Post by Sky Blue on Mar 17, 2015 0:16:16 GMT -5
Marble Roosevelt Memory is at home, having a lovely non-Sky Blue day! He's on his sofa, book perched on a pillow, nice glass of wine on the coffee table, and he is nice and relaxed.
Thunderfire hasn't felt very grand even though he has been home a while from that little journey with Blue. Coming downstairs he heads into where Dad is currently and climbs onto the sofa and into his lap, laying silently.
There's a familiar KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK at the front door, followed by the sound of letters being pushed through the letterbox.
Marble blinks as his son sits in his lap, just as the mail arrives. He doesn't want to be discouraging to his son. "... Hello, son!" He tries to reach across teh living room from the couch. Yeah right.
Thunderfire leaps down going to fetch the mail and then comes back with it crawling back into his lap, "Here," he smiles.
Marble hmms. "Thank you son." Marble says, taking the mail, reading through it. Bill, bill, bill, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TAIL AND MANE EXTENSIONS TODAY? Bill, bill, bill, bill, bill, another offer for gum sharpening...
One letter bears an official-looking seal and a scrawl that details that his distant cousin, Prince Netayo Memory of Neighgeria has died, and that Marble is next in line! All he needs to do to secure Netayo's wealth is to wire some good-faith money and provide them with copies of his passport and personal details.
Thunderfire watches as his dad goes through the mail. He didn't know so many bills were necessary to live life. "You are a prince?"
Marble rolls his eyes, continuing to go through the mail. "It's just an attempt to scam ponies, son."
The next letter opens with large words proclaiming EXCITING NEW TREATMENT WILL THAT CURES MALE IMPOTENCE AND GIVES YOU AN EXTRA TEN INCH-
Thunderfire blinks at this one, "What does that mean?"
Marble throws it. "AHHH!" He doesn't want his son asking those questions until he's got his cutie mark and seven grandchildren.
The next letter is considerably longer than the others, and written in a decidedly untidy, dangerously familiar scrawl. 'Marbul, I wuz at home when sum ponies in white coats came and tuk me to this hostipal in Canterlot. They said I can't leeve and wuz cumitted and am a danjerus to me and other ponies. Im reely scard plees help me Marble. Sky Blu xxx.'
Thunderfire blinks at the next one. "What does that mean? What they do to Blue?" he looks to Marble.
Marble reads this. He then reads it again. And again. Then he starts having shoulder Marbles. The Devil Marble says, "This is your chance! Your chance to be free of the CLEANING FILLY! Just leave her there!" But then Angel Marble stands up and says, "She's important to Vinyl, she's important to Vinyl!" Of course, the Devil Marble takes offense to the Angel Marble. "ARE YOU FRONTIN' WITH ME?!"
Thunderfire stares at his dad.
The Shoulder Marbles continue their arguments until, above Marble's head, Sock Puppet Marble appears, complete with googly eyes, says, "I LIKE BIRDS!" Marble suddenly lurches up and holds his hoof up high. "WE HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL!"
Thunderfire rolls backward on the couch a little. "Are you sick again? Is it your heart?"
"No, your Aunt Sky is in the hospital and she's scared," Marble says, showing his son the poor soul's letter. Angel Marble is right: She's important to Vinyl, and Marble wouldn't forgive himself if he let someone important to Vinyl go away. And Sock Puppet Marble is also right, he does indeed like birds.
Thunderfire rubs his cheek, "So we gonna go see her? I dun want her to be scared."
"Yes, we're going to see her, and see if we can help her," Marble says resolutely. "Go get ready, son. We've got to go do the right thing!"
Canterlot Psychiatric Hospital, located on the far outskits and tucked away, has a distinctly more asylumatic air about it. In the reception, with heavily-armoured security doors stationed this way and that, a mildly uninterested-looking mare is sitting behind a desk, idly flickering through a magazine.
Thunderfire stays near Marble's side.
