...wow! Oh wow oh wow oh wow! You're the Masked Mystery Mare, aren't you? Oh wow." She turned to face the back of the bar. "HEY OASIS! THE MASKED MYSTERY MARE JUST WALKED IN!" Several heads could be seen poking over the upper tier at the declaration.

"Who?" the reply came from the back.

"The Masked Mystery...don't you follow wrestling at all?"

A dark blue unicorn with a brighter blue mane and the brightest blue eyes ever and a cutie mark of a water drop dripping into a puddle came around the bar and looked Maple over. "You wear that get up around town?" She shrugged and looked back to Ocean. "If she's some sort of celebrity, she can get half off all her drinks if she gets her picture taken for the wall of fame."

She was about to go back to what she was doing when she caught sight of Scarlet and gave him the widest of grins. "Well well well! Long time no see! You back in Caballuston for a while?"

Spoiler

Static took a deep breath and looked back to Ocean. "So can we..."

"Just a moment, creepy guy," Ocean grabs a camera and walks up to Maple. "So...is it okay if we get your pic for the wall of fame?

Static sighs and looks around. Back in a corner someone catches his eye. "Rhapsody? Rhapsody is that you?"

Static sighs and looks around. Back in a corner someone catches his eye. "Rhapsody? Rhapsody is that you?"

"No." She replies, pleasant as always.

"Wow, she even sounds like Rhapsody! Don't feel bad, it's an understandable mistake." Misty pats Static on the shoulder reassuringly.

Static walks over and grins. That almost would've been convincing if I didn't know what your voice sounds like. Sorry you missed the bowling competition.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

Scarlet gave the waitress a nervous smile. He had often gone for a few drinks of an evening back before he left yhe Keep. Oasis had been in a different bar then, but he'd always enjoyed talking to her. He felt better knowing she remembered him, and that she wouldn't know why he left in the first place.

"Hey Oasis. Yeah, i'm back in town and back to work. If all goes well, i should be staying. So..," and here he hesitated for a moment. "How have, uh, you been doing since i-since the last time i was in Caballuston?"

Maple beamed... 1/2 Price... wow these ponies must really like the shows.

"I'D LOVE TO TAKE A PICTURE IN THIS FINE ESTABLISHMENT, WITH A PINT OF YOUR STRONGEST CIDER!" Maple posed, flexing a little.
"WHEN ANY OF YOU FINE PONIES COME TO THE SHOW, COME FIND ME BACKSTAGE AND WE'LL GET INDIVIDUAL PICTURES DONE FOR EACH OF YOU, DON'T WANT TO CUT INTO YOUR WORK HOURS..HAHA, BY THE WAY MR. STATIC SIGNAL WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT? IF THE CIDER IS AS GOOD AS YOU SAY I MIGHT HAVE TO MENTION IT BEFORE MY NEXT MATCH."

Oasis smiled warmly at Scarlet. "Different bar, but business is as good as ever. Of course I know better than to ask how your work's been going. You look different though. You look," here Oasis tried to choose her words carefully, "more calmed down."

Her smile became a grin as she leaned in for a whisper. "And I know the more calmed down type. Just nod if you want non-alcoholic. Nopony but us needs to know."

Ocean Dive squealed like a school filly as Maple posed. "Ocean Dive's Night Club! I've never seen him at this establishment before," she said, giving a chilled glare at Static, "But I personally guarantee you we sell nothing but the best."

Ocean Dive took the picture and then got her pad of paper out. "So a pint of the strongest for you. What does everypony else want?"

"First round's on me!" Static called out from Rhapsody's table. "Along with this one's next round," he said indicating Rhapsody. "I'll have a Soft Cider."

Scarlet help grinning back at Oasis as he nodded.

Guess she knows me better than i thought she did, he mused inwardly.

"I guess some things just change a guy," Scarlet said. "Its good to see you again Oasis."

Oasis tries to tear her look away from Night Cap as she puts the smile back on her face. "Better not be the last time, hon!"

