On the Dispanding of the Navy

11 September 2014

00:25 Seaward_Skies pushes through the door of the first bar he finds in town, skulking up to the counter and taking a seat, motioning the bartender over to order a hard cider. He lays a few bits on the countertop, and leans heavily against it.

00:33 GyroTech was sitting on a stool next to where Seaward_Skies was sitting, sipping away on a sweet fruity drink as evidenced by the maraschino cherry floating in it. He seemed to be hitting it off pretty well with the mare next to him, until he got a little too suggestive, only to receive a slap across the face before she trots off.

00:34 Seaward_Skies idly watches the stallion beside him trying his luck, and snorts into his cider when it all goes pear-shaped. "That's never a nice feeling, eh?"

00:41 GyroTech rubs his cheeks a couple times, sighing to the stallion next to him. "Ya, can't win them all I suppose. Always painful when a cute mare like that scores you though..."

00:43 Seaward_Skies nods, taking a long pull from his mug before turning to face him. "More than just the slap, and all. Still, like you said, can't win them all. Just gottae make the best of what you have..."

00:48 GyroTech turns to face Seaward_Skies, frowning sadly. "Ya well, what I have seems to be ever dwindling... One of my favorites has disappeared off the face of Equestria, and two others are mad at me for no good reason. I was hoping to land a little pick me up this evening..."

00:50 Seaward_Skies chuckles, shaking his head. "Did you tell /her/ that?" he asks, pointing towards the mare, who's just stepping through the door. "Because that might just be why she slapped you."

00:54 GyroTech rolls his eyes at the stallion, letting out a groan. "Are you nuts? I know how to talk to a mare. I hit home runs more often than I strike out, and at least first more often than that," he says with a grin.

00:58 Seaward_Skies watches the swinging door for a moment, before turning back to his drink. "Well, you said something that set her off. Ach, none of my business anyway. I'm just here for the drinks..."

01:05 GyroTech was already scanning the the bar for his next mark, his ears drooping the longer he looks. "How is it that all the ladies this evening seem to either be paired, or are the couple regulars who arnt interested in my games," he laments to his companion.

01:08 Seaward_Skies shrugs as he empties his mug and calls the bartender over for another. "You're asking the wrong stallion, mate. I only sailed into town a week ago." He tosses another couple of bits against the bar, and drinks half of the new mug down in a single go.

01:17 GyroTech finishes the rest of his drink and orders another, this time a long Island. "Sailed into town huh? What brings you here then? What type of cargo do you carry? An Equestria flag vessel?" he inquires eagerly, seemingly pretty interested.

01:20 Seaward_Skies lets out another, more bitter chuckle. He sits up, turning to face the stallion and offering him a lazy salute. "Mr Seaward Skies, at your service. Formerly Petty Officer Seaward Skies, of Their Majesties' Royal Navy, now out of the job thanks to budget cutbacks. I got passage here on a griffon cargo ship, since the Navy couldn't make the trip to drop me off."

01:25 GyroTech snorts and shakes his head at Seaward_Skies. "Oh, a seagull then. It's not like Equestria has any use for yall anyways. Things have been peaceful enough for many lifetimes. " Gyro snorts out. " I suppose you could go join a shipping vessel like the rest of your type. They could always use a feather brain or two to push some clouds around. "

01:28 Seaward_Skies frowns as he pulls at least two derogatory terms out of that train of thought, his demeanor a little less friendly all of a sudden. "I guess you don't travel by sea much, then. Maybe we're not going to war any time, but there are plenty of pirates and smugglers out there." He leans against the bar, taking a deep breath.

01:39 GyroTech shrugs back to the pegasus. "I suppose that might be the case, but if they didn't have a port to land in, then the issue would not be as prevalent. I think the real solution is to embargo this chickens till they finally crack down on piracy." He seems unphased by Seaward_Skies's new demeanor as he drinks his newly arrived beverage.

