Into the musty yonder

(For anyone that wants to join; Roulette is new in town. Spring Shower, while a new character in the RP, is not new in town and PLEASE feel free be one of her friends, if you wanna be one of her super best friends let me know so I'm not completely shocked ;) And if you are a pony who know her, you'll likely know she's never been seen with alchohol before, cuz she has never had a drink.)

Spring Shower lead Roulette to the tavern. While she had never actually been inside the building before, she did know where it was, as it's easy to learn the lay of the town from up above it all. "Here we are!" she exclaimed looking back to her new green friend, "I think the door-- is around here-- somewh--here it is!" she went on as she flew around the building. Eventually landing infront of the front door.

Spring lead Roulette into the building, being the polite 'local pony tour guide' she thought she was. As she entered, she stumbled a bit not realizing that taverns were generally mildly dark inside, and she had been out in the bright sunlight all day. The shock of not being able to see anything as her eyes adjusted caused her to stop in her tracks.

"Why don't they turn on the lights in here?" she muttered.

The sight of Spring looking so out of place got Roulette giggling again. "Relax, its part of the atmosphere." She said softly. She walked herself ahead of the blue pegasus, unfamiliar with this particular one but not unfamiliar with how most taverns worked.
"We'd like something easy to start, barkeep, whatever you think is good. Its her first time." Roulette said to the pony behind the counter, with a nod to Spring Shower. The chocolate brown earth pony nodded with a knowing smile, familiar with this, and began preparing something.
Roulette sat herself at a small table, close to the counter. A wave of her green hoof invited Spring Shower to sit down, and a pack of cards placed onto the table with care invited a game.

A Grey-Blue Unicorn walked into the bar a few minutes after the two Pegasi, he had a sheet of paper floating to the side of him and a sachel, which by the sound it made as he trotted up to the Counter, was filled with glass items. His Name was Elix, but this is his first time he has left his home since he arrived here. his objective? gathering ingredients.

"exuse me? uh yes you have anything with a High Flamability chance? or rich in berry juice?"

He asked the Earth Pony, placeing his list in his sachel.

Spring Shower smiled a little awkwardly as Roulette motioned to her about her inexperience. She was distracted by the sights of this place and missed Roulette leaving the bar area and going to a table. "Hey Roulette, do each of those--" she began to ask the green pegasus before realizing she was no longer beside her. She frantically began looking around before locating her sitting at a table. She trotted over and joined her.

The drinks were brought to the table and Spring stared cautiously at the liquid in her glass. Eyeing it with interest before giving it a sniff, causing her to wrinkle her muzzle some. "What is this stuff?" She asked, looking down in to the glass again, "it smells so bitter!"

Roulette chuckled again, about to respond when she heard something a bit odd. Normally, she wouldn't look twice when somepony walked into the tavern, that being a normal occurrence and all. However, walking into a place for drinks and looking for something flammable seemed just plain weird.
She shrugged it off, taking a sip of her drink. She wasn't entirely sure what it was, as the bartender hadn't said, and she didn't known enough about alcohol to be able to name it. It had a fresh taste, though, and definitely mild, like she'd asked. It seemed to have a hint of.. some sort of berry? Or maybe it was a fruit... she only recognized a bit of the taste of vodka, anyhow.
"You might not like it right away, actually. Just give it a bit, this one's pretty good. Its vodka with... cranberry." That last part was a total guess. Of course, with Roulette, she had probably guessed right.
Grinning again at her new friend, and giving a nod to give it a try, Roulette's eyes went back to the unicorn with the satchel, held in the air by magic. He looked interesting as well.

The Unicorn tilted his head and looked over his list again when the bartender told him he knew nothing about the flamable request, but listed a list of berry flavored drinks.

"no, don't need any of those, i guess a specialized store would be better to search in."