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

Static walks over and grins. "That almost would've been convincing if I didn't know what your voice sounds like. Sorry you missed the bowling competition."

"I had more important things to deal with." She replies with a shrug. "You sound different, bolder. Maybe surviving your grand leap of death had more of an impact then I thought."

Static shrugged. "It's been nothing but life changing moments ever since I joined up with this team. You know, when I first started I pretty much just kept to myself, alone in the projection booth and then going home where I lived alone. Thank Luna I don't have to do that any more! Looking back, I just don't know how I lived for so long with that kind of isolation."

"OCEAN DIVE'S NIGHT CLUB... Maple makes a mental note and adds the location to her head Map with a mask icon instead of a smiley face.
...IS MY FAVORITE SPOT IN ALL OF CABALLUSTON!" "I'M ALSO GOING TO NEED A 2ND CIDER MISS DIVE, TWO FORE HOOVES AFTER ALL."

Maple added leaning in to whisper... the lights of the room sparkling on her flirty-est smile.

"Two pints? Of the strongest? Wow! You must have some kind of super endurance!"

"I'm only paying for the first one." Static calls out. "And you may want to be careful, Mmmmasked Mystery Mare. We still got work tomorrow!"

"That colt is so creepy," Ocean Dive says with a shudder. "How do you know him?"

"I don't even need alcohol; this is already hilarious." Snowy comments, to no one in particular.

"That colt is so creepy," Ocean Dive says with a shudder. "How do you know him?"

"I try to think of him not so much as creepy, and more as 'keeps his hoof in his mouth far too much of the time.'" Snowy responds, refusing to let a little flirtation get in the way of his order. "Just a pint of whatever the standard hard cider is, for me."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

"Umm... can I see your menu?" Misty asks. "I'm not sure what kind of drink I want."

"STATIC, HE'S SAVED MY LIFE A NUMBER OF TIMES... DECENT FELLOW NOW THAT HE'S A LITTLE MORE OUT GOING." Maple resumes once Snowy gets his order in... she often forgot how much 'room' this character took up in a conversation.

Ocean Dive gives Snowy a nod and writes down his order. "I'm beginning to remember him from back when I worked at that other place. His mouth wasn't the only thing he had his hooves in whenever he got drunk," she comments with disgust. She shakes out of it."The standard. Coming right up!"

Ocean Dive looked around. She had gotten the Masked Mystery Mare, Snowy and creepy pony's orders. Oasis had gotten Scarlets order and was getting that pony with the key cutie mark. Who did that leave?

She walked over to Misty. "And what'll you have?"

Static shrugged. "It's been nothing but life changing moments ever since I joined up with this team. You know, when I first started I pretty much just kept to myself, alone in the projection booth and then going home where I lived alone. Thank Luna I don't have to do that any more! Looking back, I just don't know how I lived for so long with that kind of isolation."

"I know what you're doing. It's not gonna work. Go back to stalking the owner." She replies as she drinks her cider, Static being so close can likely smell the ferminatation of the beverage. Rhapsody was never one to shy away from the stronger stuff, though she isn't one you'd find drinking too often, she does tend to go 'all in' when she does. Tonight she was already enjoying one of the joint's high end beverages.

"I try to think of him not so much as creepy, and more as 'keeps his hoof in his mouth far too much of the time.'" Snowy responds, refusing to let a little flirtation get in the way of his order. "Just a pint of whatever the standard hard cider is, for me."

"I doubt even surgery could remove the hoof. It seems pretty firmly lodged in there at all times." She replies to Snowy a bit more pleasantly.

Ocean Dive gives Snowy a nod and writes down his order. "The standard. Coming right up!"

Patchouli Knowledge:
"Umm... can I see your menu?" Misty asks. "I'm not sure what kind of drink I want."

"Sure! Not a problem. Ocean Dive goes behind the bar and brings out a menu.

Destron D-69:
"STATIC, HE'S SAVED MY LIFE A NUMBER OF TIMES... DECENT FELLOW NOW THAT HE'S A LITTLE MORE OUT GOING." Maple resumes once Snowy and Misty get their order and question in... she often forgot how much 'room' this character took up in a conversation.