Marble looks rather nervous about this place. Why armored guards? "Dr. Memory here to see Sky Blue?" Marble says, approaching the receptionist.
The receptionist looks over at Marble, then down at the young colt, then back up at Marble. She raises an eyebrow, then starts sorting through some files, looking for something, before pulling out a small folder and opening it. She scans over the document, then returns her attention to the pegasus pony. "What hospital do you work at?" she asks, sounding slightly suspicious.
"I'm not a medical doctor," Marble says, he had just simply given her his name, Dr. Memory. "I am here to visit a patient."
Thunderfire looks up at the receptionist a moment and back to his dad. "Where is muh Aunt Blue!"
"I'm afraid Dr. Cakes has classified this patient as too dangerous for civilian visitation," she says, closing the file and starting to tuck it away.
"Dr. Cakes? And what qualifies him to decide if this filly is dangerous? Does he know her personally?" Marble asks, probingly, unamused, and unhappy.
Thunderfire sneaks by them to go find his Aunt.
Thunderfire is promptly faced by a pair of stony-faced grey unicorns, blocking his path and frowning down at him. "Dr. Cakes is the head of this psychiatric hospital," the receptionist replies in a lazy drawl. "He personally assessed the patient and deemed her a danger to both herself and others."
Oh, if only Marble was still Chancellor, if *only* he was still Chancellor. Except... well, Sky Blue is probably dangerous a little. Five heart attacks! And numerous craters in Fillydelphia. "Then I demand to speak with him."
Thunderfire looks between the pair, "Hey look! Princess Celestia!" he points off.
The guards continue to frown down at Thunderfire, unmoving from their post. The receptionist rolls her eyes, hits a button on her desk, then says through a grill, "Dr. Cakes? A Dr. Memory to see you." "Send him on up." The nurse hits another button on her desk, which lets out a loud buzzing noise. An ungarded door to her left opens her and another guard steps out, holding it open for Marble and Thunderfire. "Follow me."
Oooh, ominous! Marble looks over at Thunderfire, then trots his way over to the guard he's supposed to be following.
Thunderfire moves after his dad quickly.
Up three flights of stairs, through two doors, and then father and son are left alone in a smartly-decorated office. On the back wall are two bookshelves, framing a small array of diplomas, and in front of them is a brown, meek-looking unicorn stallion sitting behind a desk.
Marble looks around the office. Humph! He's got a nicer one! It has three filing cabinets.
Thunderfire stays close to Marble.
After a few moments, the brown unicorn gestures vaguely at Marble and asked, "You wished to see me, Dr. Memory?"
"Yes, I'm here to contest the detention of Sky Blue." Marble says, grim expression on his face. He might even be willing to play the "Equestrian Official" card if he has to.
Thunderfire jumps up and down. "LET MY BLUE GOOOOOO."
"And on what grounds do you contest the detention of Miss Blue?" Dr. Cakes asks, looking unmoved by Thunderfire's eloquent argument.
"Um... I'm rich and I say so!" Marble says, taking a page from his son's playbook. GIVE HIM BACK HIS BLUE.
Thunderfire continues to jump up and down until he is on the desk, "LET MUH BLUE GOOOOOOOOOOOO."
Dr. Cakes levitates Thunderfire carefully off of his desk, then down onto the floor, before smiling toothily at Marble. "I'm afraid I have deemed Miss Blue as being both a danger to herself and the public. Too bad, so sad."
Thunderfire wiggles as he is lifted up and running around the desk he bites at the Doctor's leg, "Let her go! Or I'll tell Celestia!" indeed the Princess is his friend and will help if he asks!
"That's not a very professional attitude." Marble says, tone even, but he feels perhaps a bit furious that this stallion would have that cheek. He stands up. "I would hate to have to go through my records in the office and find even a *single* certificate, license, or degree of yours are not acredited." All it takes is Marble calling for an audit. He can do that! Then his son invokes Celestia. "Oh yes, and imagine if I simply ask the princess for a 'favour?'"
