A Bit(e) of Hope (Private)

lightning smirked "i can do the living space myself worst comes to worst i have to think up some extreme spells to make an office in,, i don't know my cupboard heh heh" she laughed before turning to face the stallion. "look it'll be fine get us to the location, this bit is the easy bit, then we head to to the storm over Gallopfrey that will be half a day of travel during that time we can discuss everything in depth, sound good?" it would come across that lightning had a plan she was set too, and it was almost like she wanted to get off as soon as physically possible as she tapped her hoof in wait.

The stallion was rather intrigued by what the thestral mare was proposing, and she seemed to have a sense for work and adventure that he had not seen out of many in a while; Nevermind that she was versed in magical skills for a non-unicorn. Assertive, perhaps, but as he conjured a blue old undecorated Admiral's hat to put on, he would salute her as the airship soon began to rise with a mix of machinery and magic rather smoothly. "9 minutes to go then! Whatever you're planning to do down there better be done fast, cause you can bet I'm giving the old gal a workout today!" He was raring to go as soon as they reached a high enough altitude, the airship seemingly having some additional gravitational effect to prevent momentum from being an issue once they accelerated.

"good to hear captain, ill be back up in a short while." and with that lightning was gone, to the insides of the ship.

"so.." said a softish voice from behind emanated. sky stood behind him as if she had always been standing there. "why did you choose to take us up on the offer, i mean you got a letter in the post no clue who or where it was from other than a weird wax seal, just saying you'll get money take us across the world. i mean i'm not sure what lightning put in the letter but" sky sort of shrugged "i dunno, i mean do you know what dangers we may all be facing?" sky looked over to the town being exposed as there altitude increases she looked on it longingly, her pink, blue and gold eyes looking on longingly one could almost say she wanted to go into the center she looked upon.

As Lightning left, his ears would immediately point sideways fully as he suddenly felt Sky swiftly behind him, making him flinch somewhat at her surprising agility for one so supple. He was steadily more convinced that she may be more unusual than her companion as he listened, and carefully regarded her question as he saw ahead, not knowing, and yet feeling, three distinct sensations behind him somehow, but just barely. "What is she...?"

He'd hum a it and then answer. "For one, I still need to fund my studies and travels somehow. Mercenary work has yet to fail me as a career in that regard... Two, feel free to spar with me when we get the time, and we can see which of us is more qualified to take on said dangers..." He smirked a little, still not looking back, but hoping she took that suggestion, for he could tell she was strong. "And three, your companion, Lightning, who gave minor details about which of you was which at least for me to know who I ought to let on board, just... Makes me feel fresh. The sudden letter, the rush to get to work, and her chipper attitude to traveling... It makes me look forward to a grand old adventure... Surely, you're excited about it too, aren't you?"

sky smiled, her face loosing the somber attitude that was developing. the suggestion of a spare made her chuckile in an approving manner and all he had said for the explanation was a fair reason. "yeah, you got me there, tho,, i dont know, i just wish that it wasnt as necessary as it is and this could be like the old days with me and her where we'd go on an expedition to as far as we could go just to get a rock sample, we had not major rush we could enjoy it, and i mean shes always had a get up and go attitude but still." she walked to the side of the bridge looking about. "maybe what i need," she started again her gold and blue eyes twinkling in the sun. "is a 'mission' that i can have fun with and take my time on, not have to rush, just enjoy and take pleasure in"

Sugary eased up some more as Sky spoke on, nodding a little time and again. "Ah, you're saying it's become more like a chore than something fun the two of you do...? It sounds like she might need to take a proper vacation, you make it sound like it's been a long time. I hope I'm not assuming too much, but it would be a shame if your friendship were strained because of that for much longer... As for you? Well..." He chuckled a bit, trying to sound reassuring as he looked her way a bit. "I know we've only just started to meet, but don't hesitate to make any requests that might make things more comforting for the both of you. We can always make our own fun on the fly after all.

sky was to say simply, charmed from surgarys words,she chuckled at something he had said and turned to him to face him straight on "you know, me and lightning we are more than friends, we dont talk bout it much cos its really complicated, but you are right i don't want to loose her from this its just i would be fine with a mission if it wasnt so 'do this now ' or whatever".
sky let out a sigh she smiled "but you are right, and maybe we could get some pleasure out of this trip" skys face had lit up almost as if you was exited for what was to come.

