One Jewel: Diamond in a Tiara [Video | Water Trough]

[destinedforrock]

[A rippling image shows on the network. Someone has connected on the surface of water. The connector's voice comes across clearly - it's a lilting voice like a young woman's - but if you try and try to make out what the image is, you'll find it most recognizable as the face of a white horse, leaning into the water, head slightly turned to get a good look with those wide-set eyes - mouth moving with the words.]

Hello?

I think I'm still not quite clear on a few things... What was all of that about "were-wolves" in the so-called Dead District of town? ...What a name.

I do hope that problem has been contained! It has, hasn't it? I'm a bit - confined - where I live, you see, and if there is any reason that I should have to keep watch for any... wild beasts, stalking around my master's home, well, I'd certainly like to know -- especially what with there being two foals living here!

[There's a scratching sound, the horse pawing at the ground before it turns its head to look into the water out of the corner of its other eye.]

...This is how this works, isn't it? Tell me, tell me that someone can hear me. Any part of it!

Anyone!

Comments

[voice]

[abidan]

[ Such talent! Emery's never seen a ventriloquist act with a real-live horse before, after all, and he's that special kind of dazzled that means he's paid no attention to her actual statement. Naturally. ]

That's amazing! [ He's clearly utterly fascinated. It's the little things in life, really. ] I'll never be impressed by dressage again. How did you train a horse to do that?

[Video]

[destinedforrock]

[Blinks taken aback at finally receiving a response, surprised, relieved - but the component of excitement is a bit diluted by what's been said. She should have expected this - she's been so actively avoiding letting even the children know that she can talk back to them - how is a pony supposed to present herself to join humans?

She leans back in.]

I am the horse.

voice

[testsonseashells]

Either well-trained horse and ventriloquist or mutant horse, granted sapience and tongue shape to produce English words. Equally likely at this point. Have to ask - which are you?

video

[destinedforrock]

[That was all said rather fast, wasn't it? She may have gotten herself a bit stuck and ruffled with her teeth biting together on catching the word "mutant", but she thinks she caught what was said, anyway.]

I~I - am a horse, and, yes, I can speak English.

Is it really believable enough for you? [Too drawled and drawn-out to be inflected like a question - she's still got a little leftover frustration from the first fellow who responded.]

video;

[earnedmystripes]

[If this had happened a bit over a week ago, Kotetsu would have thought he was going completely fucking insane. But after said werewolves...welp.]

...Can't say I saw that one coming. Welcome aboard, I guess.

video;

[destinedforrock]

[That still doesn't answer her question - but it's a nice change. She relaxes a bit from the first two respondents, though she still isn't exactly cheered up.]

Thank you.

[Composing herself a bit more to take this as where to take a step back to get off on the right hoof with these first humans she's ever been able to talk to...]

I'm - Cinderella. And you were... [Scratching the tip of her hoof in the ground... she's picked up a few names - what was his? In any case...] ...the policeman, were you not?

[video; ipad]

[amberhearted]

Holy shit! [ there is definitely some jaw dropping happening rn.

hhhhnnngggh he wishes ravi were a part of this crazy tinhat group because LOOK THERE IS A HORSE TALKING, THAT IS SO COOL.

alas. ]

Sorry, try that again? [ he kind of forget everything she said to surprise. ]

[video]

[destinedforrock]

[Ears pulled back and head lowered - but to business.]

You're excused.

I need someone to tell me if there's still anything to fear from those were-wolf creatures lurking in the city's Dead District.

[Texted]

[espigeonage]

[...well.]

Hello! Can you read this?

[Video]

[destinedforrock]

[Words. Are these for her? She squints at them, seeing if maybe they'll start coming to her now the way speech did a little while ago, taps them with her hoof in case maybe that somehow "turns them" into sound, but that just breaks them into ripples.]

...Was this meant for me? I beg your pardon, but I... can't quite read. Yet.

[Voice]

[reckless_fire]

[Kenji's rather sorry to see an animal dragged into this mess, BUT HEY, TALKING HORSE IS COOL, RIGHT?]

...I guess it was just a matter of time.

[And now he'll try to say something actually useful.]