01:42 Seaward_Skies blinks, taking a moment to try and calm himself down before responding. "Are you saying we should start punishing the...chickens? You're talking about the griffons?" He shakes his head. "You really don't understand how things work, do you?"

01:52 GyroTech nods back at Seaward_Skies vigorously. "Yes in saying we should punish the griffon Kingdom. If those pirates didn't have a port to unload their pilfered goods, then there would be no piracy. Everypony knows that's where most of them get offloaded," he accuses pretty adamantly.

01:56 Seaward_Skies gives him a flat stare. "You really believe that?" He settles himself down on his stool again. "Aye, pirates tend to pick ports on that side of the ocean. But the griffons have tougher customs laws than us, and more ships out chasing down pirates than us. But with all the trade that comes through their ports, it doesn't matter how strict they are; something's always gonnae slip through."

02:09 GyroTech looks back at Seaward_Skies, completly unconvinced by his argument. "I work with the port engineer for this harbor daily. We have a lot of ships come through here, and I can say, I don't think I've ever worked on a pirate ship. Those seem to come under scrutiny before I'm even called in to help fix up ships who arn't in compliance with our saftey regulations."

02:12 Seaward_Skies turns away and takes a very long swig before looking back at him. "You honestly think they'd sail into harbour with a Jolly Roger flying on the mast? They come in under disguises, and they've learned to do them well enough that it's tricky as all Tartarus to spot the difference. If they come in at all, that is. Mostly, they transfer their plunder to plain old cargo ships."

21:57 GyroTech stares him down and shakes his head. "Of course thay wouldn't, but that's what cargo manifiests and the like are for, as well as tonnage checks. You can detect a large hold of goods being hidden easily enough." The unicorn takes a long sqig of his drink, finishing it off, befor ordiering something that was very fruity and sweet.

22:01 Seaward_Skies fiddles around with his mug, making dark rings on the coaster. "Those sorts of documents can be forged. Or the cargo hidden as previously declared items that they've ditched somewhere else. Pirates are a clever lot, Gyro, there's no easy way to get around them."

22:10 GyroTech turns away from seaward, after his drink arrives, sipping at it slowly. He doesn't seem to be able to come up with much of a response. Instead he sits there fiddling with the fruit that garnished his drink with a frown. "Its still those dirty chicken heads that allow most of the smuggling to take place," he finally says with a huff.

22:12 Seaward_Skies chokes, halfway through a swig, and slams his mug down on the countertop. "Those 'dirty chicken heads' have done more for Equestria than a lot of ponies I know! It's not just griffon ships their navy protects, it's ours as well!"

22:16 GyroTech laughs in amusement at Seaward_Skies, shaking his head slowly. "If thats the case then why does this coat have less piracy issues, when we usually only deal with stripeys...or at least there trade. Still see all sorts actually going those routes."

22:20 Seaward_Skies glares at him. "It has less piracy, because the griffons are sending ships to our borders to help our own navy, because we're constantly cutting back what we have out there. Because our leaders control the sun and the moon." He takes a deep breath, sitting back and drinking again. "Without them we'd probably be dealing with a lot more than what we have. So you might want to show a little respect."

22:25 GyroTech stares Seaward_Skies right in the eye as he's glared at, not flinching in the slightest. "Well if thats the case, it sounds like perhaps we ought to just cut our naval budget entirely and convince the princesses to throw their weight around a little more. I should have a word with..." The stallion blushes stutters, "err umm I-I mean petittion our trade advisor to Celestia to put pressure on the princesses to do that."

22:32 Seaward_Skies raises an eyebrow, seeing the slip but deciding to leave it in favour of bigger things. "Throw their weight around how, exactly? Threaten the griffons? Or maybe take to the seas themselves?"

22:37 GyroTech looks a little relieved as Seaward_Skies doesn't follow up on that question, and a diabolic grin flashes onto his muzzle. "Oh well...threaten...thats such a harsh word. I just mean maybe they could drop a couple hints here or there to the griffons so that they'd get the message. Nothing overt of course, just a little bit of subtlty that could me mistaken as somehting innocent."

