Exchanging Stories of Wounds

26 June 2014

20:24 Stoic sits on Saphling

20:25 Saphling buckles under the weight and falls with a thud

20:27 Stoic huggles Saphling, draging the pony off for cuddles

20:28 Saphling slides across the ground, completely at Stoic's mercy

20:37 GyroTech sees Saphling stuck under the other stallion and wanders over to her. "need some help there girl?"

20:40 Stoic glares at GyroTech and hisses angrily "My friend!"

20:42 Saphling sighs, unwilling to struggle with her leg still busted

20:43 Stoic frowns and nuzzles Saphling, making sure not to hurt his friend

20:47 GyroTech steps in front of stoic. "with her leg like that you probably shouldn't be drawing her around... Please let her go... Or at least carry her since she didn't say she wanted help"

20:51 Saphling plops her chin on the ground. "Oh no, don't worry about it. Being made to do things I never intended to do is normal these days. Please, continue."

20:53 Stoic shakes his head and stands up "Your right Gyro... I'm sorry..." He lifts the mare up onto her back and smiles to her "Are you comfortable back there, Saphl?"

20:53 < Stoic> his back*

20:55 GyroTech shrugs at the mare's words. "Well as long as you enjoy them despite them being spur of the moment I suppose..." The unicorn states, nuzzling her neck. "Good stoic that should be much safer "

20:57 Saphling curls up on Stoic's back, draping her leg over the side. "I guess. Where are we going?"

20:58 Stoic nuzzles against her with a smile "How about a walk in the park... we can talk, I havn't seen you in quite some time"

21:02 GyroTech trots on after the pair, a grin plastered on his face. "other than finally having fun with me and your bout with the dragon, what other surprises have you had Saphling?" the unicorn asks casually.

21:07 Saphling nods. "That sounds nice." At Gyro's question, she shoots him a harsh look. "Gyro, I don't know what you're talking about."

21:08 Stoic gives Gyro a equally as harsh glare "Gyro, please leave us alone... I don't want you hounding us on our peacful walk"

21:27 GyroTech scrunches his face at Saphling's denial and then frowns at stoic words. "I'm not hounding anypony. I'm just trying to make conversation. It was something she'd brought up after all.

21:33 Saphling says, "And what exactly did I bring up? You're the one saying crazy things like I had a bout with a dragon."

21:35 Stoic continues to trot off with Saphling on his back "Please Gyro... I want some time with her because from the sound of you got plenty, so please leave us alone"

21:39 GyroTech shakes his head. "You brought up the fact that you had done lots of unexpected things recently and I was asking what in addition to those things." He responds, still keeping pace with stoic. "And she fell asleep on me before we could talk..."

21:53 Saphling puts her head down on Stoic's neck. "You two make it sound like I'm a cheap whorse..."

21:55 Stoic frowns and nuzzles up against her with a frown "I'm sorry... you are not a cheep whorse, you are a beautiful mare who I want to spend some time with and I want it to be a peaceful and relaxing time with you"

21:59 GyroTech ducks his head down at Saphling's words slowing his pace. "No...you are definatly not a cheap whorse, you're a kind, beautiful and gentle mare whom I want to get to know even better...but if you want me to leave you alone for now..." GYro looks alittle downtrodden.

22:05 Saphling shakes her head. 'I don't have the strength for this...' she mumbles to herself. "Look, you two... I'm really flattered that you both want to spend your time with me, but right now isn't the best time." She looks down at her leg. "I'm not exactly in the best condition to be, uh... social? I just want to relax and heal in a comfortable place..."

22:10 Stoic frowns down at the words she spoke, noding with quite a bit of sadness in his motions "I understand Saphling, would you like a ride to a place that makes you comfortable?"

22:13 GyroTech smiles at the mare. "Thats alright then. I'll leave you be. Remember, my house is still open to you, especially whilst your leg heals. You promised not to return to staying in your tree for a bit, on penalty of me taking you to the hospital, remember?:

22:15 Saphling 's ears flatten. "Y-Yea... I remember..." She glances between the two stallions nervously. "Stoic, I don't mean to impose, but... Would you..."