"Heh! He must've changed quite a bit then. I think I remember him now and what I remember..."

"Aww! Give me a break, will ya? I was a completely different pony last time we met. And so were you I might add! I've actually been trying to help your brother save his diner."

Ocean Dive scoffs a bit under her breath. She looked around. She had gotten the Masked Mystery Mare, Snowy and creepy pony's orders. Misty had been given a menu. Oasis had gotten Scarlets order and was getting that pony with the key cutie mark. Who did that leave?

She called back to Rhapsody. "Ready for your next round yet?"

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

Spoiler

Oasis nods, writing down Night Caps order, and secretly forgetting to add it to the tab. "Coming right up!"

"I never stalked her!" Static said defensively. "She had a job and I...helped her through college. I was a different pony then...and it was long before I ever met Anchors!"

Static took a deep sigh as he continued. "And of course you know what I'm trying to do. I've never been what anypony would consider subtle and your far from being an imbecile! Fine, I'll leave you alone if that's what you want. But let me just leave you with this word to the wise. It can be irritating when you're constantly having to push other ponies away. It's even more heartbreaking when you begin to realize you no longer have to."
...
...
"I'm sure I'll be on the dance floor later. Feel free to come up and watch me make an utter fool out of myself."

Static stood up and went to join the others.

"I'VE GOT VERY LITTLE TIME FOR COLTS, BUT HIS MAREFRIEND SEEMS TO DONE HIM A LOT OF GOOD... NOT TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN MIND YOU." Maple raises both pints to toast Static... this is fun. "NOW A STALLION LIKE MR. NIGHT CAP THERE... IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO MAKE AN INTRODUCTION MISS DIVE..." Maple winked.

Snowy cycles in behind Static. "Maybe I'm already drunk; I didn't see him doing anything."

Misty looks over the menu. "You have anything that isn't cider? Maybe a Curly Tail-Pull or something?" she asks sheepishly.

Spoiler

Oasis nods, writing down Night Caps order, and secretly forgetting to add it to the tab. "Coming right up!"

"I never stalked her!" Static said defensively. "She had a job and I...helped her through college. I was a different pony then...and it was long before I ever met Anchors!"

Static took a deep sigh as he continued. "And of course you know what I'm trying to do. I've never been what anypony would consider subtle and your far from being an imbecile! Fine, I'll leave you alone if that's what you want. But let me just leave you with this word to the wise. It can be irritating when you're constantly having to push other ponies away. It's even more heartbreaking when you begin to realize you no longer have to."
...
...
"I'm sure I'll be on the dance floor later. Feel free to come up and watch me make an utter fool out of myself."

Static stood up and went to join the others.

"I told you before, I'm not here for others to like me. Letting them close is where heartbreak really lies." She replies and looks over to the waitress. "Whatever is the most expensive, after all, He's paying." She nods her head to Static as he starts off.

Snowy cycles in behind Static. "Maybe I'm already drunk; I didn't see him doing anything." He says to Rhapsody.

"Haven't you had enough of me today?" She replies, even when she's being dark she seems more friendly then she was with static. "You're smart enough to hear his words, he's going for a much inferior version of your talk this morning."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

Destron D-69:
"I'VE GOT VERY LITTLE TIME FOR COLTS, BUT HIS MAREFRIEND SEEMS TO HAVE DONE HIM A LOT OF GOOD... NOT TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN MIND YOU." Maple raises both pints to toast Static... this is fun. "NOW A STALLION LIKE MR. NIGHT CAP THERE... IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO MAKE AN INTRODUCTION MISS DIVE..." Maple winked.

"Night Cap? That's the brown one with a key cutie mark?" Ocean Dive weighs her options. "Sure. Let me just get these orders in and I'd be glad to meet him."

Patchouli Knowledge:
Misty looks over the menu. "You have anything that isn't cider? Maybe a Curly Tail-Pull or something?" she asks sheepishly.