Dr. Cakes lets out a particularly loud, rude word at being bitten, before levitating Thunderfire back over towards his father and holding him as best he can back, using magic. "I'm afraid I will not be intimidated by threats, be they nepotistic or other-wide understanded, 'Doctor' Memoery," he snaps, sounding slightly less pleased now. "I have personally interviewed Miss Blue and compared it alongside her criminal record. I am doing both her and Equestria a favour by keeping her here."
Thunderfire frowns now climbing onto Marble's back.
"'Criminal' record? The filly doesn't *have* a criminal record," Marble says. He's pretty darned certain of that.
The unicorn levitates a file over to his desk and starts flicking through it. "Foal endangerment, assault, several counts of larceny, operating various businesses without licenses... and that's excluding the various ponies she's landed in hospital, numerous counts of damage to property, AND the destruction of the town of Black Rock." He folds the file and smiles charmingly over at Marble. "Remind me again why she's NOT a danger to the public?"
Thunderfire frowns, "But... I went with her and... She didn't make me drink or gamble. I did it..."
Marble's eyes widen, pupils nice and small. Oh great. NOW he has to learn what actually happened to his son.
Dr. Cakes looks even more pleased. "Another two cases of foal endangerment," he announces, picking up a quill and scribbling in the file. "I'm sure the guards will be very interested to hear about that."
"You're getting off on this, aren't you? Holding a filly against her will and keeping anyone from seeing her?" Marble says, outraged.
"And it's all perfectly legal," Mr Dr. Cakes replies, smiling all the wider and leaning back in his chair.
Marble glowers at Mr. Dr. Cakes. "I am fairly certain visitation is a RIGHT in Equestria, Dr. Cakes. This isn't a pound, she isn't a puppy!"
"Visitation is a right that can be waived in instances where the warden decides that visitation may endanger the visitor," Dr. Cakes replies, in a way that sounds like he knows exactly how to abuse the system. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but did she not cause you to suffer multiple heart attacks?"
Marble is quiet. Very... very quiet. He leans against the doctor's desk, glowering at him. "Those were *my* personal medical records," Marble says in measured fury. "No matter what Sky Blue may have done, *nothing* gives you the right to those records without my consent. Whether or not she is the cause is immaterial, *Doctor.*"
Thunderfire just listens as the two go back and forth.
Dr. Cakes stares back at Marble, his eyes narrowed slightly and a look of mild confidence upon his face. "You have still failed to give me one solid reason on why I should discharge Miss Blue, 'Doctor' Memory," he counters, idly eyeing a button on his desk.
Trouble is, that the doctor does have Sky Blue solid by the letter of the law, but Marble suspects an abuse of power here. "Did you have a warrant? Signed documentation? I want to see every scrap of paper right here in front of me; if I see so much as a *typo*..."
Thunderfire sighs deeply, "She saved my life... She isn't bad..."
Dr. Cakes levitates the appropriate file over to Marble's side of the desk. The paperwork and warrant all seem to be in order. The committal papers themselves are signed 'Eris, Chancellor of Ponyville'.
Marble narrows his eyes. Then glares at the pony. He puts all the files back in the folder, and shoves it back across the desk rather forcefully. He will have to speak with his successor. "Be very glad I'm not still Chancellor, Dr. Cakes. You've abused the law, and I'll see to it this is rectified."
Dr. Cakes lean forward, taps a hoof upon the paperwork, then narrows his eyes further at the ex-chancellor. "I dare you to find one thing I've done here that is illegal, Memory. Now, if you don't mind, I'll have someone show you out; I need to make my rounds." His hoof moves towards a button on his desk. "I'll be sure to let Miss Blue know you stopped by."
