Deus Ex: Cosplay Revolution

It was odd, actually watching the sun go down.

Very slow, that's how it felt. The sun crept to the horizon, and just before it touched I swear I saw it jerk. Sky redshifted, went like that for thirty damn minutes. Soon as those thirty minutes passed the sky dropped straight into darkness. Turned around, saw the moon, a clean white ball in the sky, on the other side.

Fucking weird ass sunset. Beautiful night sky, though.

Pushed my hands into my pocket, took out the note and unfolded it once more.

All it said was "Go to the Spin-out Bar. An agent of mine will meet you there. If anyone asks for your name, say 'Shadowfall"."

First off, I'm fairly certain they'd I.D., and I'm fairly certain a complete lack of that would get me turned out. Also certain that I had no fucking idea where the goddamn Spin-Out Bar was or whatever it was happened to be. Also, most definitely certain, that I'm not too sure about this "I" guy. Finally, Shadowfall was a stupid name.

Fuck it. I walk over to one of the few ponies still outside, hands in my pocket.

She looked at me, almost scared. I cleared my throat, drawing the mask off my face. "You got directions to da Spin-Out Bar? I asked.

She pointed down the alley. I shrugged, walked past, and exited out the other side. Almost surprised me how I didn't notice it before, considering the FUCK-HUGE line and neon. Shouldn't there have been ads for it?

By that I mean it was a little hole-in-the-wall bar. Bouncer looked bored, considering the complete lack of patrons. I walked up, he looked at me, and asked "how old are you?"

"Twenny-one yestaday." Technically it was twenty-one a couple months ago, but the "my birthday was yesterday and I want to get drunk" excuse usually worked. "Friends didn' show up, though' I'd drin' to 'em."

Bouncer nodded, stepped aside, and let me in. Looked like a friendly bar where everyone knew everyone else. I got a couple looks, but they must've assumed I was just a new visitor and went back to getting drunk.

All I did was take a seat at the bar and wait. Mare working on the other side walked over. Not the prettiest, but not painful to look at. "Whatcha cravin', honey."

I shrugged. You know what I haven't had in a long time? "Fried pickles."

"Fried pickles?" she questioned, obviously unused to the request.

"Fried pickles, yes." I repeated.

"Alright. Hey, Chet, gimme some fried pickles like you said your mama used to make 'em!"

And with that the bartender walked away to service others. I waited a coupe minutes, then some more. The bartender came back, a big plate of fried pickles in... limb. How the hell they carried that shit I wasn't asking, but I did smile when she set it down. Second later a fork landed by my hand, and with that I started munching.

"Excuse me?" I heard. Turned, looked over my shoulder. Tall mare, gray coat, purple mane, wearing a thick jacket and pants in the cold air. Looked oddly familiar, but I wasn't going to jump to conclusions. "Anypony sitting here?" she asked, pointing to the seat directly next to me.

I shook my head and she sat down right next to me, bumped elbows. Almost wished I had a cigarette...

"So, what's your name?" she asked. Almost wanted to say Billy, but I was currently attempting to contact one of these agents of this "I" guy. Maybe this was her.

"Shadowfall."

She did a double-take. "Odd name."

"Odd parents," I lied. Truthfully, my dad took me hunting, my mom taught me how to do chores, and they were the best. Both of them made horrible jokes all the time. Don't think they'd like the situation I'm in right now.

"You know why they called you that?"

"Don't know. Musta been my face. Ugly, ain't I?"

Could see her face twitch, like she wanted to say "yes, real ugly," but that'd not be polite. Instead, she patted me on the back and looked me straight in my eyes. "You ain't ugly. Just different."

I snorted. "Me? I got a condition. No skin-to-skin contact. Gotta wear clothes on everything, shades and a mask in direct sunlight. Otherwise I burn up."

"Fun. Anyhow, my name is Shade. Nice to meet you." She held out a hoof-thing. I gripped it and shook. "What are you eating?"

"Fried pickles."

She looked at me, real odd. "Anyhow, I'm gonna need to see you in the alley behind the building."

I groaned. Fine. If this was all some odd twists of fate then I was gonna go with it.

Shade and I walked out the bar. Bouncer gave me one of those "you scored a chick, nice" looks. Gave him a stink-eye, then went on walking.

Shade turned, went down an alley. I followed, right up to the dead-end part of it. Leaned against the brick wall, adjusted the back of my coat but actually dropped the baton out. She was rummaging around in her bag, and right when the baton expanded she looked right at me and snorted.

"Please, put that up."

"Was going to. Had to stick it up my ass to hide it from the guards."

She cocked her head. "Really?"

"No, so let me put it back in my pocket," I grunt, dropping the baton into my pocket. "So, what'd you need me for? Far as I know this "I" guy wants to see me."

A chuckle. She drew a card from her bag, making to hand it over. "We need you to infiltrate the wedding."

"Why?" I ask.

"My employer suspects a conspiracy among a group of ponies at the wedding."

Oh Christ. Seriously? A conspiracy? With a guy who looks like JC Denton? In a dark alley, in a big city? This was screaming that section in the NYC Sewers.

Almost turned away and walked out, but her... hoof-thing on my shoulder stopped me. "You'll get an audience with my employer if you expose it, along with a sizable sum of bits."

I looked back at her, grinning. "Can he get me an audience with the princesses?"

Shade nodded.

"Then I'm in."