This could be the place. [Dead]

[Afterglow]

[OOC] its vary possibe it effecs all ponys differently so the sword masters case may have bin a particularly fast acting sort also clarity is vary young compared to the swordmaster who i imagined was nearing retirement eather way    

The air inside the apothecary was thick with the fumes and musk of a lifetimes laboratory work the front entrance was in the center of the shop. About 11 feet from the door was a long desk/workbench covered in all forms of glass apparatus each filled with different colored liquids with a shagy grey maned earth pony working intently. behind him was a dozen ceiling high book shelves filled with a plethora of books, poted plants, beakers, and bottels and many tools and trinkets that appeared to be from a far away land and even further back in the shop was a staircase and a entrance to the kitchen where a nother grey maned pony worked dilagently preparing dinner for her and her mate.

As soon as clairvoyant opened the door it rang a tiny bell ment to signal customers. "welcooouuuaaaam!" Mortar and Pestle shouted as he feel from the stool he was sitting on surprised by the bell. He quickly composed himself spiting a few profanities at the stool under his breath before siting back down. "welcome to Morts apothecary Belly ack!? Back ack!? Head ack!? theres not a remedy in these books i cant make!" he sung in a rehearsed maner with a smile that was concealed buy his thick facial haire as clarity bounced through the door. Afterglow fallowed clarity but he was expectedly nervous and still not able to get the picture of clarity's cutimark out of his head. but having the duo with him defiantly made it less nerve-racking entering the shop tho his hoof did recoil upon tuching the door step as if it burnt him but he put it back down and continued without falter.      


Mortar and Pestle 

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clairvoyant steps inside after Clarity and Afterglow, stopping momentarily as the aromas mix in his nostrils.  His head floods with memories, some pleasant, others unpleasant, most from long ago.  He lets out a sigh and walks to the old chemist, nodding his head in greeting.  "Mr. MortarAndPestle, I presume.  We have not come for a remedy today, but we have heard-" he snaps his head toward Clarity.  "Do not touch that!" he says, his tone sharp.  She withdraws her hoof from a bubbling alembic she was reaching towards and turns her head toward Clairvoyant, surprised.  He addresses her again, voice neutral once more.  "That is not a solution you should disturb."  He returns his attention to MortarAndPestle.  "We have heard that you are in need of help and are willing to offer financial compensation for it."

[Afterglow]

At first Mortar and Pestle looked confused at clairvoyants words but then his expression widened remembering his aprentes was gone for the week "O' yes the Poisson joke my apprentice is gone for the week and the plant is far to dangerous to grow in the shop however iv bin commissioned to produce a vary special brew by the royal pharmacy itself but theres a catch they need it in Canterlot within the ten-day and it take a wile to prime the ingredients O' and pleas call me Mort" Mort spoke in a hush grandfatherly tone "one more thing" he says looking at clarity's hoofs "by chance were are the three of you sleeping tonight i can tell your not from around hear?" wile mort speaks to clairvoyant Afterglow sits himself down on the shaggy red rug that seemed not the best floor materiel for a Lab taking care to sit in a spot that placed clarity between him and the stranger.        

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

"Very well, Mort," Clairvoyant responds, nodding his head.  Clarity smiles at him as she walks over next to Clairvoyant to keep herself from touching anything.  She is clearly warming up to the old stallion already.  Clairvoyant gives no such indication.  "I cannot speak for our friend there," he says, motioning to Afterglow, "but the two of us have a tent outside town."
He changes the subject.  "Poison joke.  I have heard mention of it, but know little beyond its name and coloring.  What can you tell us of it?  What precautions would be wise to take in the harvesting of it?"  He gives Clarity's shoulder a tap, and she removes her pad from her tail and takes her pen in her mouth, ready to take notes.

[Afterglow]

"O'no no no that wont do" Mort shakes his head upon hearing of Clairvoyant and clarity's current residents seeming to disregard clairvoyants other question "what kind of pony would i be to let such youngins sleep in a tent iv got two vacant rooms up stairs my kids certainly dont use them anymore" he stops speaking agin turning 180 degres on his stool "Eva darling put a few more buns in the oven we have guest"he turns his attention back to clairvoyant."she's such a sweet and she makes the best reddish stuffed buns you well ever tast. O' and the poison joke its a dastardly plant but theres no need to get into details" he pulls out a canteen from a shelf under the work bench" i brewed this yesterday incase we had any takers on the job one swig of this and you can roll around in the stuff without worry" he said with the up most confidants in his brew "Dinner!" shouted a female voice from the kitchen."now we can discus bits over a warm meal free of charge i insist" he gestures clarity and clairvoyant towards the kitchen before addressing Afterglow "and were are you sleeping tonight?" he asks softly picking up on afterglows discomfort. "i-i um well i ran out of bits to pay the inn keeper th-th-three days ago" "by Celestia were have you bin sleeping" Mort gasped. "well i-i dont really sleep much i mean i kinda just bin walking around at night the lights in the sky are so p-pretty when your this far from Canterlot" Afterglow replied. "well thats no excuse you can look at the stars from Quickfixe's Room window he wont mind if i lend it out wile hes in Filltdelphia and i promis once i get those flowers yowl all have enough bits to afford a long stay at the inn" Mort hopped off his stool and made his way to the kitchen not giving Afterglow time to object to his kindness. 