Thunderfire frowns at the Doctor, "WE WILL Be BACK!!! AUNTIE BLUEEEEEEEE...." he screams as Marble carries him out with him. "I LOVE YOU AUNTIEEEEEEEEEEEEE......"
Thunderfire hasn't felt very grand even though he has been home a while from that little journey with Blue. Coming downstairs he heads into where Dad is currently and climbs onto the sofa and into his lap, laying silently.
There's a familiar KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK at the front door, followed by the sound of letters being pushed through the letterbox.
Marble blinks as his son sits in his lap, just as the mail arrives. He doesn't want to be discouraging to his son. "... Hello, son!" He tries to reach across teh living room from the couch. Yeah right.
Thunderfire leaps down going to fetch the mail and then comes back with it crawling back into his lap, "Here," he smiles.
Marble hmms. "Thank you son." Marble says, taking the mail, reading through it. Bill, bill, bill, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TAIL AND MANE EXTENSIONS TODAY? Bill, bill, bill, bill, bill, another offer for gum sharpening...
One letter bears an official-looking seal and a scrawl that details that his distant cousin, Prince Netayo Memory of Neighgeria has died, and that Marble is next in line! All he needs to do to secure Netayo's wealth is to wire some good-faith money and provide them with copies of his passport and personal details.
Thunderfire watches as his dad goes through the mail. He didn't know so many bills were necessary to live life. "You are a prince?"
Marble rolls his eyes, continuing to go through the mail. "It's just an attempt to scam ponies, son."
The next letter opens with large words proclaiming EXCITING NEW TREATMENT WILL THAT CURES MALE IMPOTENCE AND GIVES YOU AN EXTRA TEN INCH-
Thunderfire blinks at this one, "What does that mean?"
Marble throws it. "AHHH!" He doesn't want his son asking those questions until he's got his cutie mark and seven grandchildren.
The next letter is considerably longer than the others, and written in a decidedly untidy, dangerously familiar scrawl. 'Marbul, I wuz at home when sum ponies in white coats came and tuk me to this hostipal in Canterlot. They said I can't leeve and wuz cumitted and am a danjerus to me and other ponies. Im reely scard plees help me Marble. Sky Blu xxx.'
Thunderfire blinks at the next one. "What does that mean? What they do to Blue?" he looks to Marble.
Marble reads this. He then reads it again. And again. Then he starts having shoulder Marbles. The Devil Marble says, "This is your chance! Your chance to be free of the CLEANING FILLY! Just leave her there!" But then Angel Marble stands up and says, "She's important to Vinyl, she's important to Vinyl!" Of course, the Devil Marble takes offense to the Angel Marble. "ARE YOU FRONTIN' WITH ME?!"
Thunderfire stares at his dad.
The Shoulder Marbles continue their arguments until, above Marble's head, Sock Puppet Marble appears, complete with googly eyes, says, "I LIKE BIRDS!" Marble suddenly lurches up and holds his hoof up high. "WE HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL!"
Thunderfire rolls backward on the couch a little. "Are you sick again? Is it your heart?"
"No, your Aunt Sky is in the hospital and she's scared," Marble says, showing his son the poor soul's letter. Angel Marble is right: She's important to Vinyl, and Marble wouldn't forgive himself if he let someone important to Vinyl go away. And Sock Puppet Marble is also right, he does indeed like birds.
Thunderfire rubs his cheek, "So we gonna go see her? I dun want her to be scared."
"Yes, we're going to see her, and see if we can help her," Marble says resolutely. "Go get ready, son. We've got to go do the right thing!"
*****
Canterlot Psychiatric Hospital, located on the far outskits and tucked away, has a distinctly more asylumatic air about it. In the reception, with heavily-armoured security doors stationed this way and that, a mildly uninterested-looking mare is sitting behind a desk, idly flickering through a magazine.
Thunderfire stays near Marble's side.
Marble looks rather nervous about this place. Why armored guards? "Dr. Memory here to see Sky Blue?" Marble says, approaching the receptionist.