22:18 Stoic nods to her "Of course Saphling, where do you want to go..." He asked, willin to take her anywhere she wanted

22:19 GyroTech waves a hoof be at Saphling and turns to wander off, heading back to where he'd left Inky a bit ago.

22:21 Saphling closes her eyes and sighs. "Do you remember the coffee shop we went to?"

22:23 Stoic nods to her "Yeah yeah! I go there every day now~" He starts walking off towards the place "Thanks for showing me it by the way..."

22:25 Saphling smiles a little. "No, thank you for spending that day with me. I didn't realize it then, but I really needed the company."

22:30 Stoic noded to her as he walked along to the place "I was happy to do that... its a shame I wasn't there to help you when you needed it..." He looks forward "Did you and Gyro..."

22:36 Saphling answers "Yes... Yes we did." She turns her head facing forward. "I was... stimulated, and needed relief. Normally I would use my hoof, but with my leg like this... I couldn't do it on my own."

22:41 Stoic nods to that question "He shouldn't have went all the way with you... he should have known better then" He smiled back to her "I would have never taken the much of an advantage of you..." He cherps with a soft nuzzle combo

22:43 Saphling shrugs and opens her neck to the nuzzles. "You know Gyro. You know how he is around mares. Could you really expect anything less?"

22:46 Stoic sighs and shakes his head "No but still... if your pregnent I'm not sure how he'll react." He soon came to the shop and walked in with her, ordering both of their usually, getting them and talking them to a near by booth area

23:04 Saphling climbs off Stoic carefully and sits down at the booth, taking her chocolate and sipping it slowly with a blank stare. "Yea... I don't know how I would react either.."

23:06 Stoic scoots next to her on the booth, putting a hoof around her "I'm here for you though Saph... as a friend but a friend can be useful if and when you are left alone..."

23:26 Saphling leans against Stoic and nods. "Thank you... That means a lot to me."

23:31 Stoic nods and takes a sip of his own, letting her lean on him "Your welcome... somepony needs to do it and I don nods and takes a sip of his own, letting her lean on him "Your welcome... somepony needs to do it and I don't give Gyro my full trust... but I hope he does the right thing if... well, you know"

23:35 Saphling snorts. "I wouldn't count on it. I can't imagine him wanting to be tied down by a foal."

23:38 Stoic nods to him with a chuckle "Yeah... he'll react badly and I know it and if it comes down to that..." He sighs and gives her a soft hug "You can come stay with me and my griffon... she might yell at me and I'll have to sleep on the couch but better that then with him in that case"

23:41 Saphling giggles. "I wouldn't stay with him anyways, but thank you for the offer. Might wanna talk that over with your mate, though."

23:49 Stoic nods to her with a smile on his face "I can take you there after we're done... I'll talk with her about it when we get there with or without you... but I'll try me best"

23:50 Saphling laughs. "No, that's ok. If I get put into that situation, then we'll talk. I'll be fine until then, though. There's no need for me to impose."

23:51 Stoic ods with a chuckle, once again taking a drink of his chocolate "You wouldn't ipose in my opinion but my mate may not say the same... I'm always here for you when you need me though..." He makes shify eyes before giving her a soft kiss on the cheek

23:53 < Stoic> impose*

23:53 Saphling smirks, but a blush also creeps into her face. "Stoic!" she whispers "So scandalous!"

23:55 Stoic shakes his head and nuzzles against her "Its just a kiss on the cheek, practicly nothing... just another way to show caring affection~" He says with a slightly teasing but mostly serious tone

23:58 Saphling chuckles "Well, reign it in, bashful hero. I might turn my head next time," she says with a wink.

23:59 Stoic nods to her with a soft chuckle "I would like that but my mare may not so much~" He joked and nuzzle her "But I doubt Gyro gives you any of that kind of respectful affection"

00:01 Saphling 's face becomes serious. "I think you're misunderstanding something. Gyro and I aren't a thing. There's not any sort of affection between us. He's just skilled at getting what he wants, and I fell into that trap."

