>>12325694 (OP)
Go ask anyways. We've gotten worse than a hoof to the face from her before.

>>12325694 (OP)
Another thing to ask would be how Rose planned to find her way back to the camp if we hadn't shown up.

>>12325776
>>12325844
It's clear enough to you that you're not getting anywhere with this mystery unless you go to the source. Go big or go home. Taking a deep breath, you nod farewell to the pegasai and Silver, then walk over to Rose. You keep your back straight and chin up, hoping it bolsters your confidence enough to spit out the question before you second-guess yourself.

She notices you approaching well in advance and takes a seat, giving you a look halfway between amusement and curiosity.

"I have a question for you."

"So I gathered."

"What was--"

"A moment." She lowers her head, facing the ground in order to take her helmet off. Her mane, long and unkempt, bursts free of its prison, blending in with the rest of her armor. She scratches the back of her neck with a hind leg, sighing in release afterwards. "Much better. Now, your question?"

You have to pick up your jaw, amazed Rose would do something so crude right in front of you. She always seems so poised and aloof, like she'd never show how she's just another pony. "Uh, the question was about what you stopped the pegasus from saying earlier. Something about the reason why dragons never came around Withers any more."

This is the point where you expect a kick in the gut and/or face, but all she does is raise an eyebrow

"And what about it?"

"Well... why don't they? Why did you choose to hide it?"

"They don't come to Withers any more because I killed one."

"That doesn't seem--"

"Alone."

>>12326268
That's pretty impressive, I won't ask you to share the details.

>>12326268
"...How?"

>>12326352
No details? I'm twice as curious now. And why is killing one dragon so important? Wouldn't that just piss them off more? They seem more prideful than that.

>>12326419
>>12326426
"...How?"

"I shoved a sword through the roof of his mouth into his brain. Just because it usually takes a team of ponies doesn't mean it's impossible for one."

"And he didn't burn you while you were in his mouth? Or chew you up?"

"I didn't give him the chance."

Her tone is so frank and matter-of-fact, she talks as if this is something that might of happened on a lunch break last week. You don't feel like she's bragging at all; quite the opposite, actually. There may be a tinge of apprehension in her voice.

"Why did you try to hide it?"

"Why do you care?"

That all but confirms your suspicions: there's definitely more to this. Rose has never outright refused to answer a question from you.

>>12326525
It makes it seem like something is bothering you or you have something to hide.

>>12326525
"Because withholding information is unlike you."

>>12326629
>>12326644
"Because witholding information is unlike you. It makes it seem like something is bothering you or you have something to hide."

"Hmph." She dons her helmet again, getting back on all fours. "I hide nothing, I only have certain pieces of information I prefer to keep to myself at times. If you are so determined, however, I suppose I have something of a responsibility to mention it." She looks back and forth, making sure no one is eavesdropping. Even when she figures no one is, she steps forward, beckoning for you to crouch.

"The dragon was an elder. Sometimes dragons wander north to our lands for their own fun, sometimes out of anger, other times they get lost in migration. This one, however, was a scout. He came to find a village suitable for a raid, and he found me." Her eyes narrow into a glare, almost as if she's mad at you for listening to her talk. "Dragons base their society on respect and fear. The one I killed had earned both from his peers, and by killing him, it became mine. That is why they leave Withers alone; because they respect a pony that lives there."

It sure doesn't sound like respect, not from the tone you hear. For the first time since you've known Rose, she's showing not annoyance or sarcasm, but true anger. Her voice has taken an edge you could slice bread on.

[cont]

>>12326953
In light of this, you have no idea what to say. Does she want to be comforted? Does she want you to be in awe? Or does she want silence? Either way, there's more to this story. You can't imagine Rose would become emotional over the death of a single dragon. That's pretty much what she was trained to do, right?

Roll time!
Option 1: Don't roll, leave Rose's story at that.
Option 2: Inquire further about the dragon [medium difficulty]
Option 3: Inquire further about her feelings on the incident [hard difficulty]

Just as before, higher difficulty means higher reward and harsher consequences of failure. You will also have a +2 to this roll.

>>12327010
I want to say go for the hardest one.
But if we screw up...

>>12327010
Medium I suppose, it's worth assuming she lost someone.

>>12327010
What do you have to roll for options 2 and 3?

>>12327189
The exact roll numbers I'm keeping to myself until the roll is done. In the previous 'hard' roll, an 8 was a success (to give you reference).

>>12327076
What should I count that as?

>>12327223
Eh...screw it. Go for the hardest one.