"Wow! You're one of the serious drinkers! Sure, I can mix one of those up. Just that most ponies around here don't care for something that hard so we don't usually put it on the menu." Ocean Dive gives a whistle. "One Curly Tail-Pull coming right up!"

Shadewing:
"I told you before, I'm not here for others to like me. Letting them close is where heartbreak really lies." She replies and looks over to the waitress. "Whatever is the most expensive, after all, He's paying." She nods her head to Static as he starts off.

Static stops short, sighs, shakes his head and walks on. "And here I thought she was mean before we started getting along so well," he muttered under his breath once he was out of earshot.

"I don't think I'm ever going to have had enough of you, but alright." Snowy replies. "You've been telling me to buck off all day, I guess I can finally listen. You have to admit, though, Static making a fool out of himself sounds like good, if common, entertainment." He sidles back over to the crew. "How do you know these names if you've never had a drink in your life?" He asks Misty. If they had a wall of fame, maybe they had a special for first-time drinkers...

"NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL, US FINE YOUNG FILLIES NEED TO STICK TOGETHER... SPEAKING OF - THOSE TALL GLASSES OF WATER ARE MISS. MISTY MONSOON AND RHAPSODY... BTW, HOW LONG HAS RHAPSODY BEEN HERE TONIGHT?"
Maple whispered the last part, she was still worried about how her friend was doing, but didn't want to drown her in liquid sympathy either.

"Um... I think I remember my parents took me out to eat once, and that was the drink they ordered for me... at least, that's what I thought it was called..."

Ocean Dive narrows her eyes as she looks over to Rhapsody. "Not too long, actually...which makes the shear volume of how much she's had to drink already rather impressive.

Ocean then turns a perplexed look to Misty. "Your parents let you...oh...wait! Wow! Good thing you said that. You must be from somewhere in the islands. Curly Tail-Pull is something completely different here. Yeah, I think Oasis probably knows how to make that one. Ocean chuckles as she goes back to the bar to start making the drinks. "Whew! That was a close one!"

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

Misty visibly relaxes. "Whew! That was a... er, what she said."

"Do you want to do some dancing after a little while Misty?" Maple asks, her real voice being not as easily heard over the music and talking as Mystery Mare's.

Misty smiles and nods.

"I hope they play some slow songs here too... I might need a shoulder to lean on." Maple returns the smile.

Ocean and Oasis brought the drinks out. Oasis gave Scarlet a particularly friendly smile. Ocean stuck around Misty while looking over at Night Cap. "So tell me about him."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

"WELL THE ONLY PONY WHO COULD POSSIBLY DO HIM JUSTICE IS HIMSELF... MR. NIGHT CAP, THIS CHARMING YOUNG LADY IS MISS OCEAN DIVE."

Ocean smiles and offers a hoof bump to Night Cap. "Night Cap, nice to meet you."

Static grins as the two meet. "This oughtta be good," he says to whoever might be near.

"Thanks Oasis," Scarlet said as he accepted his drink. Taking a long pull, he sighed.

"Thats better."

Leaning over to Static, he lowered his voice so only the Eartg pony should hear.

"Does our dear, sweet Maple habe a crush on him? Cause she's kindof overegging Night Cap. The way she's playing it, he's practically a 'Stallion in Shining Armour'," Scarlet whispered.

Static lowers his voice to a whisper as he replies to Scarlet. "Hard to say who she has a bigger crush on, Night Cap or Misty," he says, nodding to where Maple had already started queuing up her dance card.

"Still, I think Night Cap already expressed an interest in somepony else. So...who knows how this is going to turn out?"

Ocean laughs, half expecting that was a joke. She glances over at Maple to flash her a "what in Celestia's name have you gotten me into" look. "Did you say dreamwalker? What does a dream walker need coffee for?"

"It's true! He saved me from a particularly nasty shadow dragon once," Oasis chimed in.

"You're still having that dream?"

"Not since I met him!"

"Maybe you two should have a chat."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

"He saved me too." Snowy adds. "I've been trying to pay him back ever since."