The receptionist looks over at Marble, then down at the young colt, then back up at Marble. She raises an eyebrow, then starts sorting through some files, looking for something, before pulling out a small folder and opening it. She scans over the document, then returns her attention to the pegasus pony. "What hospital do you work at?" she asks, sounding slightly suspicious.
"I'm not a medical doctor," Marble says, he had just simply given her his name, Dr. Memory. "I am here to visit a patient."
Thunderfire looks up at the receptionist a moment and back to his dad. "Where is muh Aunt Blue!"
"I'm afraid Dr. Cakes has classified this patient as too dangerous for civilian visitation," she says, closing the file and starting to tuck it away.
"Dr. Cakes? And what qualifies him to decide if this filly is dangerous? Does he know her personally?" Marble asks, probingly, unamused, and unhappy.
Thunderfire sneaks by them to go find his Aunt.
Thunderfire is promptly faced by a pair of stony-faced grey unicorns, blocking his path and frowning down at him. "Dr. Cakes is the head of this psychiatric hospital," the receptionist replies in a lazy drawl. "He personally assessed the patient and deemed her a danger to both herself and others."
Oh, if only Marble was still Chancellor, if *only* he was still Chancellor. Except... well, Sky Blue is probably dangerous a little. Five heart attacks! And numerous craters in Fillydelphia. "Then I demand to speak with him."
Thunderfire looks between the pair, "Hey look! Princess Celestia!" he points off.
The guards continue to frown down at Thunderfire, unmoving from their post. The receptionist rolls her eyes, hits a button on her desk, then says through a grill, "Dr. Cakes? A Dr. Memory to see you." "Send him on up." The nurse hits another button on her desk, which lets out a loud buzzing noise. An ungarded door to her left opens her and another guard steps out, holding it open for Marble and Thunderfire. "Follow me."
Oooh, ominous! Marble looks over at Thunderfire, then trots his way over to the guard he's supposed to be following.
Thunderfire moves after his dad quickly.
Up three flights of stairs, through two doors, and then father and son are left alone in a smartly-decorated office. On the back wall are two bookshelves, framing a small array of diplomas, and in front of them is a brown, meek-looking unicorn stallion sitting behind a desk.
Marble looks around the office. Humph! He's got a nicer one! It has three filing cabinets.
Thunderfire stays close to Marble.
After a few moments, the brown unicorn gestures vaguely at Marble and asked, "You wished to see me, Dr. Memory?"
"Yes, I'm here to contest the detention of Sky Blue." Marble says, grim expression on his face. He might even be willing to play the "Equestrian Official" card if he has to.
Thunderfire jumps up and down. "LET MY BLUE GOOOOOO."
"And on what grounds do you contest the detention of Miss Blue?" Dr. Cakes asks, looking unmoved by Thunderfire's eloquent argument.
"Um... I'm rich and I say so!" Marble says, taking a page from his son's playbook. GIVE HIM BACK HIS BLUE.
Thunderfire continues to jump up and down until he is on the desk, "LET MUH BLUE GOOOOOOOOOOOO."
Dr. Cakes levitates Thunderfire carefully off of his desk, then down onto the floor, before smiling toothily at Marble. "I'm afraid I have deemed Miss Blue as being both a danger to herself and the public. Too bad, so sad."
Thunderfire wiggles as he is lifted up and running around the desk he bites at the Doctor's leg, "Let her go! Or I'll tell Celestia!" indeed the Princess is his friend and will help if he asks!
"That's not a very professional attitude." Marble says, tone even, but he feels perhaps a bit furious that this stallion would have that cheek. He stands up. "I would hate to have to go through my records in the office and find even a *single* certificate, license, or degree of yours are not acredited." All it takes is Marble calling for an audit. He can do that! Then his son invokes Celestia. "Oh yes, and imagine if I simply ask the princess for a 'favour?'"