00:02 Stoic nods to her with a frown, sighing an very upset sigh "Your right, I

00:03 Stoic nods to her with a frown, sighing an very upset sigh "Your right, I'm sorry..." He nuzzles against her caringly "You shouldn't have to deal with stallions like that... its a shame I can't have two mates, you know~"

00:04 Saphling says, "Hey now... Don't go entertaining that train of thought. As much as I like you, I'm not sure I'm ready to be tied down either."

00:05 Stoic nods to that, a frown on his face as he agrees "I know... I already got one child and another one the way... I'm just a sucker for helping those that need help..."

00:07 Saphling smiles at him. "And that's why I like you." She takes another sip of her chocolate. "And probably why your griffon likes you too. Unless you're also good at... other things." she says with a devilish grin.

00:09 Stoic nods with a soft chuckle, taking another light sip of his coco "Yeah, she says I'm good at... that... but frankly shes much better then I..." He didn't mind being so open with her, it was comfortable "But she likes me for more then just that, the reason shes living with me right now is that exact reason... I took her in"

00:22 Saphling cocks her head. "You didn't love her first?"

00:23 Stoic shakes his head "No, it originally was me just taking care of her... but after a while it bloomed into what I have today~"

00:24 Saphling blinks. "That's a scary thought..." she mutters.

00:25 Stoic gives her a confused look "Scary thought? What do you mean by that?" He said, his tone caring more curiousity then anything else

00:26 Saphling frowns. "Hmm?" She blushes as she realizes he heard her. "Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking aloud."

00:29 Stoic shakes his head and pulls her into a soft hold "No no, I'm currious, not gonna bite or anything~" He teased

00:31 Saphling fidgets. "Well, situations of convenience leading to a permanent relationship."

00:33 Stoic lets her have more room, not wanting to hold her close if she didn't want it "Hm.. well, I guess... but you say that like if its a bad thing~" He points to himself "I have a fuller life now because of it... with a wife, a child... another on the way. I wouldn't trade that for anything"

00:36 Saphling says, "I guess so... but what about when they're gone?"

00:37 Stoic gives her a confused look "Gone? What do you mean by that?" He asked with a chuckle "I don't plan to lose them"

00:44 Saphling sighs. "Nopony ever- does..." Her eyes widen as her mind suddenly breaks through the fog that had clouded it for so long. "Dear sweet Celestia... What have I been doing...?!"

00:45 Stoic frowns a bit, giving her a worried look as his hoof traces along her back "Whats wrong... did I say something wrong... impose too much?"

00:48 Saphling looks up at Stoic and realizes the enormity of her continuous error. "I have to go." She gets up hurriedly and darts for the exit, but she strains her leg too far and falls with visible pain.

00:49 Stoic quickly gets up and helps her to a seat "Please, calm down... as much as you don't about Gyro, if he thinks I hurt you somehow he would not be a happy stallion..." He sided and smiled warmly to her "I won't ask you anything but to just tell me where you want to go, its the least I can do"

00:52 Saphling she looks up to hear his offer and see his warm smile, and a terror clutches her heart. She grabs her head between her hooves. "No... No, no, no!"

00:53 Stoic frowns and gives her some space "Please please... calm down... I don't want to hurt you and I don't want you to hurt yourself so please... just tell me how I can help

00:55 Saphling squeaks "Just let me go," she pleads, her breathing getting faster. "Please, just let me go. I have to go. Right now."

00:56 Stoic nods to her "I will... do you want me to get somepony here to help you, maybe Gyro or another pony?" He didn't want to leave her all alone

01:01 Saphling shouts "No!" She finally manages to reign in her fear, despite its still powerful presence. "...No. I need to be alone for a little while."

01:03 Stoic nods to her with a sigh "Ok... well... um..." He brings over the two chocolates "Enjoy these... I'll be waiting outside the shop if you need me..." He said leaving out the window and waiting out of site

01:06 < Stoic> sight*

01:07 Stoic nods to her with a sigh "Ok... well... um..." He brings over the two chocolates "Enjoy these... I'll be waiting outside the shop if you need me..." He said leaving out the door and waiting out of sight

01:09 Saphling watches him leave, then hoofs her chocolates to other patrons and pays the cashier before stepping outside and pointing her nose toward the one truly quiet place in town: the Library.