He chuckled lightly and looked back at the pony and ordered a non Alcheholic 'Brew', as he called it, of Mixed berries. the bartender chuckled and made his drink. the Unicorn poured half the drink in a glass vial he pulled out of his sachel and smirked before blindly taking a seat were two Pegasi sat to drink what he didn't put in a Vial, taking him a minute to realize his surroundings.

"hm? I'm sorry, I thought the table was empty. . . really need to learn to pay attention."

He chuckled embaressinly at this akward moment for him.

Having witness Roulette have some of the drink theyve been served, Spring Shower concludes its not poisonous and will herself try some. She leans forward and cautiously takes a sip from her straw.

The look on her face is that of somepony who may have just swallowed a bee while flying. Her eyes go wide and she resists the urge to spit it out, trying not to be rude to the friendship this new pony is showing her. Forcefully, she swallows the liquid and takes a sigh of relief.

"It's, uh, good..." She manages to squeek, "People drink this for fun...?" She asked, poking the glass with her hoof.

About this time a black pony haphazardly takes a seat at their table, "Uh... hi...?" Spring blinks at him unsure what to say.

Roulette had to outright resist slapping her hoof on the table and laughing at Spring's expression. A bit forcefully, she arranged her face into a smile, calming down some.
She opened her mouth to speak, then stopped, removing her black glasses. It seemed more polite to talk without them on.
"You... mrmph...!" Woops, had to stifle yet another giggle. "I'm sorry, your face was just priceless. Its not for everypony. I'll finish yours if you won't, Spring." Just then, the unicorn she's just happened to notice earlier sat down right at their table. Roulette didn't seem surprised. She was used to going with the flow, as the flow seemed to move in a favourable direction for her nine times out of ten. She offered a smile to their accidental guest. "Oh, its no problem. Why don't you stay? I actually wanted to ask what it is you need flammable liquid for..."

"oh well I'm trying to mix up a potion to counter react the effects of stink bombs, I'm calling it a Berry Bomb, problem is i may need to go to the Everfree Forrest and sythesize a replacement if i can't find any here. Names Elix by the way. and you two?"

He explained and finished off his berry juice, glancing at the two smiling, lightly. he looked at the others cup and chuckled lightly. the only way you will see any voldka in his hands is if its for a potion.

"andd what brings you two in a place like this?"

"No no, I'll drink it..." Spring Shower said, looking a little anxiously back at the glass.

Spring turned her attention back to the new unicorn, "I'm Spring Shower," she introduced herself, "and this is Roulette, shes new in town so I was showing her around some." she said.

Spring leaned in and took a small slow sip of her drink and gave a weak smile.

"Nice to meetcha, Elix. You say you might head to the Everfree forest? Sounds like fun. Part a' the reason I came to Ponyville, actually." She looked back at Spring and nodded to her, as she hadn't mentioned that yet.
"Actually, tell me if you're going. It's always more fun to go out with other ponies, right? Whaddya think, Spring?" Looking at her, the pegasus really didn't seem to be enjoying her drink. "And really, don't force yourself. Go get yourself something virgin, maybe a bit a' berries like Elix, hm?" Roulette herself took her whole glass, downing it in one go. Not much for her, considering its mild nature, anyway.
She relaxed her body, resting her head on her right hoof. A calm smile was on her face.

"Well when i do go, I will tell you, might be fun to have company while I gather the needed Plants and Herbs."

He smiled and glance at the two, chuckling lightly as the Green one took Spring's drink and finished it off.

" I take it your here to give Spring a tour of town, or just test what Alcohol has on her? well either way, May I join your group, i rarly leave my lab and I could use a break, the fumes are getting to my head, in fact i kinda left as I started to see pink clouds again. . . "

He began to trail off in thought before snapping back to the two, shaking his head lightly.

" so how was your first taste of the stuff? as bad as you thought or worse?"

Storm Runner walked happily into the tavern. She was happy because for the first time since her accident, her wings didn't ache half-way through the flight from Cloudsdale to Ponyville. Normaly she would be required to take a break and recover, which meant possible delays in much needed weather around equestria. Not today though, today she had arrived a few hours ahead of schedule, so she decided to have a drink to celebrate.

