A Shadey Nightmare Night(Social celebration)

Sanura finaly made an appearance, sort of, the pale pony was wrapped in a nurse's outfit colored white and too short to really be considered real clothing, especially the way ponies walked. a garterbelt that, don't ask how, held the stockings up but a bit too harshly, ripped holes along the edges and further down even suggested the stockings were either very old or horribly taken care of, the stains leaned more toward the latter. Her dress itself had the same problem, frayed an filthy, one might think she'd pulled it straight out of a refuse pile really and the obligatory tiny hat was in the same condition with the pink butterfly of Fluttershy's ministry upon it, the same symbols on her shoulders.

The most striking part of it was her face though, hidden almost entirely save for brightly colored slits here and there where bits of her fine face fur peaked out and slivers of her eyes could be seen. The rest was covered in wide strips and big patches of leather sewn together with thread to cover her entire head and down into her neck, replacing her visage with stretched, cracked, filthy leather that obscured her facial features, save for bon structure, entirely.

[tl;dr? Silent Hill Nurse Pony]

She was sneaky to, or trying to be, save for soft, subtle gasps, twitching, jerky movements that occassionally scrapped against the ground as she crept through the crowds of ponies and furniture, scooting up behind Spectre as he retreated from the bar. Gasping every minute or two as if hooks ripped through her flesh when she moved just right until she was right beside the zebra... Her head twitched, jerking harshly to the lower left and then just a bit higher and then with another of those short, desperate gasps it jerked in the complete opposite direction where it stopped, and she froze... waiting behind the red robed Zebra, mostly to see if he'd noticed her or not.

Deus kept her eyes on Kestrel. "Oh come now, you would keep a lady in the dark?" She batted her eyelash, knowing full well he probably couldn't see it in the shadow her hood cast. It didn't matter much, she was only having a little fun. She was very curious about this shadowy monster of a griffon dressed as a god of death. She would not be leaving him until she had the information she was after, or knew how to get it. Deus couldn't help but notice the strange mare who had just entered. That, will be mine.

Xeshir stared at Cuppa with wide eyes as the bartender simply shrugged and went to mix the drinks. He came back with two small cocktail glasses that looked had a liquid with the color of whiskey, but a green glow to it that hinted it had some absinthe. It also had several more alcoholic beverages in it, but they weren't showing as much as the other too.

Oh, and the cocktail where on fire.

The bartender set them down next to Xeshir and Cuppa, not before giving them a look that seemed to wonder if they where insane, and turned to attended the other customers.

Xeshir smiled widely at her cocktail drink, her eyes mirroring the flames that danced on it. "I didn't know anybody was as bold as I was with my drinks." She said as she turned to Cuppa.

(Xeshir's custom)

Spoiler:

Going over the events of the party in his head to try and determine where, Bakey could have picked up the little box. There was truly only one possible time where the little add on could've made an appearance; and that was when Arc shook Bakey's hoof. Scraps didn't want to believe that his friend was the one who had done this but it was the only option that made logical sense.

He would have to have his confrontation with the traitorifffic unicorn later, cause now he was gonna have to to explain that it wasn't Bakey's fault, but that she was framed by Arc. Ignoring the drivel that Cross was spouting about destroying Bakey's pipbuck he started to explain, keeping his voice level at the moment.

"What happened was that somepony decided that it would be funny to frame Bakey for throwing a glass at Cross, using this little box" he holds up the little box, " Which Arc has kindly informed us was a pipbuck technician's remote acces tool. Now we just need to find the pony who is controlling it."

Scraps paused for effect before speaking again, this time letting his anger show through. " Fortunately this won't be hard, since the only logical pony who could've done it was Arc. He's the only pony here who had the opportunity, the ability and the resources. Now why don't you show us your pipbuck and prove me wrong, Arc"

Spectre was almost in the clear, just a few more steps... He back up, completely unaware of the unicorn approaching behind him, then he heard a strange gasp, something was there! Spectre snapped around like lightning, there he saw Sanura, or was it? It seemed like her, but the covered face left doubt, not to mention the red tint he saw everything through due the the magic glow in the skulls eyesockets. Looking at the costumed unicorn he tried to confirm what he thought, but in the end just opted for the easy way to find out. "Sanura? Is that you under there?" Spectres doubled up voice echoed within the skull, he still loved hearing it, he was even considering wearing the skull more often, but that was for later, first he wanted to be sure just who was next to him.

