Stable

Zaed and Nick descended down the street, headed for the Centaur who'd almost been riddled with holes moments ago.

The Centaur brought out a cigar, sighed, then placed it in his mouth as he looked around for a lighter nestled in a random vest pocket.

He soon found it as two little ponies gazed up at him, obviously about to ask him a question that'd been spoken a hundred times before. Today.

He put up a finger, acknowledging their presence yet needing a smoke before he'd engage in conversation.

Nick was going to ask the tower of muscle a question that'd been slipped into one of his ears by Zaed on the way, but the still-appointed finger wagged to send him silent.

A deep drag later, the smoked monster inquired with the passion of a pony stuck filling their taxes, "What? You want in?"

Nick glanced to his fillyfriend, who replied with a shrug.

The Unicorn delivered with a tinge of uncertainty, "...Yes?"

The Centaur swung his sprung finger to direct their attention skyward. The neon sign, rather marked by broken pieces of metal and seemingly bitten-off lettering, told them the opposite of their half-desires. It was closed.

Another hit off his tobacco-stuffed stogie, the stationed worker asked again, "Anything else?"

Nick got on the subject that should've been his first priority, "Yeah. About that group of Griffons who just-"

"Piece of advice, don't try them. Half of 'em are crazy. Other half is just looking for a fight."

"We don't care about that."

"Should, little pony. You should. They're packing. Not just what mother nature gave 'em either. You saw what I did. Hopefully, at least. For your own good."

"I know they have guns."

Zaed said as she only now peered into the violet Centaur's vibrant eyes, "What did they want from you?"

The Centaur's strong posture lazed, going into a lean against the wall for support as he admitted, "Only reason I'm still kicking. I and my kind watch, clean, and most importantly fix the Black-Hole stations around here. Hard work for a hardy breed. You're welcome, bunch of ingrates."

"...When will it be open again?"

Frustrated, he literally sucked up the rest of the two-thirds of the cigar in one swoop.

Zaed walked off from the beast of a hybrid, knowing he'd have a few choice words for her after the ashes from the roll blew away.

Nick smiled sheepishly at the steamed monster before tagging along behind the mare as per usual.

Vain had brought his squawking, smack-talking squad back to the residence they'd been reducing to shreds since they'd been stuck in this Asylum.

The yak owner groaned as the griffons all rolled in to once again disrupt the semblance of quiet that'd settled since their departure.

She told in her broken accent, "Nu! Nut agrain! Gu! Yout pay good bit, vut yout very vad guestes!"

Vain swooped in to charm the sturdy broad, knowing exactly what to say, "Look, look, look. We need a place to crash-"

She slung his arm off her neck, twisted it, then held him in place as his crew all stared in shock, "Crast iz vight! Nuw gu!"

Vain used his not-about-to-be-broken-off arm to halt his Dicers from bringing out their weapons on the old illegal immigrant, "Everygriffon calm down."

Then, his head swiveled to give the yak a 180-degree smirk, which he amazingly held with all the chaos on the brink of igniting.

As an offer, the crime lord suggested instead of them being barred, "I'll pay twice what I've already paid previously. And, to sweeten the deal, you get to keep our guns with you tonight. If we're good cocks and hens, we get them back tomorrow."

Everygriffon couldn't believe what they were hearing, yet made their voices loud and clear to argue against the proposal. That is, until Vain's free claw flowed with electricity in their direction, quelling their hooting.

The yak's eyes danced between the arrogant griffon in her grip and his band of misfits, thinking on whether it was worth it letting these punks once more into her home and business.

Eyes rolling, she shoved Vain off into his gang's claws, then exclaimed as she shook her horned head, "Put yourl tings on mu desket. Den, awa wit yout tu yourl loshing. Nu more commotion. Nu more banging. Nu more curzing. Yout hear?"

Vain bowed to the motel owner before leading his group over to the desk. They all hesitantly reached into their holsters, flipped the guns around for safety, then dropped the armaments into a pile. Everygriffon did as was planned...aside Vain.

Vain didn't carry guns. Or, encase himself in armor like the rest of his Dicers. He was far too confident in his abilities to use external means like that.

He did pluck two weighty bag of coins from under a lengthy wing, depositing it on top of the assortment of guns like a cherry on a sundae.

Finally, the gang left the old-timer alone to charge upstairs, intent on trying to be as quiet as possible as they sharpen their claws and beaks on her furniture as revenge.

...

About close to a half hour later, two robed ponies drifted into the building, requesting for a place to stay for tonight.

The elderly yak just sighed as yet more suspicious characters rested up at her inn. Though, she did set up her establishment in a place as close to lawless as was possible, so complaining about how shady someone was would be hard to do if every customer fit the bill.

Never stopped her, though.

She spat out the pencil to address her guests attire, "Ye hoodz muz come off."

Nick and Zaed did as they were told, rolling their concealing clothing off to give the yak an eyeful of her newest visitors.

She stared at the Unicorn on the left, confused by his white hair. It extended up, spiky all the way through, and divided into three triangular sets of mane. He had a normal build, but could use a bit more meat on his bones if her maternal instincts had a say in his upbringing. Eyes were dark, aside the upside-down arches of dark red that gave them an unique look. She had to admit a pony of Maroon coat had never crossed her path until today.

The pony on the right was slightly shorter. Pegasus, maybe. It was hard for her to tell, but the prominent curves on the her sides told the yak it was more than likely wings. Peach colored coat was so close to the mane color that it was hard to make out a distinction for the yak's reduced vision. What aided in finding the strips of hair curling down the pony's head was the Diamond highlights that tipped the ends of each of the defined curves. Eyes were also black, yet lit up by the tiny streak of light orange at each opposite edge.

The yak thought they were some of the least intimidating creatures to desire a stay at her lodging, but maybe her perception of ponies in general had something to do with that opinion.

She accepted their payment, gave them directions to the very top level where they'd be sleeping at, then lent each a key.

Before they vanished upstairs, she couldn't help herself in stating, "Yout vay do as yout vease. Vut, I find yout two stallions makring ze love in my hotel, dis will be yourl only night ontu my premizez."

They both agreed while still trying to decipher the foreigner's accent.

...

As Nick and Zaed ascended up the flights of stairs by hoof, Zaed couldn't help blush once the yak's message hit her.

All alone, Zaed still whispered to Nick with a blush, "She...thought I was a stallion."

Nick waved it off as he took her in a side hug, "No, she probably didn't mean that."

"You certain of that?"

"Never certain of a thing, Zaed."

"Great. Thanks for calling me a guy," she said in shame as she didn't return the hug, cloaking herself as Nick tried to correct himself.

Dammit. Anddddd, she's cloak. Crap.