TDM #5

[calderaevents]

ARRIVAL

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”

And you most certainly do.

Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.

DRINK MENU

FLAMEFRUIT SANGRIA a deep red wine based punch with chunks of softly glowing fruit floating in it. A single serving makes you feel relaxed, social, and maybe even a little flirty.

MOLTEN MEAD Though the thick drink itself is room temperature, it bubbles sluggishly, and feels very warm going down. The bold flavor affects your mood. You feel very bold! Like you could do anything!

BESALT BRANDY a hopefully staple drink for the brewery, this liquor is smooth and rich with a peppery bite. Ironically after consuming it, you kinda want to bite someone! Not hard! Just a little nip and nibble!

THAT ASHY ESPRESSO a single potent shot of dark espresso swirled with a gold-tinged cream. Intense and bitter with a hint of caramelized sugar. You are now very awake, hyper, and excited.

PYROCLAST'S WHISKEYa glossy black whiskey that turns a vibrant glowing orange when swirled. You now breathe fire.

EMBERMARK WINE a rich, velvety, spiced wine that immediately makes one feel mellow and calm.

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”

You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.

---

Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

IGNACIA'S CRADLE/EMBER VEIL

Months ago, a piece of land from Heaven’s Bow fell from the sky and scarred the land below, damaging a part of the city. From that chaos and ruin rose new life, a new ruler, and a new city: Ignacia’s Cradle. Just a short walk from the edge of Grey Ward, the gates of the city are guarded by two massive obsidian golems, and any who did not rise from the lava itself are warned at the entrance that to travel about the city will be most difficult, unless they have obtained a way to mitigate the extreme heat: be that with a charm, an ability, or a potion. The very streets themselves are paved in slabs of volcanic rock, tall spires of buildings constructed and shaped by rapidly cooled lava. The main method of travel are the mine carts, with tracks that wind through the spires ready to take one to almost any location.

Currently, the main feature of Ignacia’s Cradle is the Lava Flats, home of skilled smiths that use the extreme heat of the lava to melt the strongest metals and create unbreakable weapons, glassmakers and jewelers who fashion elaborate headpieces, rings, and amulets. These items are sold at the Ember Market on the outskirts of the Flats.

At the edge of the city lies the Ashfall Terrace, where a small farm using the rich volcanic ash and soil is in its infancy, as well as the Basalt Brewery where clever alchemists are researching ways to use the extreme heat to craft new and unique beverages that they are eager to find folk to test them out on.

---

The hot spring of Ignacia’s Cradle is a breathtaking anomaly located just beyond the Ashfall Terrace, tucked into a secluded crater formed by the celestial impact that gave rise to the city. Here, molten veins from the Lava Flats weave beneath the earth, heating a natural reservoir that bubbled to life amidst the chaos. The spring’s waters shimmer with an ethereal brilliance, hues of deep turquoise blending with molten gold and fiery orange, as though Heaven’s Bow itself left behind a fragment of its essence. Steam rises in curling wisps, carrying the tang of minerals and faint traces of sulfur.

The spring, known to locals as The Ember Veil, is both a sanctuary and a marvel of natural wonder. Its soothing waters are reputed to heal wounds and fortify the spirit, with the temperature kept in perfect balance by an intricate system of naturally formed vents and channels. The edges are lined with intricately carved obsidian benches, where patrons can soak their feet or meditate in the rising steam. Plants resistant to the intense conditions—vivid fire lilies and ash ferns—dot the perimeter, their resilience a symbol of life’s ability to flourish even in the harshest environments.

Sometimes, when two or more individuals share the waters, the spring creates a subtle connection between their minds, allowing memories to surface like ripples on its surface. These shared memories appear as glowing, translucent scenes that hover above the water, visible to all within the spring. Participants can relive moments from their lives, experiencing them through each other’s eyes, fostering profound empathy and understanding.