Athanix just smiled behind the counter as a griffon tapped on his counter and threw a couple blood covered caps in front of him asking for another drink. He stood up and walked over to the counter swiping the caps into a little pouch hanging off of the side of his cloak. He then took a couple bottles of booze and poured them into a large metal capsule, mixing the alcoholic beverages together into one large beer. He made sure to carefully pick his drinks to mix the alcohol with the right amount of kick to it. Although, when he looked at the mix, Athanix couldn't get quite the feeling of a strong blend with enough taste. So being the eccentric zebra that he was, Athanix slipped some herbs from his sleeves to the drink that was guaranteed to have a kick like no other in the wastes.

"Alrighty then pal," the zebra said as he popped open the cap and began to pour the new blend into a large mug, "One hard liquor to go."

Cuppa didn't know what to expect, she hadn't even heard the name of the drink that Xeshir had asked for herself. So when a drink that was frickin' on fire was presented, Cuppa could only stare at it for a moment in pure bemusement before Xeshir broke her focus and she blinked.

"Ah... Well, nuthin' says ah can't have a few surprises up mah sleeves." She said as she picked up the shot with her magic and waited for Xeshir to prepare for her drink as well, keeping the zebra in view of her peripherals so she could see how she should drink this... thing.

Sanura was no doubt completely unaware that she'd just been targeted by some other pony but when Spectre turned around and... didn't even jump, or flinch!? Aww she had to keep trying! She didn't respond at first, half afraid he might sock'er in the face or something worse but she'd put so much time in trying to make that mask fit so tightly around her face. So when he asked... Sanura gave a sharp gasp and then a brief scream before her horn suddenly flared to life and a rock would zip up from the ground as she lashed out with her hoof! Trying to move together so it looked like she was wielding a weapon, a scalpel specifically that she refused to carry on her for the costume for the sake of... well not cutting herself or anyone else! The blow was destined to miss though. Sanura was no fighter and she didn't want to actually hit him, just trying to get a rise out of him.

Lightning listened to the flurry of voices, Winter, telling him what happened. Cross, yelling over at Bakewell. Scrap, talking to Cross. The pegasus would glace over at Dash and give a 'Really?' type look before turning back to the ponies. "Alright! I heard enough. Cross, we are not going to be destroying Bakewell's Pipbuck. Not until we have evidence that it truly was a glitch in the Pipbuck's programming. Scrap, may I please have that box?"

However, a piece of information that Scrap mentioned did catch his ear and thinking about it, if Bakewell truly was innocent, then it could be a possible solution. But the pegasus didn't want to go around pointing hooves at each other and take sides without knowing the full truth. But it wouldn't hurt to take a look at Arc's Pipbuck, right? "Arc, is this true? Would you object to showing me your Pipbuck?"

Pendant admitted to herself that working herself to exhaustion the day before the party had been a foolish idea. Now, she had woken up and was certainly late, and was quickly trotting down the last block to the party she had heard so much about. She was fairly sure she didn't know anyone there - but that was half the fun! It was a costume party, after all, and she felt a lot of work had gone into hers.

A vampony! Vamponies were classic Nightmare Night costumes. She had found a velvety red dress (she had no idea how it was still in once piece, let alone in the practically new condition it was in), and had placed red-colored contacts in her eyes as well as tying her curly, wavy red mane back in a ponytail. She touched her tongue to the point of one of the sharp teeth. Still sharp. Not so much so that she'd hurt herself, though.

Now, she could see the party from where she was, and the silhouettes in the window. She went up to the door, and entered, smiling.

Spectre jumped back slightly upon hearing the scream, and felt something almost hit him, he reached for the knife that... He... Didn't have on him. Possibly for the first time since Sanura had met the zebra she saw a slight look of panic cross his face. All that was going through Spectres mind was that someone had come to try and kill him, the one time he was unarmed. Spectre looked at the unicorn infront of him, if needs be he would use his bare hooves, though he looked around for something... Anything he could use, never for more than a second as he didn't want this masked attacker to get the jump on him again.