"I'VE MET PONIES FROM ACROSS EQUESTRIA... I'VE SEEN PONIES FACES LIGHT UP WHEN THEY SEE ME -HEARD THEM CHEER AND STOMP THEIR HOOVES.

...IT DOESN'T COMPARE TO WHAT I SEE WHEN SOMEPONY RECOGNIZES MR. NIGHT CAP." Maple wiggles a hoof towards Oasis. "SAW IT AGAIN TONIGHT."

Maple laughs before downing what was left of her second Pint.

"ARE YOU READY FOR THAT DANCING MISS MONSOON?.... " Maple holds out a hoof .

"Hmm. Wonder if mom would ever think of doing a film about Dream Walkers," Scarlet mused to himself quietly. Making a mental note to ask her next chance he got, he turned back to yhe conversation.

"How did he save you Snowy?"

Rhapsody stays out of the talk about Night Cap, she's been doing very well in avoiding him since he started is medical training and planned to continue to until he proved he could be an actual asset to the team. She had biggers thoughts on her mind tonight anyway, between what she learned as her alter ego, that new Vigilante, and her own personal feelings. Beating up those goons had made her feel better, and now she had come here to reflect... picking out a place she though her coworkers would avoid... and yet here they are...

"Laying it on rather thick, aren't you Triple M? Fame going to your head, or just the thought of free drinks?"

Static wanted to chime in with how Night Cap had helped him out as well. But given the glares Ocean had been giving him all night, he figured the last thing Night Cap needed was a good word from him.

But at the good words from Oasis and Snowy, Ocean's look of trying to get out of the situation turned into a genuine smile. "So you're quite the hero, huh? Can you dance too?" Not waiting for an answer, Ocean grabbed Night Cap by the hoof and started pulling him to the dance floor up the stairs.

Oasis eyes opened wide as Ocean walked away. "Wait just one ponyfeathered second! What about...?" *sigh* "Guess I'll hold down the bar."

As Ocean dragged Night Cap up to the dance floor, a whole group of ponies came down looking for an autograph from the Masked Mystery Mare.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

*SLUUUUUUUURP* Misty finishes the last of her Curly Tail-Pull. "Ready as I'll ever be!" she replies to the Masked Mystery Mare's question. She heads over to join the pint-size pro wrestler, but is cut off by the throng of autograph-seekers.

Not now not Now!

"FORGIVE ME LADIES AND GENTLE COLTS, IT IS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU ALL...HOWEVER FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES i'M GOING TO WAVE MY HOOVES AROUND."

Nothing for it... it had to be done..., Maple smiled though, she'd been in the business a while now and they'd developed a system for situations like this.

"ONCE I'VE GONE BACK TO A TABLE MY FRIENDS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME BY, AUTOGRAPHS ARE ONE THING... BUT I'VE ALSO GOT VOUCHERS FOR DISCOUNTED ENTRY TO ANY ONE LOCAL SHOW THIS SEASON."

It was a good thing Green Bean had taken most of the roaster on the road this month, with the number of vouchers Maple had been giving out while they were away attendance for the first few home shows were going to be great. ... As the crowd quickly dispersed ...with only a few grumbles about hope'n it was a quick song and a few who's that cute Pegasus she's with? Maple got Misty over to the dance floor.

"Ummm... I'm not really any better at dancing than I am at bowling," Misty confesses. "You'll have to show me how it's done."

"Well I might not really be a Unicorn, but this is already Magical." Maple giggles ...and then the music hits.
Spoiler

"Well I might not really be a Unicorn, but this is already Magical." Maple giggles ...and then the music hits.
Spoiler

*thus begins the hoof shaking!*

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

Misty does her best at dancing badly.

Scarlet was half-tempted to maybe go up and dance. Stretch his wings as it were. However, three thougts held him back.

1. He hadn't danced in a long time and wasn't sure he wouldn't simply trip himself up.
2. He was no good at asking any mare to dance.
3. From what Static had said, and Mystery Maples choice of song. It seemed like she would like to have Misty to herself.

