The Reluctant Demonstration Pt.1 (Corrie in this World)

:'Stir-Crazy. (ˈstər-ˈkrā-zē ). :Also see available links on neurosis for further information about prolonged confinement!':

Corrie's A.I. assistant informs her, picking up on her thoughts of leaving this room, but having a panic attack every time she's tried so far. The pleasant female Elven voice just sounded too chipper to be discussing the insanity she was probably descending in to. Dropping the book she was holding onto the little coffee table she leans back into the soft cushions and gives a small sigh.

History was never her strong suit. Reading for prolonged periods wasn't either, when it wasn't for enjoyment. "Would have become a librarian instead of a paramedic if I wanted to sit around and read myself to death." the redheaded human mutters to herself, eyeing the other fourteen books on The History and Evolution of the Beings of Equestria and the Laws and Regulations Pertaining Thereof....." After reading the title on that book : (Volume 3! : the voice chimes happily and she mutes with with an internal snarl) .

Sure she learned her letters. Momma Cat Mojo wanted to make sure she could read, not just talk that 'Garbage CitySpeak hockey'. So she did. It was hard, at first like many things. But the stories she read only fueled her desire to read more. At least when it came to fantasy books, sci-fi, old dusty tomes from a century or two ago she couldn't get enough of. However, this wasn't fantasy. This was history. So dry. So tedious. So now when she couldn't read anymore, eyes swimming and losing focus from boredom she started committing headware space to scanning the books to store in her memory. At least this way she could reference without needing to hit the books, but gods the process was tedious!

Since waking up in this little room in this strange world, it had become her haven from the unusual place, as well as a self imposed prison. Anxiety flared every she tried to cross the threshold to explore this new place. She just didn't fell strong enough to process this just yet. A whole world out past that doorway so vastly different than her own. Soon she will try she theorizes, but not yet.

As per her request there were no mirrors in any of the rooms, bathroom included. A few tasteful paintings on the walls provided some much needed color to the otherwise grey walls. An unbarred window over the writing desk let in plenty of light during the daytime as well as an ever cooling breeze. The furniture was made of some honest to goodness stained wood. It looked handmade to boot. A sitting chair, two recliners at angles facing the softest couch Corrie ever sat on. A coffee table stained dark, as well as a few knick knack tables and shelves currently used to store the gear that made it with her during her transition from her old world to this one. Tasteful rugs scattered throughout the living room and bedroom.

All of the furniture was smaller than in her old place, but being only five-six herself, she wasn't really that inconvenienced at all. So far no too tall shelves she'd have to stand on her tiptoes just to retrieve something from them. That was nice. Not to mention the bathtub. Long enough for a large pony to lay down in comfortably to soak sore muscles, she could lay flat in the bottom underwater and her feet wouldn't even touch the end of the tub. Doubly glorious, that.

The kitchen gave her the most fits. After a lifetime of pushing buttons at the local fast food places, and even the Stuffer Shacks, her grip on cooking like this was pretty weak. Sure Momma Cat Mojo had a couple hot plates to cook on with in her place, but those were only really used for special occasions, such as rat meat and rice night, when hunting the alleyways with her stray cat friends paid off. Otherwise it was algae based foods, tofu, and flavor spigots for the variety of flavors desired. So far she's only had to use the fire extinguisher three times. After the third try though, she just gave up and started ordering in for a while.

The little beings that called themselves ponies were rather pleasant, but most were a bit wary of her. That, she could understand at least. Strange thing in a strange land after all. And she didn't even mind the two guards outside her door, day and night. As much for protection for her as well as them. Sensible decision, she concedes to herself. She'd do the same if roles were reversed.

And even the guards were nice. The guards at night were a little more relaxed, and just a bit stranger than the daytime guards. She just chalked that up to night shift workers in all worlds were a usually an odd bunch anywhere you go. She even went so far as to accept their invitation to play some dice games with them. Her sitting in the doorway, not ready to leave her room just yet. Talking to them about the customs of the new world helped ease her mind, and give her pause. From what she could tell there was no Mega-Corps running anything. Some kind of quasi-medieval government. Headed by an apparently immortal being called an Alicorn and her sister. And possibly one or two more?

She'd seen Celestia only once here since coming to. She was polite, they made small talk over tea when she was still bedridden and healing. Corrie realized that during the brief talk with her that she was friendly, there were more humans popping up here and there randomly, and that she wasn't a prisoner. She was more than welcome to leave at any time. The crown would help her get her set up in her new life while she looked for whatever profession she chooses. Even the offer to go back to school, if that's what she was doing in her old world.

Academia was never Corrie's strong suit, but she did keep the offer in the back of her mind. Even if she failed everything she set out to do there, a University might be the best place to get an idea for what these little ponies are really about. She'd call it people watching still. Pony watching just sounds too odd to her.

She was thankful they had a decent grasp of chemistry here, although she has to concede to herself it's more like alchemy and less like chemistry. Magic seemed to go in to just about everything the denizens did here. All that matters is some fundamentals still worked, she could make gunpowder for her Ares and she was very grateful for that. Knowing you had a finite amount of rounds to ventilate your enemies was a troublesome thing. She'd just have to find the time to set up a workshop.

--
A few days later she decided it was time to get to work. The better part of this day was wasted cataloging her inventory, pacing, drinking copious amounts of tea, inventorying again, and exercising to help bleed off excess energy that was building with the anticipation of actually doing something. Her only concern was that her guards wouldn't go for it, and she'd have to find a more stealthy approach to getting done what she wanted to do. Shadowrunning was never her forte, but she could do what needed to be done in a pinch, for survival.