Another of the spring’s mystical properties occurs when bathers who enter the waters feeling drained, injured, or burdened by grief often find their vitality restored. The waters seem to draw out negative energies and emotions, replacing them with a warm, invigorating sensation that spreads through the body. In rare instances, the spring has been known to accelerate physical healing, mending minor injuries and soothing chronic aches, as though the magic itself is stitching the body back together.

A lesser-known but equally fascinating effect happens on particularly clear nights, when the moonlight reflects on the spring’s surface, some bathers report fleeting glimpses of potential futures. These visions are often cryptic, appearing as brief, dream-like flashes, but they have guided many to life-changing decisions. The alchemists of the Basalt Brewery believe this effect stems from residual cosmic energy, and they have begun experimenting with enhancing it through the addition of rare minerals and lunar elixirs.

RADIANT SUN

The day begins like no other, with the skies painted in hues of golden-pink as the Radiant Sun ascends. Its light spills over the world, warm and soft, caressing the land and filling every heart with a sense of peace. Beneath its glow, emotions of love and connection bloom like never before. Strangers exchange heartfelt smiles, old friends embrace as though no time has passed, and lovers find their feelings deepened, their bonds strengthened.

Even the air feels different—lighter, sweeter, as though the universe itself is celebrating. The songs of birds harmonize with the melodies of impromptu musicians who feel inspired by the sun’s radiance. Those with magical abilities sense their powers of healing and creation magnified, as if the sun itself lends its strength to their intentions. Long-held grudges seem to melt away under the sun’s tender gaze, replaced by tears of reconciliation and words of forgiveness.

The Radiant Sun touches every heart differently:

◾A widow finds peace as memories of her late spouse no longer bring sorrow but gratitude for the love they shared.
◾A timid youth finds the courage to confess their feelings to the person they’ve admired for so long.
◾A gruff warrior lets down their guard, laughing freely with their companions for the first time in years.

For a fleeting moment, the world feels as it should be—unified, harmonious, and drenched in love.

But as the day wanes and the Radiant Sun dips below the horizon, an unease begins to settle...

JEALOUS MOON

The golden light gives way to deep purples and silvers as the Jealous Moon rises, its glow pale and cold. Its light pierces the heart, not to warm it, but to expose the insecurities that lie buried within. Where love had flourished during the day, doubt begins to creep in.

Under the Jealous Moon’s influence, emotions twist and darken:

◾A once-reconciled pair of siblings argue over old grievances, as jealousy over perceived favoritism resurfaces.
◾A couple, who had spent the day lost in each other’s arms, now question each other’s loyalty and intentions.
◾A nobleman, inspired to be generous during the day, grows suspicious of those who received his gifts, fearing they may exploit his kindness.

The air grows heavy with tension, and the magic of the Radiant Sun fades, replaced by the sharp sting of distrust. The moon’s pale light seems to follow people like a judgmental gaze, amplifying every fear, insecurity, and lingering resentment.

Worse still, the night seems endless, as though time itself has bent beneath the weight of the Jealous Moon’s envious glow. For three long days and nights, the moon lingers high in the sky, its pale, piercing light casting a shadow over hearts and minds, amplifying discord and despair. Its power sows strife among even the closest bonds, driving some to dangerous extremes. Yet, when all seems lost, the scholars of the three factions unite their wisdom and uncover a glimmer of hope—a means to dispel the moon’s cruel influence. For those who have not yet succumbed to jealousy’s grip, there remains a chance to reclaim harmony, a chance for redemption before the damage becomes irreversible.

The solution lies not in complex rituals or rare relics but in the simplest and most instinctive actions: physical connection. To weaken the moon’s hold, people must embrace one another—offering a hug, a handshake, or even resting a hand on someone’s shoulder. These gestures of closeness disrupt the isolation and mistrust that the moon thrives upon. Sitting side by side or holding hands creates a barrier against its oppressive light, reminding the afflicted that they are not alone. Even small acts, like sharing warmth through proximity or clasping arms in solidarity, build a shield of connection that the moon cannot penetrate.