So he smiled to himself and took another long drink.

Static sighed. "Well, looks like it's about time to make a complete fool out of myself." Static walks up to the dance floor.

One of the ponies who came down for an autograph caught sight of Raphsody. She was a dark grey pegasus mare with a rainbow colored main and a cutie mark of several musical notes overlapping a couple of glow sticks in the shape of an X. She grinned as she walked over. "Beg your pardon. I don't mean to bother you, but you see those two stallions over there?" She pointed over to an entire group of ponies. There was no telling which two stallions, if any, she was actually talking about. "They don't seem to believe me when I say that they're 'not my type'. Now they seem to be looking your way too. Believe me, they can be such a bother. Could you do both of us a favor and just give me one dance?"

[spoilers]Okay, I know I wasn't going to do skill checks...but here's a skill check for dancing.

Dexterity or Acrobatics, whichever's highter

nat 1: Get booed off the dance floor. You may want to go back to your drinks.
2-9: Get a few chuckles and pointing. But no one will outright boo you off the stage.
10-14: You're dancing badly, but ponies tend to ignore it. Not everyone can be awesome.
15-19: You're dancing fine. Hold your head high.
20+: You turn a few heads, get a few compliments.
nat 20: Show stopper. Everyone stops what they're doing and is now amazed at what you're doing.

Static Dexterity
Roll(1d20)+7:
3,+7
Total:10[/spoilers]

[Destron]

Spoiler

[Patch]

Spoiler

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

Scarlet watched as Static went up and...danced. Yhe fact yhat Static was so obviously having fun regardless of what anypony esle thought made him smile. And push his own misgivings aside.

So he downed the last of his drink and, praying that he could at least manage not to get booed off the floor.

Spoiler

Maple was having the night of her life... misty was a great dancer... even if she didn't know specific moves ... the song ends and something much slower starts playing

"Oh this is perfect, Misty come here for a second please."

Spoiler

"um, i'll need you to put your fore hooves on my shoulders... now this song is slow, so feel which way my body moves... and you try to go the same way...I'll guide your hips... since I can't reach your shoulders..." o//o

Static sighed. "Well, looks like it's about time to make a complete fool out of myself." Static walks up to the dance floor.

One of the ponies who came down for an autograph caught sight of Raphsody. She was a dark grey pegasus mare with a rainbow colored main and a cutie mark of several musical notes overlapping a couple of glow sticks in the shape of an X. She grinned as she walked over. "Beg your pardon. I don't mean to bother you, but you see those two stallions over there?" She pointed over to an entire group of ponies. There was no telling which two stallions, if any, she was actually talking about. "They don't seem to believe me when I say that they're 'not my type'. Now they seem to be looking your way too. Believe me, they can be such a bother. Could you do both of us a favor and just give me one dance?"

Rhapsody looked over to the Pegasus that looked like a literal pale imitation of her as the mare spoke to her. "I don't really care what others think of me, I could handle them if they wanted to hassle me, however I suppose I should show some of these ponies how it is really done." She speaks up, a faint smile forming on her muzzle as she stands, trotting over to the dance floor and waits for the other mare to join her.

Rhapsody, at her heart was a performer, her colleagues have seen her in battle and how effortlessly she could move about, her training with Sky Lynx also helped, they've also heard her sing. She loved to sing and found ways to make use of it; but her cutie mark was what really sealed it. The musical note against the moon; what some might consider the largest and most natural spotlight there could be. She had chosen a profession away from the spotlight, studying the night sky, and at least Snowy had figured out something had happened in her past that made her more closed off.

None of that mattered now however. Maybe the cider was finally starting to have and effect on her; making her looser and more open to doing something she normally wouldn't do in public, but when Rhapsody took to the dance floor, it was clear to everyone: This is a pony that was born to be on stage. Though she didn't leave her partner behind, choosing a dance that could work for two she made sure to give those stallions, if they were any, a clear sign that the young gray mare certainly wasn't in their league,

Rhapsody took the lead, but kept close to the mare. Letting their movement intertwine, keeping in step to her partner and the music as the glided across the dance floor. Every step was perfection, her body moved effortlessly with the song as if she was completely one with it, The world just seemed to disappear as she danced, showing everypony what she was fully capable of. And for once she almost looked... happy.