Bone head was relieved to find out that the bartender could mix up another gutbuster for him. He was in the middle of taking a swig from the jug when he heard gibberish behind him. He curiously turned to see a pony in a box, no a zebra in a box. This was unexpected, all he wanted to do was get a drink and now this zebra was demanding his name and introducing the others at the bar. Thats when he saw his old "friend," ginger ale. "Well now things just got interesting." "Bones," he said in reply to the bowing zebra, "At least he knows his place in the world." He opened his wings and shook them a bit to make the bones on his costume rattle, "Just call me bones." he then turned his head to the other two unicorns and simply stared. Thanks to the mask no pony would be able to see his eyes or where he was looking exactly, which was good because he was staring right at ginger ale.

Xeshir inhaled the scent of the cocktail as the fire kept dancing on it. The smell of alcohol hit her nostrils hard, but she just smiled, that's how she liked it. She winked at Cuppa after her commentary "Oh, you're not the only one my dear." She said. She quickly grabbed the cocktail and drank it on one go. The drink should be on a shot glass instead of a cocktail one, but that's why it had the word "Extra" added to it's name. Xeshir found it fitting.

The effect of the drink didn't take long to notice. Her throat burned and the different flavors of whiskey, absinthe, scotch and others she couldn't recognize took their turn hitting her gut. In the end, the familiar flavor of Sarsaparilla stayed on her throat, and it would for some time. Xeshir simply smiled through the whole process, enjoying the burn, the flavors and, most of all, the sarsaparilla. She turned to Cuppa "Come on, chug it!" She said, cheering her.

"I keep much in the dark, it is safer there and far more welcome." Kestrel responded again his eyes wondering over and watching the scene between the deputies, Cross, and Winter.

Interesting but not eye-catching.

The gaze of the Collector shifted over towards the Zebra bartender that was currently serving Bonehead a much needed drink. For some reason Kestrel could not ignore the fact that he knew this zebra from somewhere. But where, as he waited for Deus to ask yet another question he began combing his memories for the identity of the Zebra behind the bar.

Rad had got lost in his own thoughts again, it happened when something was weighing heavily on his mind, this time he was mostly wondering just where Night Spark had gone... He was so into his own thoughts that he jumped a little in shock as he suddenly realised he was surrounded by ponies! And they seemed to be argueing about something, last he remembered there was just Cross and Winter here. Now there was so many more. "Uhh... Hey everypony... This is gonna sound stupid... But when did ya all get here? And what's goin on? Ya all don't have the faces of ponies that're enjoying a day hen somepony ain't tryin to kill ya?"

Cuppa watched Xeshir down the entire cocktail in one go, fire and all and she had to take a pause just to try and make herself consider drinking it. And the stripped mare was pressuring her to "chug" the drink. "Ah'll do it, dun worry." She said before looking at the drink again.

Lifting the drink closer, Cuppa finally resolved to drink it as quickly as possible. And so she drank it... The surprising thing was she managed it without burning herself, sure, she felt a bit toasty, but that was the alcohol. Though, the unsurprising thing was that the alcohol hit her heavily, and giving a little cough. "See? Ah drank it." She said, face flushing visibly from the alcohol, having pulled the scarf down so she could actually drink it.

Ale had noticed the griffin coming a mile away and instantly made room for him at the bar so he wouldn't be muscled out of the way. It was that same griffin he'd seen earlier, the one wearing bones, well the one wearing bones that wasn't supposed to be a demon. Again ale felt that something was off about this griffin and was about to try and converse with him when marcuse started spouting nonsense. "What the buck?" he mouthed as he looked to the zebra who then suddenly started taking normally again. Ale simply shook his head, "Yeah tonights just going to be weird I guess." Ale looked back at the griff as he responded,and recognized the voice. "Oh you have got to be kidding me!" He screamed in his head as he used his magic to grab his revolver. Or at least he would have grabbed his revolver if he hadn't left it a home due to it clashing with the costume. "Oh celestia, you have a funny sense of humor don't you?" The only weapon ale had on him was the bow he had slung over his shoulder and he doubted it would help tonight.

Thats when the griff turned and looked in his direction, and he felt a familiar sense of foreboding, Yeah it was definitely bone head. "we've met before." he said to marcuse without taking his eyes of the raider, "and i don't know why you're here but if you try anything..." He said intentionally leaving the last statement hang, letting the others imaginations fill in the blank.