Uh...Could be wrong, but I don't think you have to worry about the wolves. They seem to be sticking pretty close to the DD.

...You haven't let anybody outside of here know you can talk, have you? Cause, yeah, that'd probably be a bad idea.

[Video]

[destinedforrock]

[She'll not ask what exactly it was a matter of time until and cut to relief at what is indeed a useful answer.]

Well, I certainly hope so. And don't you worry, I wouldn't dream of giving myself away as anything but a perfectly ordinary, non-speaking pony. I've been - watching - this... [This what, exactly? Specifics not important.] ...for a few weeks now, after all.

I saw what happened to that poor colt. [What she means should speak for itself, and if not, her tone should help.]

[video, smart phone]

[wordsgate]

[Sasame would really, REALLY like to make a Mister Ed joke right now but he has a feeling after looking at the other bewildered responses that she probably wouldn't really find that particularly amusing.]

Hello...Miss? I'm Sam. I can understand you. I...well, I wasn't expecting a talking horse on the network.

I don't think you have anything to worry about yet--unless you've noticed anything suspicious happening at your home?

[video]

[destinedforrock]

[While the exact reference would've been lost on her, he has her meta-gratitude.]

No. I don't suppose you were. But thank you kindly, Sam. I'm Cinderella.

While I can't say that I've caught sign of any monsters around the yard, there was an evening a while ago that my stable was positively swarmed by birds and flies. All at once! But all of that seems to be over with...

( video, laptop )

[argents]

[ He's been trying to make out the image for some time now, just to be absolutely sure he's seeing what he's seeing. No mistaking it. ]

I can hear you, loud and clear. Um...

[ She probably knows she's a horse. He definitely knows she's a horse. He should probably just avoid this question all together. ]

You managed to connect through... water? That's really clever.

( video )

[destinedforrock]

[Even if she hadn't known she was a horse, a number of the responses she's gotten surely would have driven it home by now.]

Oh, it was entirely by accident - not this time, obviously, but I just happened to be idly tapping my hoof in my trough one morning when those numbers I learned years ago simply wouldn't leave my head.

voice; cell phone

[edhwierfan]

[A talking horse. Now he's seen everything. If only he were another medieval king from the land of Spare Oom, then he'd probably get the feeling this is supposed to be normal.

But alas.]

How are you doing that?

video

[destinedforrock]

How am I doing what? I am, indeed, a pony, and, yes, I am talking; it's no trick, I give you my word.

Because I can do that!

voice; iPhone

[mightymegatron]

Now I've seen everything.

voice

[destinedforrock]

I'm sure you have.

[Of course she expected surprise, but this is still a tad exasperating.]

video

[elfstoned]

[Aaron is mostly composed -- he got over his surprise before replying.

He's talking to a horse.]

You have nothing to be afraid of. The werewolves' goal was to drive any lingering street people from the Dead District. Even if they do come back, you'll be safe enough where you are, miss...?

video

[destinedforrock]

Cinderella.

And you were Strider, if I'm not terribly mistaken?

And, well - that is certainly some comfort to know, thank you. [That is the first she'd heard on what the things, whatever they were, were up to.] Although needless to say I should feel much better when someone can tell me that there are no dangerous beasts of any kind at large.

text

[struckout]

Really?

[ Sorry pony, more written something for you. Kallie just really doesn't know how she's supposed to take this little development. ]

video

[destinedforrock]

[Tedium and embarrassment manifesting in a tensely high voice. Her ears flick and her head sags.]

Just as I told the last one who wrote, I'm afraid that I haven't learned how to read.

voice

[dorkytracksuit]

I'm not even going to question anything at this point.

I don't know about the werewolves, but if you're worried about your foals I can try to help somehow.

[He cannot believe he is doing this.]

video

[destinedforrock]

[She'd say thank-you for the first bit, but the second has her surprised.]

Well, they're not exactly my foals - they're my masters'. But how, exactly, do you mean?

[ not here NOT HERE NOT HERE ]

[seabeast]

[ ... so there's another one? a horse? well... that's lucky for her. she's keeping tabs on you, fellow non-human!! ]