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#Post#: 3792--------------------------------------------------
An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Roughshod Date: October 8, 2014, 10:18 pm
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Down an unassuming side-street, in a pleasant middle-class
district, moderately close to the centre of the grand city that
was Canterlot; there was a bar known as the Rusty Horseshoe.
Although certainly not a dive, the Horseshoe wasn't overly
large, or very fancy, or even particularly popular or trendy. It
really didn't need to be. It was what it was, it wore its heart
on its sleeve (or more accurately the sign in the shape of a
large metal horseshoe, that hung over the entrance), and its
patrons enjoyed its simplicity, warmth, and lively, positive
atmosphere.
More importantly, though, at least in the opinion of the
dust-grey stallion who stood at the entrance, readjusting a
large banner he had plastered messily (through the use of what
looked like an entire roll of sticky tape) over the front
window, the drinks were cheap, and plentiful.
Sitting back on his haunches, Roughshod grinned around a
smouldering and slightly-crumpled cigarette, the stallion
nodding proudly at his hoofdiwork, a horseshoe-clad hoof moving
up to tip his broad-brimmed hat backward to give him an
unobstructed view of the piece of modern art that he had just
finished installing, in the form of a large poster, written on
white cardboard in large, attention-grabbing letters, which
read, in what appeared to be hastily-scrawled black marker-pen:
RUSTY HORSESHOE GRAND REOPENING: HAPPY HOUR ALL NIGHT LONG.
Flawless.
#Post#: 3793--------------------------------------------------
Re: An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Roughshod Date: October 8, 2014, 10:33 pm
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Grinning proudly to himself, quite certain that there had never
been, and would never be, a more successful and well-designed
advertisement than the one he had just finished installing,
Roughshod scooped up what remained of his art supplies, a spring
in his step as he carried them into the empty, silent bar, and
up into the private quarters above, where he resided.
Once he was finished shoving the leftover tape, paint, glitter,
cardboard and other detritus into his cupboard (and making sure
to lean an empty crate against the door so that it remained
closed), the grey stallion made his way downstairs again,
whistling as he did so, his blue eyes appreciative and full of
enthusiasm and positivity as he settled behind the counter, and
took in the sight of the currently-empty bar: Clean booths,
stools, chairs and tables, all ready for patrons, the multitude
of kegs and bottles on display behind him, the wide glass
windows letting in light and giving (now half-obstructed) views
of the street, and, most importantly, trays of peanuts and other
complimentary salty treats, lying neatly arranged on the shiny
wooden bartop before him.
Everything was ready, everything was clean and organised, and,
thanks to his incredible skills at artistry, soon the whole
world would know of the Horseshoe's reopening.
Yeah, this was gonna be fun, even if Redrum would be along later
to spoil his fun, and chew him out about some pointless thing or
another.
With everything sorted, and the bar totally ready for the
patrons who would no-doubt be pouring through the door within
moments, Roughshod relaxed back in his seat, closed his eyes,
snatched up a peanut, and crunched down on it with gusto.
#Post#: 3794--------------------------------------------------
Re: An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Agilene Date: October 8, 2014, 10:42 pm
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This day just had to be hot, hadn't it? Or was it just Agilene's
intense flight from Detrot to Canterlot that got her so
exhausted? No matter, all she needed was a drink to quench her
thirst. Something simple, cold, and inexpensive. The only task
she needed to do was find just the right place that sells cold
drinks.
As she trotted down the middle-class district, she looked left
and right for a cafe, restaurant, bar, or whatever. So far,
nothing was of interest to her. That was until she spotted a
large sign at a bar that read "RUSTY HORSESHOE GRAND REOPENING:
HAPPY HOUR ALL NIGHT LONG." As Agilene walked closer, she
spotted a dust-grey stallion standing by the entrance, which she
chose to not pay much attention to for now.
She then stood by the entrance, contemplating whether she would
go inside or not. Thinking about it more, it did not look the
cleanest in her eyes. But if it had cold drinks, then she may as
well go inside.