"Surprise me." She said to the bartender, in a bit of a gambling mood, she just hoped it wouldn't be too strong. Showing up for work drunk wasn't usually a good idea.

"I don't really like forests, Roulette," Spring admitted after being asked to accompany the herb gathering expedition, "There's no room to really fly around-- and all the trees block the beautiful sunlight."

Spring looked at her drink again and glanced away a little trying to figure out a reason to not drink the rest of it. It was during this time that a white pony walked past with a black lightning bolt on her hit. Spring's brain went into overdrive as she remembered that cutie mark from somewhere.

For some reason, she couldn't quite place her hoof on it right away. She blamed the alcohol that had entered her system, regardless of how little it actually was. After a moment of thinking her head shot up and her eyes went bright with shock and excitement.

"Hey, Roulette, I've gotta go--" She said, leaning in towards the other ponys, "It was great hanging out with you, and I hope we can go flying again-- but-- but-- that pony that just walked in-- that was Storm Runner!" She said in near panic.

Spring Shower hoped to her hooves and tried not to run towards the pony that was now sitting at the bar, after she had gotten up next to the white pegasus, she opened her mouth but nothing came out. She cleared her throat a little bit and tried again, "uh-- excuse me..." she said quietly, and probably not loud enough to be heard in the tavern, "M-Miss Storm Runner...? My name is Spring Shower-- I'm a huge fan of yours..."

The pegasus chuckled as Spring ran off, obviously excited, after the pony who had just entered the tavern. Roulette figured she must be some sort of celebrity. Roulette wouldn't know about any of that, as she'd never been interested in watching other ponies do amazing things, instead of doing them herself.
She looked back at Elix, feeling a bit ashamed for the uncalled for pang of annoyance at Spring Shower suddenly leaving. She quickly brushed the feeling away, as it was silly, its not like she wouldn't come back.
She grinned at him, already forgetting. "Hm.. Spring might want to stay here with that mare. Did you want to give me a tour yourself?"

He looked over to the pony that Spring eagerly ran to greet, chuckling lightly at this akward moment and looked to Roulette.

"Well if you want to leave your friend here with whom ever she is with, bu I thought you were the tour guide? then again, i rarly spend time to chat to the locals here."

He takes out a town map with certain areas marked in a variety of colors, obioiusly meaning something to him alone, and began to look for places of interest.

"you like bowling or sweets? or to save time we can sit here and just play a few games and chat. get to know each other."

he suggested and put the map back in his bag, the sound of some bottles clanking together.

M-Miss Storm Runner...? My name is Spring Shower-- I'm a huge fan of yours..."

Storm turned to see a mare standing behind her. She felt a smile spread on her face.

"Well hello miss Spring Shower," she said, "it's always nice to meet a fan." Just then, the bartendered arrived with Storm's drink. she took a quick sip to taste the concoction.

"Good, not to strong." She mumbled to herself before looking at Spring "do you want anything to drink? Don't worry I can pay for it."

"Oh no, I don't drink," she told Storm with an off smile, thinking about the apparent weak drink Roulette had just had her try, "I was here with some friends but when I saw your cutie mark when you walked by-- I just had to meet you..." She said honestly.

Spring is a young mare, still full of innocence and energy, and it certainly would not be past her to let the child in her come out some when something such as a childhood hero walks right by.

"I looked up to you so much when you were in the Wonderbolts," she began to geek out again, "like any little filly in the speedster camp I wanted to be just like you-- of course I'm just an average flyer so I knew I'd never be able to be in the Wonderbolts."

"I remember when my parents and I flew to Manehatten for a Wonderbolts performance..." she said, she paused and then looked down as her voice became very somber, "I cried the whole way home..."