Spoiler

Misty, well aware of how terrible her dancing was, appreciates Maple's hooves-on guidance.

Spoiler

Somehow, everything comes together just right, in a moment that can be nothing less than magic.

"Hmm. Wonder if mom would ever think of doing a film about Dream Walkers," Scarlet mused to himself quietly. Making a mental note to ask her next chance he got, he turned back to yhe conversation.

"How did he save you Snowy?"

Spoiler

Snowy takes a long swig of his drink and looks at nothing for a moment, just thinking. When he turns to Scarlet and opens his mouth, he realizes that he's been staring into space for so long that everyone is already dancing...if it could be called that. It mostly could, really.

Static sighed. "Well, looks like it's about time to make a complete fool out of myself." Static walks up to the dance floor.

One of the ponies who came down for an autograph caught sight of Raphsody. She was a dark grey pegasus mare with a rainbow colored main and a cutie mark of several musical notes overlapping a couple of glow sticks in the shape of an X. She grinned as she walked over. "Beg your pardon. I don't mean to bother you, but you see those two stallions over there?" She pointed over to an entire group of ponies. There was no telling which two stallions, if any, she was actually talking about. "They don't seem to believe me when I say that they're 'not my type'. Now they seem to be looking your way too. Believe me, they can be such a bother. Could you do both of us a favor and just give me one dance?"

Click to expand...

Rhapsody looked over to the Pegasus that looked like a literal pale imitation of her as the mare spoke to her. "I don't really care what others think of me, I could handle them if they wanted to hassle me, however I suppose I should show some of these ponies how it is really done." She speaks up, a faint smile forming on her muzzle as she stands, trotting over to the dance floor and waits for the other mare to join her.

Rhapsody, at her heart was a performer, her colleagues have seen her in battle and how effortlessly she could move about, her training with Sky Lynx also helped, they've also heard her sing. She loved to sing and found ways to make use of it; but her cutie mark was what really sealed it. The musical note against the moon; what some might consider the largest and most natural spotlight there could be. She had chosen a profession away from the spotlight, studying the night sky, and at least Snowy had figured out something had happened in her past that made her more closed off.

None of that mattered now however. Maybe the cider was finally starting to have and effect on her; making her looser and more open to doing something she normally wouldn't do in public, but when Rhapsody took to the dance floor, it was clear to everyone: This is a pony that was born to be on stage. Though she didn't leave her partner behind, choosing a dance that could work for two she made sure to give those stallions, if they were any, a clear sign that the young gray mare certainly wasn't in their league,

Rhapsody took the lead, but kept close to the mare. Letting their movement intertwine, keeping in step to her partner and the music as the glided across the dance floor. Every step was perfection, her body moved effortlessly with the song as if she was completely one with it, The world just seemed to disappear as she danced, showing everypony what she was fully capable of. And for once she almost looked... happy.

Spoiler

That could certainly be called dancing. "Progress, progress." Snowy murmurs, looking very pleased with the state of affairs, even as he sits alone, at a table for 6, nursing his drink.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

"There we are... one, two, three... one,two, three..." Maple didn't notice anyone else on the dance floor... this right now was too important. She could swear she heard cheers and hoots and hoof stomping nearby... but when she looked up from watching Misty's hooves she just fell into the other pony's smile.

Misty got off to a rocky start, but after getting over her preliminary jitters, she and Maple were beginning to turn a few heads, not least because she was dancing with the Masked Mystery Mare.

Ocean Dive smiled at her dancing partner. "So, both a hero and a dancer! Okay, I'm impressed." With a grin, she moved in closer to Night Cap, dancing around him and letting everyone know that he was her dance partner.