#Post#: 3795--------------------------------------------------
Re: An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Roughshod Date: October 8, 2014, 10:55 pm
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Although he might have been expecting the patrons to pour in,
even Roughshod himself was a little surprised by the speed with
which his bar's first visitor had arrived, a young pegasi, no
doubt in search of something to quench her parched thirst, and
to cool off from the sun.
One the one hoof, Roughshod was glad that the bar already had a
potential customer, but on the other, he was a little taken
aback. After all, much as he disliked how she tried to
second-guess every decision he made, Redrum was the one who
needed to teach him how to actually RUN the place, being the
only one of the pair with actual experience in its operation.
And she wasn't here, the grey stallion having (quite as normal)
ignored her advice by opening early.
Still.. It couldn't be THAT hard, right?
Grinning, the grey-coated stallion sat forward a little in his
seat behind the bar, his blue eyes fixed on the pale-coated mare
in the bar's entranceway, a hoof waved beckoningly in her
direction as he spoke, tone welcoming and encouraging.
"Looking for a cool drink, Miss? You won't find cheaper, colder,
or a wider selection, here in Canterlot!" Roughshod called out,
gently putting out his current half-chewed cigarette, and
standing behind the smooth wood of the bar as he did so,
metal-shod hooves resting on the clean bartop, an action that
would ordinarily have drawn the ire of his little brother, and,
in his absence, would likely have attracted the wrath of Redrum.
#Post#: 3796--------------------------------------------------
Re: An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Agilene Date: October 8, 2014, 11:12 pm
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She flinched a little as soon as he spoke to her, but doesn't
give him an eye. Not one glance. From what she saw as she
entered the bar, he did not seem right. Why? Agilene had no
clue; it was just a hunch. Was it the smelly cigarette in his
mouth? The hat he wore? She was never fond of country ponies,
after all, but it wasn't that.
"Water, please. Just water." Agilene replied in a mellow voice.
The interior of the bar was not something to rave about. It was
certainly cleaner than the ones she's heard of. But nothing to
recommend to colleagues. Then again, it just started up. Perhaps
it may grow. All she cared about now was a drink, and to rest
her wings and legs.
As she waited for her water after asking for it, she paid
attention to other objects that made up the bar: kegs, glasses
that were piled up, and the bottles of whatever was inside them.
But she avoided eye contact with the bartender, like he wasn't
even there. It seemed rude, but from where she's been, eye
contact acts as a warning sign.
#Post#: 3797--------------------------------------------------
Re: An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Roughshod Date: October 8, 2014, 11:32 pm
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Although he was cheered on by the pale-coated pegasi's decision
to enter his humble establishment, and get away from the
punishing sun outside, the grey stallion couldn't help but arch
an eyebrow as she did so, his keen blue eyes quickly picking up
on the movements of her own darker brown, and noting their
steadfast refusal to turn in his direction, even as she
approached the bar's counter, and spoke.
"Just water? Huh.. Not even sure we charge for that. Gimme a
second, gorgeous, and I'll see if I've got anything colder than
straight from the tap." The dust-grey stallion replied, shooting
the rather serious-looking mare a flirtatious wink over his
shoulder, as he turned and, humming softly, began to search
through the nearby fridge, returning a moment later with a
bottle of chilled water, and a simple, clean glass, the stallion
setting them both on the counter in front of him, a faint smirk
on his features as he spoke.
"So, what brings a pretty young thing like yourself into
Canterlot City, this fine summer's day?" He asked, curiously,
relatively skilled hooves quickly pouring the mare a full glass
of the icy water, before with a gentle shove of his hoof, the
glass slid across the sleek bar, stopping just before her.
#Post#: 3799--------------------------------------------------
Re: An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Agilene Date: October 8, 2014, 11:58 pm
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She glanced behind her to see if anyone else is entering the bar
before getting her glass of water. So far, the place was empty.
Just her and the bartender, which made things awkwardly quiet.
Only the muffled noise of the bustling city outside travelled
throughout the bar. However, she found it better than a bar with
screaming drunken sailors, and irresponsible teenagers.