22:41 Seaward_Skies squints at the unicorn, idly waving the bartender over for another drink; a double whisky, this time. "So your reaction to a nation that's sending its own ships to help protect us, without asking for anything back... Is to tell them that they're not doing a good enough job?"

22:52 GyroTech grimaces in distaste as Zuthal orders something so harsh, and takes a couple gulps of his own sweet thing in response. "Well, the reason they arn't asking is because we're extremely valuable trade partners and an embargo would hurt them more than it would hurt us, as would a famine since we'd know itd be coming. If there's still piracy, they arn't doing a good enough job."

22:54 Seaward_Skies stares at Gyro, one hoof still on his whisky, yet to take a sip. "...you think a trade embargo between Equestria and the griffons will cause a famine over there?"

22:57 GyroTech sways slightly in his seat, following the whiskey as it slides across the bar. "No, I think an embargo would cripple their economy. The famine would come from Celestia hiding the sun for a bit. THeir animals wont last that long without food and we can store much more over here." His words slowly becoming less distinct as the liquor takes hold of him.

23:00 Seaward_Skies tips his head back and shoots the glass of whisky, glad that it turns out to be harsh stuff, so that he hasn't wasted it. "Okay, let's assume Celestia's cold-hearted enough to do that. And let's assume that they won't come right out and start using their navy to attack us. Where is she going to put the sun when she hides it?"

23:04 GyroTech snorts and shrugs at Seaward_Skies, taking yet another tip of his drink before eating all the garnish. "Well, we dont' actually have to do any of that. Thats my point. The logistics don't have to be worked out because we wouldn't follow through. Its just a matter of making them think that we will if they dont do a better job without actually coming right out and saying it."

23:07 Seaward_Skies rests his head against the bar for a moment before taking a deep breath, swaying on his stool a little. "The thing I was trying to say, is that we shouldn't have to ask the griffons to take care of our own waters. They hurt themselves by helping us, when they have every right to stick to their own territory and leave us to ours. Blaming them for our problems is wrong. Plain and simple."

23:15 GyroTech begins to raise his voice in his drunken haze, glaring at Seaward_Skies and leaning in towards him. "You already admitted they have a higher incidence of piracy. THat makes this thier problem." He presses his snout up against Seaward_Skies, looking straight ito his eyes.

23:18 Seaward_Skies pushes back against the unicorn, scowling hard, ready to rise from his own seat. "Well maybe that's because all their ships are in our water, because stupid politicians who think like you keep chopping our navy to pieces, and don't leave us with enough ships to keep ourselves safe!"

23:24 GyroTech presses even further off the edge of his stool towards Seaward_Skies and gets a little too far, tumbling forward against the pegasus. He opens his mouth to let out a yelp, accidentally pressing his open lips against Seaward_Skies's mouth as he falls forward, landing on top of him as they both tumble off their barstools.

23:27 Seaward_Skies hits the deck hard, his eyes screwing shut as he blacks out for a second, regaining consciousness to find the unicorn's mouth pressed hard against his own, his lips parted slightly. Shock, and the anger heating his blood, keeps him still for a moment, simply staring up at Gyro.

23:31 GyroTech lays on top of the pegasus for a couple of moments, stunned fromt he fall. In his stupor, he begins to snake his tongue along the muzzle of the other pony, getting his tongue between the lips before he sudenly notices the square shape. His eyes widen and he pulls away, spitting into the air and scrubbing his tongue with a hoof. "Eww...I cant beleive that just happened..." He isn't quite lucid enough, however, to actually get up off of seaward skies and still lays there stradling him, dick to dick.

23:34 Seaward_Skies shakes his head, still fuzzy from the double whisky, trying to clear the fog. He isn't nearly as disgusted as Gyro, more amused than anything else. "Oh, come on, it wasn't that bad." He looks down, as the unicorn stays where he is, straddling him. "Since I take it you aren't into stallions, shouldn't you be moving?"