His ears flicked as he wondered what their relationship was really about then to make it seem complex, but chose not to prod that. He did smirk as Sky shared her thoughts on the matter with him some more, so he'd try and reassure her a bit more. "Nothing bad about telling a friend when something's wrong or out of place once in a while. It shows you care enough to tell them I'd say." He'd keep piloting calmly, trying to make good on his end to keep the airship going at top speed. At least there was some merit to seeing the land below scrolling quickly by like a slide-show. "That said, I may have to do some more frequent check-ups if this is the pace expected of the big gal... Hm..."

sky smiled, she had slid the thing in about her and lightning in testing his integrity and was both disappointed that she couldnt tease him and happy he with held from prying, his integrity was something she was learning to respect and like about him, and sky had a rule to reward good behaviour., she snapped out of her daydreaming for a moment to catch his comment on the presumably ship. "you know, im no mechanic, i can barely get a basic engine going, let alone a magic one, nut i recon if yo bring your issues up with lightning she could probably get this old girl running to her needs, maybe without making much changes..." she paused for a moment and spoke once more "hey, if a 1ish ton object landed on deck what would you say would happen?" sky asked with curiosity in her eyes.

Sugary was certainly thinking that Lightning might be someone worth asking in help with for maintenance, but Sky's last question threw him for a bit of a loop as he looked to her very quizzically. "Uuuh... Lightning helping might be great, but that heavy weight thing...? We're talking just landing, and not crashing, then the deck and airship can easily handle that load... If it's a crash, the hull and defensive buffer miiight struggle to hold together if it's particularly fast. Why?"

"youll see soon enough heh. so, i think i asked this before but", sky walked back over to the stallion and lent on his shoulders. "have you ever thought about settling down, finding a place a nice partner maybe have a kid, just.. i dunno, ah forget it" sky sighed and quietly went back to the side of the bridge watching the buildings that were quickly getting sparser until all that could bee seen was forrest.

Now that was enough to catch Sugary way off guard at what she might be implying, neighing a bit in surprise at what Sky brought up. "... Well... Laying on a bit thick there, aren't you...? But..." He continued from his thoughts, looking to her curiously, speaking with a level but very intrigued tone. "... I've certainly given thought about settling down somewhere nice; Well, somewhere I can keep coming back to and call my own besides my airship and old home that is..." He then hummed a bit quietly. "... Finding the right partner for that hasn't happened yet of course... Honestly, why ask that? Were you teasing or asking before about us getting along, as in... us?" He had to know one way or another, not one to beat around the bush for such matters, but not meaning to be rude about it, whether he was doing just that or not.

sky was a little taken aback, her face a little shocked but quickly straightened her face out out. "look,* she sighed and stroked back her hair "youre something im not used to, down there i was teasing you sure, like, it wasnt like i wanted to get you naked and embarrass you but like i needed to know if i could trust you net to let your dick speak for you, you passed but like it made me realise some things and that mad me embarrassed so i put on a teasing voice and like i don't know." she walked back to him and put her finger to his face "look, i dont open up like this and its weird and i'm not a fan of it, but you brought it out of me if you wanna know why i asked, its cos i'm tired of traveling and as much as i love lightning i wonder what it would be like to stop you know." she clenched her fist and dropped it to her side and slumped a bit "i dont know, im not normally like this, like at all but, i dont know"

Once more, he was a bit caught off guard, but this time he had a much more calm and emphatic look in his eyes towards her as he gently tried to put his hand on her shoulder and rub it lightly to soothe her apparent plight after her apparent waterfall of emotions. "Oh...! Sky, please, just... Take a really, really deep breath and listen, please." He'd try to keep at it as best he could, getting mixed thoughts about her finger on his cheek.

"... I don't mind the test. Honestly, I've known good friends that have done the similar. You don't spend many years working with other mercenaries and expect things to always be conventional." He smiled, a little at the past, but kept focused on her. "And second... If that part about you and Lightning is that strained, then... Now, more than ever, you should probably really try and level with her. It looks like you've been really lacking in a vacation yourself." His hands were right back on the controls proper, but still he spoke to her. "I'll try and bear as much of the workload as necessary in your place if I must... I can't say how well we can all get along, but I can at least do that much, okay?"

He wasn't entirely sure what to say about her opening up to him, but felt she was bottling up thoughts for too long that were not doing her any favors. He hoped things between the mares could start resolving, at least. Maybe then, he could better understand what they were truly like. "My goodness... I sure hope things don't get sour too fast, the trip's just getting started."

"it's.. its fine, but thanks, you're too kind its gotta be said i'm almost worried, could you be too kind for your own good, or is this just a cunning ploy" she laughed still reorganising her thoughts her eyes shaded gold solidly and her white coat almost shined in the light. "maybe we can pick this up later, i think we have a job to do we must be getting close right?" sky said mildly inquisically. but with impeccable timing almost as if it was written, lightning emerged from bellow.

in her arms she held 5 odd metal anteni, runes dancing on the base of each. she rushed up to the middle of the deck and with a wave of her hand the antani fixed themselves on the side of the ship, one at the font, two at the sides, and two at the back at either side. she quickly pulled out a small monitor and smiled up to the stallion. "i think we're almost ready are we nearly there?" she called with a grin as she headed over to the stairs.