She took a sip of her glass. Just the drink Agilene needed. That
one sip sent a wave of relief through her body. She began taking
in more of the water until it was half empty. "Thank you." she
said to the bartender before replying to his question, "I flew
here from another city. I can't say for sure how long it took,
but it was a tiresome flight."
Agilene took another quick glance behind her, and then at the
door. "Exciting grand opening..." She commented sarcastically.
#Post#: 3802--------------------------------------------------
Re: An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Roughshod Date: October 9, 2014, 7:59 am
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Roughshod began to whistle softly as he left the pegasi mare to
drink the cool water in peace, the stallion idly pushing a clean
rag back and forth on the already-clean bartop, the simple
action somehow rather comforting to him, the stallion able to
see why it was an action that bartenders seemed to perform so
commonly and so repeatedly, his head lifting from his pointless
work to address the mare, as he heard the sarcastic tone in her
final, quiet words.
"Oi, I'll thank you to remember that this is a grand RE-opening,
miss. And I'd say it's going okay so far; barely a minute has
passed, and beautiful mares are already arriving~" Roughshod
replied, with a faint chuckle, the rugged grey stallion putting
the rag aside for now, and settling on the counter with his
forehooves, expression curious as he looked across the bartop at
the pale-coated mare.
"So, you flew all the way in from another city? Must have taken
some wingpower.. It's probably a good idea to make sure you
didn't strain anything, before you start flying again. A nice
massage is always good way to go about it, if you'd be so
inclined.." Roughshod added, after a moment of silence, the
stallion's tone (as well as the subtle waggle of his eyebrows in
her general direction) making it clear that, although he
certainly wouldn't mind if she accepted the invitation, he
wasn't expecting it to lead anywhere, flirting with the young
mare more as a method of passing the time in the otherwise-quiet
bar.
#Post#: 3806--------------------------------------------------
Re: An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Agilene Date: October 9, 2014, 11:16 am
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A grand reopening. Clearly, Agilene forgot that part, which was
a bit embarrassing. On top of that, the bartender's attempts at
flirting made her want to cringe. She picked up her glass to
finish the last half of cool water to distract herself from the
awkwardness. It quenched her just enough so that she felt like
getting up and flying again. But the strain in her wings denied
that, which disappointed her. Would she need a massage for it?
Not necessarily. Plus, it would feel uncomfortable, especially
from a pony she just met not too long ago.
"A grand re-opening, hmm? What ever happened to the old bar?"
Agilene commented. "And yes, a massage would be kind of you.
While you are at it, I will file a restraining order," she said
jokingly. As if she needed a restraining order anyway, as she
has her own way of teaching certain ponies a lesson or two.
#Post#: 3807--------------------------------------------------
Re: An Unauspicious Reopening
By: Roughshod Date: October 9, 2014, 11:57 am
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Roughshod's half-smirk turned into a full-blown grin at the
mare's apparent sense of humour, the grey stallion glad she
wasn't the type to take offence at his light-hearted and
half-joking advances, or at least not offence severe enough to
prompt her to depart the Rusty Horseshoe, and the shade it
provided from the sun.
"Awesome. I'd almost be willing to make that trade, although I
think that might be detrimental to my ability to actually carry
out any kind of massage." Roughshod replied, with a good-natured
chuckle, his smile fading a little at her questions about the
reason for the bar's initial closing, but, shrugging off his
frown, the dust-grey stallion replied after a moment, tone
neutral.
"The bar was my brother's until a little while back. He left the
place to me, so I figured I owed it to him to keep it running."
Roughshod replied, keeping his answer simple and to the point,
not wanting to dwell on the events that had prompted him to
return to Canterlot, as, noting the mare's empty glass, he
smiled and spoke once more, gesturing at it with a hoof.
"Get you a refill, gorgeous? Or maybe something that actually
costs money?" The stallion asked, an eyebrow raised in
curiosity, a half-smirk once again returning to his features as
he did so, the grey stallion clearly in good spirits, despite
the fact that, so far, the Grand Reopening of the Rusty
Horseshoe had yet to bring in a single bit.
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