01:10 Stoic watches her with a frown, hating the fact that she threw him off and left him without worry or reason... and it chewed him upinsde that he thought he was the cause of it

01:16 Saphling 's gut churned that she left him just standing there, but that only fueled her desire to escape even more as she made her way to the Library. Soon she saw the large building, and she breathed a small sigh of relief.

01:19 Inky sat at the front desk of the library, resting with her eyes closed. The bat pony was wearing a cloak that covered most of her body, despite being indoors.

01:28 Stoic closes his eyes after the last glimps of her faded, tears forming in his eyes as she trots away back to his home. Hurt and broken from her unexplaned rejection and what seems to be the loss of a friend

01:28 Saphling finally reaches the Library and steps through the doors. The cool, air conditioned air was a welcome change from Seaddle's humid climate, and the silence rose her spirits like a burden being lifted from her shoulders. She sees a hooded pony sitting at the counter and cocks her head, having never seen somepony like that working here.

01:32 Inky picks her head up from the desk when she hears the door open, pushing the hood back off her head from where it'd fallen. Her drooping ears stiffen when she sees Saphling, though they don't quite perk up. She was still wary of the other mare, after all. Lifting a hoof, she gives Saphling a tentative wave.

01:35 Saphling realizes the hooded pony was Inky and waves back. She slowly and quietly approaches the counter, remembering her promise. "Hello, Inky," she whispers. "Any new books recently?"

01:37 Inky weakly smiles at the mare. Up close she looks tired, and her yellow eyes seemed almost... grayer. "Hello, Saphling," she whispers back. "A few. Nothing that unusual..."

01:39 Saphling peers into Inky's somehow discolored eyes. She didn't remember them being as dull as they appeared now. "Is something wrong? You seem... I dunno... drained."

01:44 Inky grimaces. "That obvious, huh?" She sighs and lets her head fall back onto the desk. "I should have stayed home sick today..." The mare's eyes fall on the bandage on Saphling's leg, and they widen slightly. "What happened to you??" she whispers.

01:47 Saphling looks down at her leg. "That obvious, huh?" She glances up and looks Inky in the eyes. "Tell you what. I'll tell you my story if you tell me yours."

01:49 Inky can't help but giggle at Saphling's imitation, despite her current state. "Well..." She looks around, checking to see if anypony was in earshot. "Okay. Who's first?"

01:53 Saphling says "I can go first." She sits down and puts her bad leg up on the counter. "Would you like the short version or the long? Depending on your answer, I may add a few embelishments."

01:58 Inky pulls back a bit when the earth pony puts her bandaged leg on the counter. She sits up a little straighter, peering at the limb curiously. "Uh... Can I get the long and truthful version?" she asks in a hopeful voice.

02:01 Saphling nods. "Alright, but only if you promise to keep this a secret. Promise?"

02:02 Inky blanches as she studies the damage in detail, frowning at how wrecked the leg was. "How can you even walk on that?" she whispers. "And I promise, but you have to promise the same for my story too."

02:08 Saphling nods and squints painfully at Inky's touch. "I promise." She leans in close. "To be honest, I can't really walk on it. But I do anyways to help the muscle grow back."

02:11 Inky pulls her hooves away when she sees the mare flinch and squint. "S-sorry." She puts one back and lightly traces it down the leg, feeling the bumps and holes. "Luna, Saphling, what did you /do/ to this?"

02:13 Saphling motions Inky closer. "...It was chewed by a dragon."

02:15 Inky leans in to hear what Saphling says, and her ears go straight up in shock. "By a /dragon/?" she hisses, her eyes wide. "There's one going around biting ponies? How'd you get away? Why'd it stop at just your leg?"

02:21 Saphling waves her good hoof in defense. "No, no, no, no, no. Don't misunderstand. There isn't a dragon going around just randomly biting ponies." She looks at her leg. "Granted, I got bit, but that's only because we're friends. I was nearby, and she needed something to chew. When she was done, she let me go."