He looked between Sky and Lightning with some mixed feelings still, both to try and understand the mare next to him and to pay attention to the setup outside that made him think she was either about to call lightning onto the deck, or something else. "I... Oh, alright. But I feel you shouldn't be bottling this all up. That can't be good for you." He spoke softly to Sky before picking up a device for his voice to carry to the deck easily. "Right on time, Lightning. We're just about to land even, with seconds to spare."

And as promised, he'd begin to slow down the acceleration to their first stop, just as he was instructed by the map. What required to remain in the air potentially for that and other places, he could only guess as he'd await further instructions while looking outside...

"this wont take long keep us about 100 meters up and stable" lightning said looking primarily at her monitor tweaking a dial on the side. sky just watched on and sighed before getting up, smiling at surgary and heading down stairs.

Without much else to say to Sky at that point, he could only really keep his thoughts on the matter to himself for now and focus on the job. He'd agree with Lightning, easily adjusting their position in the air at that height over the forest with light adjustments before keeping it perfectly still. "Done, Lightning... Whatever you're planning, this is as good as it gets. Be careful out there."

she smiled, "thats perfect ok now we just gotta" she paused for a moment fine tuning the device in her hand, it took he a moment but she finally got it "there! ok um, wait, thats not right." lightning hopped into the air and fluttered over to the bridge eyes still fixed on the screen. she paused for a moment and sighed hovering next to the stallion. "ok so to summarize" she started, no need to be asked "this gear detects magic allowing me to isolate it and its base fields meaning i can work out what sort of magic is coming of this forest, problem is its kicking off way too much ma..." she paused for a moment and stared blankly before placing her hand on her head "i'm an idiot.. your engine its part magic that's the interference, ok thats fine, but its gonna take us a while" she waved her hand and upon deck a stand formed, and shortly after that she placed the display on on the stand and magically pulled it bigger to around 22 inches. "so from here i need to ask you some questions, i can multi task dont worry , just i need to know some things ok?" she stopped tuning the devise and looked him straight in the eyes.

From time to time, he'd look to Sky given her earlier plight, but would try and keep up with Lightning's explanation as best as he could, looking at the ever increasing amount of devices on the deck. "She's really something keeping and managing all that stuff around to be sure. Does she use compacting runes...?"

Her comment about the interference certainly made him answer to it quick enough however. "Oh...! Ask away, but you should know I can keep the airship in mid-air with a much lower output, maybe even isolate the Ether function, just that stability might drop a lot from that if we start dealing with strong gusts."

" oh thats fine its nice to have alittle work to do here and there but about that question," lightnings smile faded to a much more cold face, she kept eye contact flicked her wrist and a blue pale bubble formed almost imposable to see "i have it in my understanding that you may well have had time to talk with sky in my absence yes? its come to my attention that shes been acting,, off how did she seem to you did you talk about much and what?" lightning seemed to still be typing in commands into the disply despite looking markets way her eye fixated on his face

Sugary's expression became neutral, trying to hide his true feelings on the matter as he looked straight into Lightning's eyes, trying to avoid making things worse between the mares. "Well, yes, we did talk some. As for her seeming off and why... I think she might be more stressed out than she's letting herself admit. She seemed more interested in talking about chilling than work... When was the last time either of you took a proper vacation...?" He knew there was more to it, but did want to ease into the topic as best he could, make her think about things as well.

lightning sighed "holidays and me dont mix, they just make me stress about work, ut sky gets 4 a year2 weeks each and is only in when i need her." she slid a dial, lent on the display and kept facing him. "look im,, i'm not great at the looking after sorta thing there's a reason my kids are always at there grand mothers, i want the best for them you know and i'm not that, i guess, shes always been looking after me its my turn, can i trust you to keep her company, i mean we all need a friend and all that, i'm just not the right one for it, i never am nor will i be, i've tried it does not work"

Sugary's ears drooped a bit, thinking he knew what another part of the problem might be. Granted, another part of him was a bit intrigued in learning that Lightning was a mother. "Well, dang... I'm not sure what to say, but I do find it commendable that you at least know where you stand... Still, I really do think Sky still likes and wants to spend time with you, just not with work involved so much. Is there really nothing that would make you... take it at least a little bit easy?"

lightning looked down, her face taking on somber tones, "i'm sure, and i do care i hope you understand that, its simply i dont work well when relaxing as it were, i mean, we used to do some stuff that wasn't to work intensive" lightning paused and slid i dial up then went back to her leaning position. "i was hoping this would be like that for us but maybe i was wrong and miss judged everything."