As these actions ripple through the night, the Jealous Moon’s light begins to dim, its sharp, cold glow softening until it fades from the sky entirely. The tension in the air lifts, replaced by a quiet calm that feels almost foreign after the chaos of the past three days. Slowly, the world seems to exhale, and the darkness that clung so tightly to the hearts of many begins to loosen its grip. People step back from the brink of despair, their minds clearing as if waking from a long, disorienting dream. Relationships strained by the moon’s influence begin to mend as apologies are exchanged, tears are shed, and bonds are reaffirmed.

ALL IS WELL(?)

With the Radiant Sun rising again, its golden-pink hues spilling across the horizon, life begins to return to normal. The birds resume their morning songs, markets reopen, and the hum of daily activity fills the air once more. Though traces of the moon’s influence linger in whispered memories, there is a collective sense of relief and gratitude among the people—gratitude for the light, for connection, and for a second chance to heal.

In the outskirts of Ignacia's Cradle, Aella and Terra, two of the three leaders of the factions, come together to address the gathered crowds. Together they assure the people that this celestial event was a rare anomaly, something never before recorded in the annals of history. They explain that while the Jealous Moon’s influence was unprecedented and deeply unsettling, it was a unique alignment of cosmic forces that is unlikely to occur again in their lifetimes—or ever.

The leaders thank the people for their resilience and compassion, emphasizing how their acts of unity—simple gestures of closeness and connection—proved stronger than the moon’s envy. They commend the scholars for their quick thinking and the Visitors for their role in guiding others through the chaos. Finally, they urge everyone to move forward, not in fear of what has passed, but with the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, their strength lies in the bonds they share.

QUESTBOARD

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.

*February will be the last month to complete quests for this rotation. New ones will go up on March 1st.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fifth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored! Ignacia's Cradle and Ember Veil have been added, along with details about the Violet Drop regarding the Cult of Triton.

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

Participation in the Radiant Sun/Jealous Moon effects is not mandatory.

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Comments

[needsexcitement]

Cadence paused, considering her answer carefully. This felt like the periodic diplomatic "quizzes" Celestia would throw her way as she'd gotten older to prepare her for becoming a working royal.

"I'm not familiar with demon culture, so I can't be certain what the significance of a crown is for demons," she stated. "But in Equestrian culture, there's three possibilities: you're some form of royalty, you believe you should be royalty, or to convince others you're royalty." Her mind flashed back to the moment the Changeling queen had transformed into a perfect copy of herself before sending her to the Crystal Caves. "Honestly, if this were Equestria, you'd be able to convince quite a lot of ponies who didn't see you shape shift that you should be crowned at least a ruling prince by virtue of choosing an Alicorn form."

It did reveal her own title but that didn't really bother her. The only reason she hadn't mentioned it was because in this strange new world, her title meant nothing and could potentially be a detriment if someone thought she was trying to use it as leverage when they couldn't even confirm her claim.

[youknowwhothisis]

Her friendliness, her awkwardness at the start, and now how she composed herself almost too carefully spoke of considerable polish. Alicorns were royalty, were they? Then he chose the correct form. However-

"Forgive me. Perhaps I should have called you Empress rather than 'Miss', even if your demesne is still missing. As for your assessment, well..."

He shrugged a shoulder. "...I find it rather gauche to wear a symbol so willy-nilly atop my head, myself. The cigar, in this case, is truly just a cigar."

[needsexcitement]

Cadence relaxed a hair at that. "'Princess', actually. I didn't mention it because it probably doesn't mean much of anything here, so I didn't see a reason to bring it up. Sorry that it might have come across as me hiding it."

She then tilted her headi n confusion.

"...I don't get it. What else could a cigar be?"

[youknowwhothisis]

"It's something of an idiom! You know, when things look just distinct enough where some people see the object for what it is and others don't. So some people see a cigar and conclude- y'know- that's a cigar. Others see the cigar, something that goes between somebody's lips and they puff away, and they think, 'Oh'~"

He snickered.

[needsexcitement]

With that context, Cadence knew precisely what Lucifer was talking about. She had a choice to make here:

A. She could acknowledge she understood and move on.

B. Get a little payback for him making her squirm.

Princess Luna would likely advise that she do the former.