>>12327505
>>12327223
Yep, don't even care anymore if Rose hats us.

BAD END

File: 1374716963802.png-(7 KB, 332x38, Rose's story 1d10.png)

You're a damn smooth talker. Success was a 9.

>>12327076
>>12327505
>>12327537
Even though it feels dangerous as all hell, you lay a hand on Rose's helmet. Something tells you she needs some sort of contact, something to let her know you're not trying to take advantage of her state or mock her with your curiosity. Her glare becomes somehow more intense than before, but she doesn't shirk away or protest.

"Rose, I can't read you ninety-nine percent of the time, but this--this I can tell is different. I want to know what happened."

"What makes you think you've earned that?"

"I'm your friend. That doesn't mean you have to tell me if you don't want to, but if you do, I'll listen without judging."

"And what makes you think I care about your opinion of me?"

"You said it yourself when we first met. I'm interesting. And I think you want to know why I was worried about you. Why I care when we've only known each other a couple of days. I think you want to know why I just called you my friend."

"Tch," she says, clicking her tongue on the roof of her mouth, grimacing as she looked away. It takes her a second, but she makes her decision, turning back to you with a blunt passion in her eyes. "This would be a lot simpler if you were an idiot."

"But then you wouldn't find me interesting, would you?"

"I suppose not."

[cont]

>>12328149
Rose leans in, her mouth right next to your ear. All it takes is a whisper for you to hear her, though she hesitates before speaking.

"He was a father. His companion--wife, if you could call it that--came looking for him when he did not return. She wanted information, not a fight, and I obliged. That is how the dragons knew I killed him, and that is how they knew where not to return. I do not know how many children he left, though I am sure they managed just fine without him. He was a thick-headed flank-face, and I do not grieve his death."

You pull your head back confused. Rose reads your expression and grabs your head, pulling your ear back to her mouth to answer the unspoken question.

"I do not grieve his death, I grieve the hastiness of my action. I killed without thought, even provoking the dragon into a fight. Not that it took much, but he came only to look. When his mate came to the village and I explained his fate to her, I was utterly embarassed. There is a time for fighting and a time for thought and evaluation. It took far too long for me to realize this." She releases your head, turning to cough before finishing. "That is when my heart left the Stampede. That is when I became a warrior for myself. I will never act without thought again." She jabs your chest to drive her last statement home. "There is ALWAYS another side to the story."

>>12328197
'I'm sorry to hear that, but at least you're wiser now, right?''
Man I suck at these situations irl, I never know how to handle them

>>12328354
Let's not say that.

>>12328430
Fine then, any suggestions?

>>12328497
Nope, only that I wish people on earth would take that approach.

>>12328197
"Thanks, for trusting me with this. My lips are sealed."

>>12328522
It's kinda counter productive to shoot down an option and not offer an alternative don't you think?
I mean now we have nothing to go on

>>12328149
>image
Computer. Analyze.

>>12328543
"Thanks for trusting me with this. My lips are sealed."

"And if they ever so much as consider loosening, you will wake up one day to find them stitched shut while you dangle, naked, from a rope tied to the tallest tree I can find."

Is she... blushing? Could it be she actually considers you a friend, too? Saying it with a threat is exactly the kind of thing she would do, too.

You don't get the chance to tease her at all, though, as you feel a tap on your shoulder. Standing up, you turn around to find Celestia directly behind you, a greeting smile on her lips.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"You are, but the deed is done. Say what you will," says Rose.

You give Rose a light smack on her helmet. "She's my friend and your princess. You're supposed to show at least some tact when speaking to her."

"Really, it's fine, I can--" Celestia starts, but gapes when she sees Rose spin around onto her forelegs. You turn just in time to catch a buck right to your stomach. Doubling over, you start coughing, blinking as you try to regain your balance. It was a tough hit, but not as tough as you knew Rose was capable of. In the midst of your coughs, you feel a hoof tap your head.

"Don't touch the helmet." She looks up to Celestia, giving the slightest nod. "I am sorry. Say what you came to say."

[cont]

>>12328927
Oh, but it was okay to touch it a second ago? Or is this Rose's way of showing appreciation? You're probably better off with her mildly tolerating your presence as opposed to enjoying it if that's the case.

"Might we go somewhere a little more private? I have a couple of questions for the two of you."

"Questions?" Rose looks down to you and you exchange glances. "That's been nothing but trouble today."

For once, you actually find yourself of the same mind.

~

That ends today's session. Next is Saturday at 12 noon central american time like always.

>>12328966
thanks SA!