Deus grinned under the hood, knowing all too well what belonged in the dark. Now she was getting somewhere, "So you're chivalrous, too." Her voice slowly starting to take on a twisted, insane timbre, "What a pleasant surprise. Now I'm really curious as to what you're hidiNG BeHiND THaT MaSK oF YouRS."

He grumbled as the griffon ignored him, pushing abruptly in and giving him a face full of feathers. He looked over at Marcus, making his discomfort know, before mouthing "Talk to you later" in his vague direction and backing away from the bar.

If he was going to be perfectly honest with himself, getting away from that bar was a good thing, he'd already spent 20 caps there and he had no idea what a room might cost. Besides, if he drunk anymore, he would do something he regretted. He knew his limits with, well, quite a lot of substances, but alcohol especially.

He trotted towards the less densely populated parts of the party, carefully staying as far away as possible from what looked like the lawmen of the town, where he spied a mare in a costume that he recognized. She was dressed in a red dress, and her smile revealed the pointed teeth synonymous with vamponies.

"Nice Costume" he said simply, as he trotted up next to her, smiling lightly in an attempt to break the ice.

Collateral looked down at the pony calling himself Doc Trough. He wasn't really in a conversational mood, but he decided to make a friend regardless. As much as he hated to admit it, he really needed some.
"Names Collateral Damage, it's a pleasure. I'm new here myself" He took out his earbloom and put his hood down so he didn't seem as much of an ignoramus as many thought he was. "That's quite a fall you took there." He paused and looked over Doc. "What were you running from?" In all honesty, Collateral really didn't care, but he was trying to be as approachable as possible. "Get spooked or something?"

Blast accepted the drink and looked at the bottle "Sorry to hear that," he lays his cigarillo in the ashtray then takes a swig "At least you have something to remember your home by," he says giving the bottle back "Some souls are unlucky enough to not have any trace of their homes or families left." Blast lifted his cigarillo back up to his mouth and looks at it "You want one?" he says taking another draw

Xeshir did a quick clap as Cuppa downed the drink "You're the second pony I've seen down a Sarsaparilla Extra-Bright Sunset in one go! The other had a teeny tiny accident with the flames." She said as she signaled the bartender. In less than a minute he came back with six of the flaming cocktails and set them down in front of the mares, he gave them a look of "If you burn this place down you are paying for it." and trotted away. Xeshir simply set three of the drinks aside and turned to Cuppa. "Three for each?" Not even waiting for her response she bit one of the cocktails, making sure to turn off the fire first, and raised it. "Cheers!"

Cuppa gave a brief smile as Xeshir praised her over drinking it in one go, but she wasn't up for reflecting on the ones who hadn't. "Well, ain't tha' th' point? Not burnin' yer face wi' th' drink?" She responded before gaping at the six more drinks set before the two of them. Not given a second to say anything, Xeshir had decided they'd have three each, and wasn't taking no for an answer.

She didn't trust herself with drinking this one safely, but she gave another nod and just downed this one without fail, knocking it back and stumbling backwards slightly whilst attempting to set the cocktail glass down on the bar, which was getting somewhat further away with every passing second until the mare stopped tilting her head back.

"Heh... Shtrong shtuff, eh?" She asked as she forced herself back to the bar. She was visibly quite affected by the drink, and this was one of the few times she'd felt like this. It was good, but she felt strange, like she wasn't as in control as she was a minute ago. "Yer turn.."

"Many do." Kestrel said, apparenly unfazed by the mares sudden, rather obvious change in tone. His gaze flickered over towards her for a moment, lazing about in what seemed like boredom before once more shifting away towards the bar.

The Zebra...Kestrel just KNEW he knew him. But from where? A satchel along his side, cocky smile, broken glass- Wait, was that...Athanix? Kestrel had only met the stallion a few times, but he was hard to forget.

He had a nasty habit of drugging people after all.

Kestrels head cocked to the side a bit as he watched him serve drinks and silently he wondered if he'd drugged the booze he'd given Bonehead. That could prove...interesting if he had.

Deus jumps up onto the table, "What will it take?? What must I do, hunter, to know your secrets???" She was indeed, VERY curious. To the point where she was willing to abandon what little reason usually stood between her and the Pit. She was GOING to find out what was going on with this fascinating griffon, and the fact that he was actively trying to prevent deaths at this party told her that she could be more brazen than most in her investigation.