Aunt Celestia, however, could be a bit of a prankster sometimes when the prank in question was perfectly harmless.

Cadence decided to follow Celestia's example. If only because even people back in Equestria seemed to look at her candy-like coloring and assume she was some pure, innocent maiden who wouldn't understand these kinds of things, completely forgetting that love wasn't just the sugary sweet stuff.

She kept her head tilted, narrowing her eyes to express further confusion...and to hide the mischief lurking in them.

"Well, what else would they puff away at? A cigarette?"

[youknowwhothisis]

The mirth quieted, and the amusement turned to mild confusion. The gears had begun to turn as he wondered how exactly candy-colored horses made more little candy-colored horses. They probably had a literal stork situation.

"...Hm, uh... they do teach the old Birds n' Bees in pony world, right? It's not a 'kiss and a foal pops up in the neighboring cabbage patch' deal?"

[needsexcitement]

Keep it together, Cadence. Be strong. Don't laugh yet.

"Oh, that's what you tell foals and fillies when they ask where babies come from!" she said with a laugh. "But that doesn't explain what you meant by other things that you can puff away on."

[youknowwhothisis]

His ears swept back as he cleared his throat, patted a hoof against his chest. But slowly, the confusion deepened into suspicion. If her society had to use that whole story to please the very little ones, then...

Oh, the candy-colored ponies absolutely do the mambo.

Two can play that game.

"Oh, you know: Cigars, cigarettes... pencils, carrots... a peppermint stick, maybe."

A grin. "Golly, I can't imagine what else there could be..."

[needsexcitement]

He was starting to suspect. Hmm...perhaps she could make him think the double entendre was alien to ponykind for a few minutes at least.

"Oh, I know: popsicles!" She clapped her hooves together. "I love popsicles! Like how you have to lick up the drops as they start melting and suck on the ends! Maybe even give them a little nibble! They're really great on a warm summer evening while watching Princess Celestia lower the sun and Princess Luna raise the moon!"

[youknowwhothisis]

Cadance, he's getting the feeling you're an agent of chaos. But he laughed and nodded.

"Uh-huh, that too. Though, I probably wouldn't recommend comparing a cigar to a popsicle. Seeing what I've seen, I know a few people who would eat a cigar and wonder why they can't when it's made of plants and is thus a sort of salad."

He shrugged. PEOPLE. Am I right?

[needsexcitement]

No, no, no, that's Discord, silly! What makes you think that this sweet, innocent pink pony has anything more than cotton candy fluff in her head?

"I guess. Maybe a lollipop would be better? Swirling your tongue around the hard candy or sucking on it?"

[youknowwhothisis]

This pony was definitely messing with him.

"Much better! Especially the ones with a filling inside. A little reward for being so diligent!"

[needsexcitement]

Cadence couldn't help it: She snorted as she tried to keep the gag going before she started to laugh. It helped ease some of the tension over the thought of being stuck here for months. (It would take a bit for the full ramifications of that fact to sink in but that was future Cadence's problem.)

"You caught me! I give!"

[youknowwhothisis]

He clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"Miss Cadence, I'm shocked! But I think I've learned a lot from all of this. FAR better than a boring old history lecture with overpriced textbooks and dusty old scrolls..."

[needsexcitement]

"Like what?" she asked, playful but still curious.

[youknowwhothisis]

He laughed.

"That ponies can have a good time. But in fairness, someone will look at a face like mine and not know a damn thing about what I do! Sooo...!"

[needsexcitement]

"Of course we can have a good time! You wouldn't believe the number of holidays we have!"

Then she lowered her eyelids, smirking.

"And we also know how to have a good time. We just don't usually talk in public spaces about it."

She waited before prompting, "Sooooo...?"

[youknowwhothisis]

"So, I'm adorable but I also know how to have a good time." A cocky little head-swaggle.

"But fair enough! Not in public spaces. We can't corrupt the eavesdroppers too much, now can we?"

[needsexcitement]

"You're sweet and the offer is very flattering."