23:40 GyroTech cocks his head and an ear in confusion, staring down at Seaward_Skies, before suddenly his eyes go even wider as he blushes quite a bit, the red underneath turning his face purple. He scrambles to get off, taking much longer to actually get seperated than it should have in his panic. "That...that wasn't what it looked like."

23:42 Seaward_Skies sits up, grinning at the stallion, but keeping a respectful distance from him now. "I guessed as much. It wasn't that bad, though, was it? Seems like you're not a bad kisser yourself."

23:48 GyroTech blushes even brighter turning his face away from Seaward_Skies, avoiding any eye contact. His face has quite the frown on it. "I...I just kissed a stallion. Of course it was bad...and thanks...I guess? I mean...the ladies thing so, but I'm not sure how I feel about you thinking so."

23:50 Seaward_Skies shrugs. "Stallions kiss stallions all the time. Modern age, and all that." He pulls himself back onto his stool and leans back against the counter. "Maybe you don't swing that way, but I bet it didn't /feel/ all that bad. Or at least, I hope not. And you're welcome, by the way." He winks, deliberately teasing him now.

00:00 GyroTech gets to his feet and retuns to his barstool and quickly gulps down the rest of his drink before answering. "Mmmmm, I know it happens, and its fine for them, but /I/ am not into stallions. It's always so weird. And yes it felt bad. Mares muzzle feel so much better against ones snout." He says, and then snorts at the last teasing remark, before turning away from Seaward_Skies.

00:05 Seaward_Skies holds back laughter, turning back to the bar and tipping his whisky glass upside down to see if there's anything left inside. "Well, you can have your own opinion, of course. I'd disagree, but, that's just me. Now, are you done with the Hearth's Warming Eve routine, Princess Platinum?"

00:12 GyroTech hmmmphs again rolling his eyes, keeping his back towards the stallion. Though calling him princess seems to have struck a bit of a nerve, causing Gyro to wince sharply, the same sort of shudder that he gave when he slipped up the first time. Ignoring Seaward_Skies, he flags the bartender over for another drink, this time picking something a little ritzy before he resumes scanning the room once more.

00:15 Seaward_Skies tosses a couple more bits to the counter to cover his tip, before standing. "Welp, unless you've got anything else to say, I think I'll be moving on..." He pauses, considering the unicorn for a moment before finishing, "...Princess." He watches Gyro closely as he speaks.

00:18 GyroTech waves a hoof towards Seaward as he begins to take off, not paying much attention to the stallion anymore. He's just about to take a sip of his champagne when he's called princess once more. Flinching and pausing, he sets down the glass and turns back to Seaward_Skies and responds through gritted teeth, "Dont call me princess."

00:21 Seaward_Skies stops and looks back. He cracks his neck, smiling gently, clearly enjoying taunting the stallion, but also curious. "Why? Touchy subject?" he asks seeing the same flinch, the same reaction as before. He files the new information away and focusses on reparing for what might come next.

00:26 GyroTech takes a deep breath and huffs it all out in frustration. "No...no I just don't want to be refered to like that. Nobles...well they're irritating, and I don't want to deal with them again...ever." He says, though the expression on his face reveals that he's not telling the whole truth.

00:28 Seaward_Skies frowns at him, clearly doubtful, but thinking he might have hit on something not worth going after. At least, not yet. He shrugs, adopting an expression of disinterest. "Fine. If you don't want to say, I won't push you." He turns to walk away. "Anything else?"

00:31 GyroTech waves a dismissive hoof at the stallion and gets up from his seat, swaying as he holds his drink, scanning the room. "No...I think that'll be all. I cant really look for another cute mare with you hovering over me anyways."

00:32 Seaward_Skies pauses at the door on his way out. "Mm, good luck with that," he calls back, before walking out into the evening gloom.