The two guards for this evening turned out to be Night Light. Well Night's Grace and Temple's Light. More often then not it was these two that guarded her door now. Their upper ranks decided it was a good thing that someponies bonded with the human so their new assignment came to be guarding her, and helping her adjust to her new life.

One thing that would probably baffle Corrie for all her days was the their whole naming structure, some of it had to do with their 'Cutie Mark's' that appear sometime in their lives to show themselves and others what their calling was. So for these two ponies, brother and sister apparently, she just called them Night Light since she's never seen them apart.

Sheepishly she told them about that after a couple cider's a few days ago and they laughed at the nickname. For some reason it stuck with them, and she was informed that more of the guards were using the moniker now for the duo. It felt strange, making friends with these beings, these ponies. But in a nice way. They were very good natured in general. Pleasant dispositions, and these two had a very dry sense of humor that Corrie found enjoyable.

"Hey Corrie!" Night belts out in a husky voice. Like bourbon and pipe smoke that voice was. Very pleasant to the ears. She gives the human a little fist bump at the door and slips by the redhead. Corrie smells pizza from the heating bag on her back.

"How goes it, prisoner?" Light grins at her while speaking and emulating the previous hoofbump and shuffle around the human into the room. His voice was deep, but clear. A slow bronze bell kind of ring to it. His saddlebags carried a few colorful cardboard boxes and what seemed to be a six pack of cider.

"Hoi. What's that you got there?" Corrie asks them, shutting her door and making her way to the sofa.

The two ponies look at each other with matching smiles and look back at her. "Game night!" they both exclaim at the same time. The two busy themselves with setting up the pizza on the dining room table and unpacking little miniature pieces of what looked like little warrior ponies. Wizard ponies too, by the look of the pointy hats. Some kind of archers, and a few other things she couldn't make out. Night continues "We thought you might need a break from studying to have some fun for a change". After a few more minutes she waves Corrie over to the table. Apparently they were done setting up. Some paper, pencils, and dice in little cups were now set up as well.

--

A couple of pleasant hours pass and Corrie realizes she's lost this match about an hour ago. Long term tactics weren't exactly her strong suit, all things considered. Light's forces already routed Night's this round, and basically from what she could tell, it was just a quick mop up job for him to take her out as well. Sighing to herself she flips her sheet over and declares surrender. Light jumps off his table and starts flexing like a bodybuilder. Night just rolls her eyes and groans at the display of 'humble victory' as she called it.

Corrie laughs. She's always hated her laugh. To her it was like the barking of a Coyote Shaman summoning his totem animal. Like gunfire replaced by barking dog sounds. She couldn't help herself though, watching these two ponies have a mock serious battle about humility and the whole craziness of the situation washes over her. It was a good laugh, healing and cleansing though.

The two poines couldn't figure out what the strange noise was coming from the human. They figured she was choking on something and got up from their debate (which turned into a full on wrestling match), to see if she needed help. When they got closer they realized she was laughing. Small tears forming at the corners of her eyes while she did so. Night grins at the human and gives her a timid smile. "Been a while, huh?" she says, nudging the humans arm with a hoof.

Light smiles at the human too, putting an arm around his sisters shoulder. "See Sis, I told you she needed this" he says.

"I did. Thank you" She finishes the sentence by reaching out and holding a hoof from each of them. Giving each a small squeeze, she lets go quickly and places her hands on her lap. "Which is why I feel kinda like crap for wanting to ask a favor of you two, now." Oddly enough it was true. Favor for a favor is usually how it went on the street. Nuyen talked and made the world go 'round, but the favor system was the grease in the wheels when it came to that particular machinery.

"Well, what is it?" Light asks her, tone casual while taking another slice of pizza to his plate. She could tell however, he was a little on edge. It's not like her to ask for anything so far. This was new.

Night worries her lip and turns her head to the side. "We will if we can, but you do understand.." She waves a little hoof around the room.

"I know. And I promise I wouldn't ask anything of you I didn't think you would be willing to do. Or jeopardize your careers." She smiles the best she can, a twinge of regret courses through her on that last part. She's not exactly sure if that's true. But she was allowed to explore the castle and it's grounds. She figured it would be better to have those two come along with her, as to help her find what she needed, as well as to keep her out of trouble. If she did do something wrong, or committed some social faux pas, they would be there to help.

"So what is it?" Light asks her. Locking eyes with the human.

"All that build up, and you say you need tools?" Light chuckles to himself. Holding a hoof up to steady himself.

Corrie looks a bit chagrined at the ponies in mirth sitting in front of her now. "Well, yeah" A light blush through her pale skin starts to show, and she can feel herself growing hot being embarrassed. The curse of the pale skin in full bloom. "Look yeah, I was going to ask you to overthrow the monarchy or go on some grand adventure, no. I'd never do that". Shaking her head at the thoughts she continued "I just didn't know if it would be okay. Some of my gear is really damaged, and I'm not sure if you have what I need here to fix it, but I have to try."

Night and Light give each other a long look before turning back to the human. Their was a seriousness in their tones as well as their body language. "There's a workshop of sorts a few floors down from here. " Light tells her. "We can take you there if you want to go. It's a pretty easy walk from here, actually."

"However, we want to ask something of you in return. If you don't mind" Night says, hastily ending that sentence in a bit of a nervous squeak.

Corrie thinks a moment and nods. "If I can give it, I will" she tells her guests.

"Show us what you can do?" They both speak in unison while shuffling over to the confused looking human.

Corrie blinks slowly, staring at the ponies now moving slowly towards her. Their eyes seemed to be gleaming with some internal light of their own. Mischief, curiosity, something else? She couldn't place it And for a moment it throws her off balance. "Sorry, what?"