As Scarlet dances, a few turn their heads. Oasis come up the stairs and onto the dance floor. "Letting one of the new employees handle the bar for a few moments. I couldn't let this opportunity pass, now could I?" She holds her hoof out for a dance.

As Rhapsody dances, gradually everypony around her stops. The entire dance floor just...stops! The mare across from her was also looking good in the spot light, but that was easily chalked up to the synergy she was getting from Rhapsody.

At the prodding of Static giving a name the chant, pretty soon the entire building was chanting "Rhapsody, Rhapsody, Rhapsody!" With a little help from the sidelines, the chorus was also joined in with shouts of "Aria, Aria, Aria!"

Rhapsody could tell that Aria was not used to this kind of attention. But thanks to Rhapsody's expert skill, she still came off looking good.

After the dance was over, Aria walked over to the side lines with Rhapsody. "Wow! Thanks for the dance. I haven't felt like that for a long time." Aria seemed to hesitate. "Umm, Rhapsody? I...I'm afraid I have a confession. There...were no other stallions. I just saw you and...well...I just had to get to know you. Please don't be mad!"

As Scarlet heard the music change to slow dance, a couples dance, his memories stirred. Suppressing a slight shudder up his spine, Scarlet did not]/i] run off yhe dance floor. He did however, deftly sidestep through the dancers and make jis way back to the table. Well, he got another drink first, and then headed back, making a mental note to thank Oasis for giving him the no-drink option.

Sitting down, he stared at yhe pint in front of him, and took several coming breaths. Fkrcing the memories back where they belonged.

Oasis smiles. "Of course! Call me sentimental, but very few ponies I used to know back when are still around. And seeing as how you're a good dancer besides..."

"do you want to keep dancing, or did you want another squiggley wiggley?" Maple asked, as the song came to an end.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

"Umm! I'd love to dance some more but... since the song is over, maybe you should go talk to your fans before they eat their own hooves..." Misty glances over her shoulder at the autograph-hungry crowd waiting by the dancefloor.

"Oh right... thank you for being so wonderful." Maple stepped away, letting her hooves drop away from Misty.

"TIME TO SIGN MY NAME UNTO A HOOF CRAMPS HAHHA!" is this mask warmer than usual?

the Masked Mystery Mare was Fanning her face when she reached the table the waiting fans had set up... good at least her friends could continue their conversations in peace

Fans of all ages gathered around the table with all manor of requests. Some where lucky enough to already be wearing Masked Mystery Mare teeshirts. Some only had napkins they were able to snag from a table. Some of them just wanted a dance with their hero.

"You totally should've won against the Changling Champion." "Yeah! You were totally robbed!" "You'll get her next time, triple M!"

Maple's signing hoof was definitely sore by the end of it all.

"Ahhhh..." Misty slumps down in her seat back at the table. She seems to stare for a few moments at the empty glass in front of her.

Spoiler

Maybe, by some accident, they'd put alcohol in her drink after all.

The pegasus stallion Oasis had left behind the bar looked over to Misty. "Ready for another one? Oasis told me it was an island style Curly Tail-Pull? She left the instructions on how to make it right aroooooound..." he looks around the bar. "Oh no! I know she left it somewhere...oh, here! Yeah. So did you want another one?"

CoffeeHorse · Mar 8, 2023

Snowy grins at Misty. "Welcome back. You seem to be having a good time."

"Ah, no, I'm good, thanks," Misty replies.

She lays her head down sideways on the table. "Snowyyyyy..."

"Really? That can't be good," the bartender said in a near panic. "Ms. Oasis specified no alcohol. I'm sure she wouldn't have...oh dear!"

Ocean draped her hooves over Night Cap's shoulders as she continued dancing. "Are we having fun yet?" she asked as she circled around him and gave him a wide cheshire smile.

"I don't think that's it." Snowy says to the bartender with a comforting smile. "She's just a little overwhelmed by the evening." He pats Misty's neck "You just found something very special, in a very special pony." He says quietly.

[IC] Equestrian Radio Show's Adventure Variety Hour: Explorers of STOMP

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.