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clarity beams and begins walking in the direction indicated by Mort, stopping when she notices that Clairvoyant isn't following.  He shakes his head.  "Thank you for the offer, but I'm afraid we will--urgh."  He's stopped in the middle of his refusal by his sister grabbing his leg and pulling him forward.  He resists.  "No, I don't think-"  Clarity rolls her eyes and picks him up off of the ground, carrying him to the kitchen with a grin.  She has a definite size advantage over him, easily quashing any efforts put forth by his slender frame to stop her.  He lets out a sigh.  "Very well.  Thank you very much for your hospitality.  Coming, Afterglow?"

[Afterglow]

"you bet he is!" Afterglow covers his mouth just in time to concile his cheek ripping grin. "yes ill be joining if you are" as the trio enteres the kitchen Mort gestures to a table already set for 4 each plate had a single fresh hot vegi-bun who's delicious aroma overpowered that of the laboratory fumes. Mort sat down at the table "now lets discus business" he said patting on the seat next to him looking clairvoyant in the glasses once Clairvoyant takes a sat down (if he dose) Mort begins to talk. "so i can see that non of yall are in that good of a place right now at least when it comes to bits onles you have any other reasons to be wanten to sleep in a tent so hears my proposition you get me thos flowers by midd day tommorow and lets see 20.. no 35... no 50.. how about 60 yes thats seems right 60% of the brews profit well go to the three of you ill just take my 40 you apier to need the bits more then i do anyhow and i whodunit make any profit if it wasn't for u three so it only seems right" meanwhile afterglow seeing the shortage of chairs there being only 4 spaces and 5 ponies including morts wife eva he dosent take a seat but just stands there waiting to be tolde what to do "sit down hun i had a bite will i was cooking so take a seat" Morts wife barked in a assertive yet motherly tone. "but i.." Afterglow gives in no longer able to resist the hospitality. The vender from earlier wasn't the only one who he couldn't afford food from and he was nearly as starved as he was sleep deprived.         

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clarity clumsily places Clairvoyant onto the proper chair before sitting in another and scooting it up directly next to his.  While she digs into her bun, he rights himself in the chair, careful to leave his cloak covering his flank, and levitates 4 apples from his pack, setting one next to each of the plates.  Clarity gets the apple with the hole in it, and gives a silent tremble of laughter while Clairvoyant listens intently to Mort and nibbling on his dinner.  He carefully keeps from reacting at the mention of their financial situation, and refrains from mentioning it when he responds.  "40 bits.  Though our contribution will make it possible, we would not be able to help were you not learned enough to complete the order."  He looks to Afterglow for confirmation.  "Is that acceptable?"

[Afterglow]

Afterglow was not able to give clairvoyant his full attention as he and nightlight tussled with each other i each taking turns having a bite of the delicious vegi-bun but he managed the give a nod of approval somewhere in the jumble of demeanor and facial expression. Mort let out a laugh. "40 bits dont be silly i ment 40% well go to me and 60% goes to your end and this ant just any brew its a Bone restorative for a saddle arabian diplomat he was wounded by a manticore and any filly knows magic has no effect on manticore wounds not only that but im one of only two ponies within a ten-day of Canterlot who can brew the thing and its on expres order pricing im looking at a lot more then 40 bits" he spoke taking a bite of the bun every couple words filling his mustache with crumbs.

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

"I realize that you meant 60/40 our way, but I do not think we should be getting that much.  In fact, after hearing the details of the order, I'm almost certain that I was asking for too much.  35 to us, 65 to you.  Expertise like yours is quite a rare commodity, certainly worthy of due compensation."  Clarity finishes her bun and smiles, then looks longingly to Clairvoyant's half-finished one.  He wordlessly passes it to her and she hugs him in grateful happiness before setting into that one as well.  "Though we may not be on our best hoofing financially, I feel that credit should be given where credit is due."  He bites his lip momentarily when he realizes what he just said, but otherwise his bearing remains unchanged.