02:22 Inky stares at Saphling, having trouble parsing what she said. "She bit you... because you're friends? Some kind of friend that is, she nearly chewed off your leg!"

02:24 Saphling nods. "If it makes you feel better, she was very apologetic afterwards."

02:28 Inky holds a hoof to her forehead, stunned. "I... that kind of helps, but also... what." The bat pony looks back at Saphling, concern in her eyes. "You're taking good care of it though, right?"

02:31 Saphling answers "Of course!" she whispers. "Once a day, I go to the river and remove the bandages so I can clean my leg and rewrap it in new linens."

02:33 Inky shifts uncomfortably. "That.. but what about the hospital?" She rubs her muzzle thoughtfully. "I suppose you'd have to explain it... s' why I haven't gone..."

02:36 Saphling nods. "You understand why I haven't gone, though you make me wonder what happened that you might need it."

02:38 Inky chuckles nervously. "Well... I suppose it is my turn," she says, sighing. The bat pony's tired look returns as she thinks about it. "Thing is, I'm not entirely sure." She nods her head towards the gate to behind the counter. "C'mere... I ought to show you something..."

02:39 Saphling cocks her head in curiousity before she goes behind the counter. "What will I be looking at?"

02:41 Inky looks around again to make sure nopony's looking, then turns to Saphling. "Remembmer, don't tell /anypony/!" The mare pulls her cloak back, revealing her flank... and nothing on it. Her cutie mark was missing.

02:44 Saphling freezes, unable to take her eyes off Inky's flank. "Inky... This... You..."

02:47 Inky lets Saphling stare for a little bit longer before dropping her cloak again. "I think... it's my magic," she says, sighing. "I was testing something with Dusk and... and it went away." The mare looks at Saphling helplessly.

02:51 Saphling plops on her rump, dumbfounded. "Inky, this is far worse than a simple dragon bite... How did it happen? How are you going to get your magic back?"

02:54 Inky shrugs, at a loss. "I don't know... I was hoping it'd come back on its own, but it doesn't seem to be doing that..." She stares at the earth pony, her eyes watering slightly. "I-I think I'm going to ask Gyro tonight... maybe he can help." The bat pony sniffles. "I-I know Dusk is trying to figure out what happened..."

02:59 Saphling scoots up to the mare and places her good hoof on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry... I wish I could help, but my knowledge of things like this is severly lacking. Still, if there's anything you need, anything at all, you get in touch with me. I will do everything I can to help you through this."

03:00 Inky nods, wiping at her eyes with a fetlock. "T-Thanks, Saphling." She grins weakly. "I'd ask for a hug, but..."

03:14 Saphling 's eyes turn fearful for a moment before she suppressesses the urge to get away. Inky wasn't going to ask, so there was nothing to fear. "Th-thanks... Is there anything else I can do?"

03:15 Inky sighs and looks at the ground, then double takes back to Saphling. "Wait... you don't like them again?"

03:18 Saphling shudders. "I can't believe I ever liked them in the first place... Once I thought about what they really meant, everything came back to me. I'm going to have a few choice words with Gyro once I see him again."

03:23 Inky smiles as much as she can. "That's great! So... he did it? I have no idea how, but... you tell 'im."

03:25 Saphling nods. "He did, but that's an issue for another time. Right now, we need to get you your magic back. Are there any books that could help?"

03:27 Inky nods, something from earlier trickling back into her mind. "Right... ...did you say a 'simple dragon bite?' That's anything but 'simple'. You ought to get that professionally treated if it doesn't heal right." The bat mare looks thoughtful for a bit, then grins, a small blush forming in her cheeks. "Actually... I could help with that, if--- no, wait." She stops suddenly, all the happiness immediately draining out of her. "No magic, right. That doesn't work anymore." Sighing, the crestfallen pony slumps down, her tufted ears drooping.

03:32 Saphling picks up her chin and looks her in the eyes with determination. "Then help me find something that will help you help me. Your magic takes priority. One, because your magic is more important than my leg, and two, because if you get fixed, then you can help me get fixed."