Her attention on Elix, Roulette didn't hear much of Spring and the famous pegasus' conversation. She caught a few words hear or there, but they didn't mean much.
At the mention of a game, her ears perked up, and she sat a little higher in her chair, her hooves pressing her body up into the air. Roulette couldn't help it, she never tired of a good game.
"Do you play cards?" She asked excitedly, and a bit loudly. It certainly wasn't her normal tone. Probably due to not having a good game in quite a while, tahnks to all her travelling.
She coughed, and sat back down, bringing her voice back to normal. "Um.. sorry. I really love the game, so I carry a deck of them around with me."

Elix looked slightly consern at her sudden excitement but chuckled lightly as she calms herself down.

"well i carry random potions and vials with me, so a deck a cards seems normal. if you have the cards, lets play a game, I'm up for a few friendly games of luck."

He said and looked back at Spring, sighing lightly as aparently that was somepony famous, but its what you get for being lock in a lab for most of your life.

"so what game you have in mind? Old Mare? Black Jack? Go Fish?"

"I looked up to you so much when you were in the Wonderbolts, "like any little filly in the speedster camp I wanted to be just like you-- of course I'm just an average flyer so I knew I'd never be able to be in the Wonderbolts."

"I'm sure you could have," Storm said, trying to encourage Spring, "I thought that myself, going through my filly years, you just have to belive in yourself."

"I remember when my parents and I flew to Manehatten for a Wonderbolts performance...I cried the whole way home..."

Storm's mind went back to that day, one mistake, and she was on the ground surrounded by ponies, her wing a useless pile of feathers, and then darkness.

"So you were there huh?" she asked Spring, her voice becoming emotional, "I don't know how many times i have wished I could go back, correct my mistake that led to that accident, but the past is past, and there's nothing I can do about it." She drank some of her drink. "That accident's the reason I'm here actually." She added, "I'm celebrating a milestone in my recovery."

(Moved Spring and Storm to a seperate topic so that both bits can move at their own pace-- we can merge them together later if we want)

Ah, Blackjack. The name brought up memories of several games with her father, and his dismay when she continually came up with a streak of wins, so much that he eventually took to slipping a few of the better cards his way. Eventually, after much cheating, he won, and she'd been so surprised she'd overturned the table.
The memory made her chuckle. It wasn't what most ponies thought of when they heard the phrase 'cherished foalhood memories', but to Roulette, it was nice.
She started to deal, and as always, envied those with hands, the dragons, the griffins, for their fingers. She'd heard they were much more dexterous than hooves. Her father had once told her that they didn't even need to use their mouths to play cards. The thought to her, was fascinating, but she doubted the truth of it. Unicorns, surely, were the only ones who could do that. As she'd learned so long ago, she held her cards with both hooves with a practiced ease.
Over her black glasses, she grinned at Elix. "You know, normally I'd ask that we bet, but given that we've just met, I'll let you keep your bits."

the cards floated infront of Elix's face and smiled as they rearanged themselves in an organized position.

"I take it your a Gambiler?"

he ased and waited for her to show her hand, as he belived he got a good hand.

"You may have to exuse me for some stupid mistakes i make as I study potions, not cards."

"Gambler, huh?" Roulette's eyes went to the ceiling, as if she were thinking about it. She wasn't, really. She was a gambler through and through, it was just fu to mess with ponies from time to time.
"I guess you could say that, though its really more of a hobby. And don't worry about mistakes, either. It's all in good fun after all, right?" She flashed Elix a smile, once again a little curious about what he actually did sitting in a lab all day, but not saying anything about it.
She glanced at her cards again. They were playing a friendlier version of Blackjack, and it took her a second to get out of the casino style she'd grown used to. She purposely didn't use the regular terminology, unsure of whether or not Elix would understand.
"Hm.. I'm ready to go, are you going to take another hit? Um... sorry, I meant, are you going to draw another card?" She grinned at her own hand. There was really no way Elix would win the round, but it was fun, anyway.