She swept her wing forward to lift his head slightly with her primaries beneath his chin.

"But I'll have to pass. I'm engaged."

[youknowwhothisis]

Madam, a little thing like marriage has never stopped him before. Still, the gesture earned a little chuckle despite the helpless little racing of his heart.

"Well, damn... can't win 'em all!" Alas!

"Still, point stands: Looks deceive, and in that we're in agreement. That was a game well-played~"

[needsexcitement]

True, but you also seduced at least two women who were already unhappily married and looking for a way out. Cadence's situation isn't the same.

She retracted her wing and tucked it against her side again. "Thank you but I'm not quite as good as you at it. Most ponies find such games unbecoming of an Alicorn princess. Or they think that my cotton candy coloration coupled with my particular dominion means there's nothing but fluff in my head." She flipped her mane with a hoof. "Honestly, that's more of an insult to Aunt Celestia than me: She wouldn't be so stupid as to allow some empty-headed bimbo become a ruling royal. Personally, I find it handy on diplomatic missions it they think I can be easily-manipulated with shiny toys and flattery."

She smirked.

"To be frank, our little game was the longest I've ever gotten to play it."

[youknowwhothisis]

He seems to be respecting her choice... even if he could sing way better than Shining Armor.

"Being underestimated is a powerful weapon! You'd probably not be surprised how many royals are unfit for the role, though, considering you just have to be born into it in most cases rather than selected by merit. Bit of a toss-up."

But he laughed. "Hoh! I'm always up for a game! I'm a personable guy. And who knows? Your time here can be an extra chance to cut loose for a little while, too. It took me some doing to work that out, myself."

He turned and tapped the counter. "I'm good for water, if you'd please. Thank you, pal!"

He turned back. "Yeah- I was a complete ball of stress in my initial days, wondering what all I'd left behind and if I was letting someone down. I keep a journal to write out my thoughts, and the plan is to hand it to her whenever I see her again. I figure it'll explain where I've been and what I've been up to, make her a liiiittle less pissed at me for succumbing to circumstances beyond my control."

[needsexcitement]

Lucifer probably could. Shining Armor never actually sang in the show from what I heard.

Cadence wasn't sure whom Lulu was talking about, but even without her powers she was sensing massive red flags. Still, it'd be best to ask for clarification before making a judgment call and potentially going full aggressive towards the poor mare...female human...female demon (did either of those have special names?) should she ever show up.

"I'd think that if she ended up here she'd be more relieved to see that you didn't disappear because you wanted to since she'd have just gone through the same thing. Pretty sure Shiny would feel that way if he ends up here, too," she said, carefully lifting her cider glass with her hooves to take a sip. She then chased it with a longer sip of her water. "So who is this person? Maybe I can keep an eye out in case she shows up and help her find you."

[youknowwhothisis]

"Haha! If she wound up here, that would rather defeat the purpose, I think. Though, I think she'd do pretty well here."

He crossed one hoof over the other. "My daughter, Charlotte. She and I were working on reconnecting after so long, so when I popped up in this weird tavern I didn't take it too great. Like I just got to see her again, and I hope she doesn't think I abandoned her."

...Again... sigh, again. God, he was a piece of shit.

"But when I return home, journal in hand, she gets to read about all of my adventures: The things I faced, the people I've met, the whole nine yards. So it's an explanation, but partial gift. She always liked my stories when she got to hear them."

[needsexcitement]

Oh good. She had misunderstood the situation. For a moment she'd been worried he was in a toxic relationship back home. The family situation was still delicate because apparently he'd been separated from his daughter for quite some time but he and Charlotte seemed to already be working to fix their relationship.

"It might defeat the purpose of showing her that you hadn't intended to come here if she does end up here, but it could still show her that even apart you were still thinking of her in case she had any fears that you chose to leave," Cadence pointed out. "It sounds like you two are still reconnecting and it takes time to rebuild that lost trust. Knowing you were still thinking of her enough to keep a journal of stories just for her even if she never came here would be a relief."