03:36 Inky stares into Saphling's eyes, still looking tired, but something hardens inside them. "O-okay. Yeah." She nods. "But like you said, this isn't our area of expertise..."

03:46 Saphling says "Hmm... You're right... I have no idea where to start."

03:54 Inky sighs. "Look... Thanks for the offer, Saphling, but maybe I'll just leave it to the ponies who know what they're doing. I only know enough to know that all the stuff I can't do, like fly, or... yeah, that they were magic."

03:56 Saphling frowns and her ears flatten. "I'm sorry I couldn't help..."

04:01 Inky reaches out and pats her on the shoulder. "It's okay. If I need anything, I'll be sure to ask." She glances down at the bandaged leg. "And you likewise!"

04:08 GyroTech paces around his house, wondering were Saphling had gone off to. Even though he didn't show it in the best of ways, he really did care for the mare and was getting kind of worried. With a sigh, GyroTech throws on his saddle bags and makes his way over towards Stoics house.

04:10 Saphling does the same. "Of course," she says with a smile.

04:11 Inky smiles weakly. "Hopefully I'll be better soon, and then I can help you out."

04:32 Saphling answers "Sounds like a plan." She hops over the counter, landing on all fours. Then she collapses, hissing and clutching her injured leg.

04:35 Inky 's eyes widen as she sees Saphling collapse, and she clambers to her feet and rushes out to the front of the counter. "Be careful!" she whispers, leaning down close to Saphling and holding out a hoof to help her up. "Your leg's never gonna heal if you keep doing that..."

04:36 Inky 's eyes widen as she sees Saphling collapse, and she clambers to her feet and rushes out to the front of the counter. "Are you okay?" she whispers, worried. The mare leans down close to Saphling and holds out a hoof to help her up. "Be careful! Your leg's never gonna heal if you keep doing that..."

04:38 Saphling chuckles painfully. "Yea... No kidding..." She stands up, favoring her leg. "Still not used to being so limited, I guess..." She turns around and smiles at Inky. "Thank you."

04:42 Inky leans in slowly to give the mare a friendly nuzzle. "You're not the only one. I've had a couple failed takeoffs...". The mare chuckles at their problems. "Try to get some rest, okay?"

04:44 Saphling snrots "Pfft. /You're/ telling /me/ to get rest?" She returns the nuzzle. "Have you looked in the mirror? You look like you could use a beauty sleep or two."

04:47 Inky lets out a weak laugh, but smiles when Saphling returns her nuzzle. "I've actually been sleeping more... I haven't had much energy since, y'know..."

04:50 Saphling nods in understanding. "Well, keep at it, and don't forget to eat right and wash behind your ears."

04:52 Inky giggles. "Thanks, Saphling. Y'know, you're alright. We should hang out sometime when I'm not working -- we can both be invalids together!"

04:53 Saphling snickers softly. "I'd like that. I think I'd like that a lot."

04:59 Inky smiles warmly. "Great. I'm definitely staying home tomorrow, so just drop by whenever." She turns around to her desk and scribbles down an address, then passes it to Saphling. "Here's my address." The bat pony eyes Saphling's leg and laughs nervously. "I'm, uh... on the third floor."

05:04 Saphling grins with a sparkle in her eye. "Any trees nearby?"

05:06 Inky tilts her head. "There's a couple on the street, yeah. None too close." The mare narrows her tired eyes. "You weren't planning on climbing one, were you? In your condition?"

05:11 Saphling sighs in mock disappointment. "I'm much better at climbing trees than climbing stairs, but I guess I'll have to take the long route." She gives a little smirk, then turns toward the library's exit. "I'll see you tomorrow, Inky."

05:12 Inky giggles softly again. "Okay, Saphling. Thanks for dropping by; it's nice to have somepony to talk to."

05:14 Saphling nods with a smile and gives a little bow, then exits the library with a skip in her step.

05:15 Inky sighs and returns to her desk, resting her head on her forelegs like before. This time, though, the corners of her mouth are turned up in a faint smile.