Dr. Cakes lets out a particularly loud, rude word at being bitten, before levitating Thunderfire back over towards his father and holding him as best he can back, using magic. "I'm afraid I will not be intimidated by threats, be they nepotistic or other-wide understanded, 'Doctor' Memoery," he snaps, sounding slightly less pleased now. "I have personally interviewed Miss Blue and compared it alongside her criminal record. I am doing both her and Equestria a favour by keeping her here."
Thunderfire frowns now climbing onto Marble's back.
"'Criminal' record? The filly doesn't *have* a criminal record," Marble says. He's pretty darned certain of that.
The unicorn levitates a file over to his desk and starts flicking through it. "Foal endangerment, assault, several counts of larceny, operating various businesses without licenses... and that's excluding the various ponies she's landed in hospital, numerous counts of damage to property, AND the destruction of the town of Black Rock." He folds the file and smiles charmingly over at Marble. "Remind me again why she's NOT a danger to the public?"
Thunderfire frowns, "But... I went with her and... She didn't make me drink or gamble. I did it..."
Marble's eyes widen, pupils nice and small. Oh great. NOW he has to learn what actually happened to his son.
Dr. Cakes looks even more pleased. "Another two cases of foal endangerment," he announces, picking up a quill and scribbling in the file. "I'm sure the guards will be very interested to hear about that."
"You're getting off on this, aren't you? Holding a filly against her will and keeping anyone from seeing her?" Marble says, outraged.
"And it's all perfectly legal," Mr Dr. Cakes replies, smiling all the wider and leaning back in his chair.
Marble glowers at Mr. Dr. Cakes. "I am fairly certain visitation is a RIGHT in Equestria, Dr. Cakes. This isn't a pound, she isn't a puppy!"
"Visitation is a right that can be waived in instances where the warden decides that visitation may endanger the visitor," Dr. Cakes replies, in a way that sounds like he knows exactly how to abuse the system. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but did she not cause you to suffer multiple heart attacks?"
Marble is quiet. Very... very quiet. He leans against the doctor's desk, glowering at him. "Those were *my* personal medical records," Marble says in measured fury. "No matter what Sky Blue may have done, *nothing* gives you the right to those records without my consent. Whether or not she is the cause is immaterial, *Doctor.*"
Thunderfire just listens as the two go back and forth.
Dr. Cakes stares back at Marble, his eyes narrowed slightly and a look of mild confidence upon his face. "You have still failed to give me one solid reason on why I should discharge Miss Blue, 'Doctor' Memory," he counters, idly eyeing a button on his desk.
Trouble is, that the doctor does have Sky Blue solid by the letter of the law, but Marble suspects an abuse of power here. "Did you have a warrant? Signed documentation? I want to see every scrap of paper right here in front of me; if I see so much as a *typo*..."
Thunderfire sighs deeply, "She saved my life... She isn't bad..."
Dr. Cakes levitates the appropriate file over to Marble's side of the desk. The paperwork and warrant all seem to be in order. The committal papers themselves are signed 'Eris, Chancellor of Ponyville'.
Marble narrows his eyes. Then glares at the pony. He puts all the files back in the folder, and shoves it back across the desk rather forcefully. He will have to speak with his successor. "Be very glad I'm not still Chancellor, Dr. Cakes. You've abused the law, and I'll see to it this is rectified."
Dr. Cakes lean forward, taps a hoof upon the paperwork, then narrows his eyes further at the ex-chancellor. "I dare you to find one thing I've done here that is illegal, Memory. Now, if you don't mind, I'll have someone show you out; I need to make my rounds." His hoof moves towards a button on his desk. "I'll be sure to let Miss Blue know you stopped by."
Thunderfire frowns at the Doctor, "WE WILL Be BACK!!! AUNTIE BLUEEEEEEEE...." he screams as Marble carries him out with him. "I LOVE YOU AUNTIEEEEEEEEEEEEE......"