[Afterglow]

"fine fine if your going to be modest then ill do 40/60 your end my end BUT on one condition you let me treat you and your friends to a warm bed for the night. look the shy fellow seems to have already taken me on the offer" Mort points a hoof at Afterglow who seems to of passed out onto the table after finishing his food he slept soundly considering he was at a dinner table. little gossamer sheep fine in detail leapt from one side of his horn to another. while this all transpired Eva finishing up in the kitchen and whent upstairs to change the sheets in Quickfix's Room and dust off the rooms of Her and Morts kin who had left the residents years earlier. "one other thing the brew well only work if the poison joke is still wet with morning dew when there plucked so yowl need to leave early in the morning and dont worry about your plates ill take care of them you get reedy for bed. And i wont take no for a answer."as he finished speaking mort got up and began collecting plates sliding the one out from under Afterglows face in a way that purposely woke him up as he did this the delicate looking sheep burst into red and blue flames burning into nothingness bye the time Afterglow was able to open his eyes. "i dont want to go to school the other kids hate me" he said as he griped reality .     

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clairvoyant thinks for a moment, trying to find an excuse not to take him up on his offer.  "I could not impose," he begins.  Clarity, seeing where this is headed, decides to take action.  She feels it has been far too long since she has slept in a real bed, and she isn't about to let him ruin it.  She stamps on of her hooves onto his, hard, and he flinches.  "Clar-"  She repeats the action, harder.  "Of...of course.  That...would be...lovely..." Clairvoyant manages through clenched teeth.  He fixes his apparent gaze upon her, and Clarity sticks her tongue out at him.  They stand and let Mort take their dishes, him limping slightly from the pain in his hoof.  "Which room will we be sleeping in?" Clairvoyant asks, indicating his sister and himself.  "And are you all right, Afterglow?"

[Afterglow]

Afterglow lifted his head from the table his eyes now showing the sighs of his sleepless nights "o um yes i-im ok its just the food was so good and i kinda felt..... eh never mind" he said getting up and rubbing the crumbs of his face. "well u better be off to bed your room is on the second floor second door on  the right." mort says before turning to address clairvoyant. "as for you and clarity there is a bunk in my sons old room eather that or one of you can sleep in my daughters old room its no matter to me Both are upstairs 1st and 2nd doors to the left now you all have a nice sleep and remember you must be off before the break of don theres a sattle bag with the canteen i showed you earlier in it hanging from the cout rack by the door use that to hold the dastardly flowers" mort said looking clairvoyant in the face wile at the same time urging a hesitant afterglow up the stairs. "but but i really shouldn't sleep on the second floor" afterglow said as mort rushed him up the stairs "nonsense theres no beds down hear"mort said urging the reluctant unicorn forward. Afterglow wanted to resist knowing full well what was going to happen but was to tiered to argue by the end of the conflict afterglow was passed out in a soft cozy Bed with gossamer sheep grazing on the mantle peace.

[PLOTYNSTYNE]

Clairvoyant and Clarity make their way to the stairs after Mort.  "Thank you very much," says Clairvoyant, nodding to him.  He gives a slight bow to Eva.  "And thank you very much as well, Eva.  The dinner was delicious."  Clarity nods emphatically, signalling her agreement.
They take the first door on the left as offered to them.  She bounces her way to the bed and lies down while he closes the door before removing his cloak and pack as well as a belt that he was wearing under them.  He stretches, glad to be rid of the weight.  Clarity's expression turns apologetic and she taps a rhythm on the bed.  Clairvoyant shakes his head and smiles at her, saying "Of course I'm not angry with you.  I do wish you could have found a less painful way to make your point, though."  She blushes and codes out an apology.  "Don't worry about it," he says, climbing into the bed next to her before removing his sunglasses.  They cuddle close together, and he sings a short lullaby.  His singing voice is pleasant, but certainly nothing special.  By the end, she's out like a light.  He strokes her mane and settles in to sleep himself, but doesn't drift off for a good while.

[Afterglow]

(Some hours later about 4:00am)

 

Afterglow awoke to the feeling of the nighttime breeze in his mane, the soft sound of owls hooting, the beauty of the star lit sky, and most of all the feeling of falling. He wished he could say it was to his horror or surprise but to be honest he completely expected this to happen well sort of any way. Qickfixe’s room didn’t have a window so he figured it might not happen tonight. He’s never actually crossed over into another room before but there’s a first time for everything he soposed. In the split second he had he gazed at what he assumed was the second room on the lefts window from witch he just fell wandering if a confused Mr. and Miss. Pestle just Watched as a sleepy little him barged in and just throw himself out or maybe if clarity and clairvoyant were about to lookover the window sill it mattered not he wasn’t going to see it anyways he closed his eyes and a big grin spread across his face his last thoughts before turning where simply “this is why I’m the only boy with a first floor dorm room.” Nightlight panicked why it was always left to him to hit the ground he never knew but it made no difference. he hit it and hit it hard with a loud scream and a flash of red light bright enough to wake up half of Ponyvill he laid there on the ground staring up at the night sky with the sounds of a market district newly awoken in the background “its so pretty I can see why Wall flower cant stand to be away from it” was all he could muster to say to himself before passing out.