Roosting [Open]

[appletastic]

Getting some shut-eye aboard this...plantboat presented more of a problem than Applejack had first guessed. How was she expected to just tell time? And without time, how did you know when to sleep, when to wake up, when your work was supposed to start and stop?

She'd taken to just plain collapsing whenever she'd felt too tired to go on any further, but that sure didn't feel right. Every sleep time felt different, like she'd gone a few hours one night and many more the next. Was the work even going to get done on time?

So far, she'd done as much as she could whenever she'd felt alert. One of those apple trees was going to be ready for a bucking in a few days' time, and that would bring all kinds of work. Some of the apples would be kept raw for sale and trade, of course, and others would be baked and dipped into various sweets. She'd already promised a pie to Dean, and she was sure there would be more to follow.

At the end of this workday, though, Applejack carried just a few things on her back: one or two ingredients she'd begged for in her flankpack, a just-scavenged empty basket for future apple-carrying, and an old blanket for the pile of hay waiting for her back in Hydroponics.

It sure was uncomfortable to sleep there, though. The hay and outdoorsy breeze didn't bother her, no, but the lack of starlight did. How were you supposed to know it was night time? That the sun would come?

That was the problem, actually. There would be no sunrise to wake her up in the morning. Plant-boats didn't have suns, and even if they did, Princess Celestia wasn't around to raise it. There wouldn't be any more cock-a-doodle-doos announcing her gift of the mor. Her sister Luna wouldn't be bringing the night either. Out here, it was nighttime eternal until they found a way to pierce the darkness.

Applejack wanted to plan for that Ohm-bucking part some more, but the time to take on the darkness would come later. For now, the farm pony just wanted some sleep. Judging by the way she rolled, twisted, and huffed against the meat-couches in her current location, the only place with something that slightly resembled a starry sky, the time for sleep wasn't quite here yet.

"Consarnit, this just ain't working," she sighed. "How's a pony supposed to sleep on these things? A good bit of bedding's supposed to stay put."

Comments

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya had been busy the last few days, and was actually still in the process of planning for the Outsider's meeting that was going to be happening in just a few days. It would take a few last minute touches, not to mention a quick talk with Beast boy, but she was ready to start it up very soon.

It would also be a return to the hotel, where she had been noticeably absent since Alex had been podded and Luna had just plain not shown up anymore.

But just as she was planning for what cleaning would be done, she spied one of the recently podded tossing and turning.

"Applejack?" She said, startled. "What are you doing here?"

[appletastic]

Kaya would find herself looking at a pony with a sheet in her mouth, trying her best to find the one arrangement that was comfortable. As the issue ran deeper than that, it wasn't quite working.

"Well howdy Kaya," a tired-looking Applejack greeted, straightening her legs back up. "Just trying to find a place for a lie down. I thought I'd take in the view."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya looked confused. "But on the obs deck? I cant imagine its a terribly comfortable place: the couches just aren't nearly cushiony enough. Besides, I figured that the Hydroponics bay would be a better fit."

Poor pony, she looked so frazzled. Kaya couldn't just walk by and say nothing.

[appletastic]

"I tried it there, just didn't feel right. No sky," Applejack explained, looking up at the view outside the window.

[caringcassie.livejournal.com]

Cassie was lost in thought as she walked around, still trying to get a grip on the set up of the ship. Her new home apparently, for the time being.

She jerked to a stop though as she stumbled across a very pretty looking pony. Cassie had seen her briefly a couple of times before, but never interacted with her. The only thing that she really knew about the pony was that the coloring and markings on this one were very distinctive, much more so then what she was used to seeing from ponies and horses in her own world. And, in the next moment, there was something else that surprised her. Had... had the pony just spoken? That... had to be wrong.

But what she noticed most of all was that the pony seemed to be distressed about something and that wasn't something that she could ignore. Approaching almost shyly, Cassie spoke in a soothing voice, not wanting to startle her, "Hi there."

(OOC: I'm sorry if this post is poor. If needed, I'll be happy to rework it. I wasn't totally sure of what would be the best lead in to this.)

[appletastic]

((Don't worry! It's just fine.))

"Well hello," Applejack greeted, dropping the sheet from her mouth to be heard. Her voice sounded a little tired, but she wouldn't try to scare anypony away. "It's awfully late...I think, anyway. You looking for something?"

[caringcassie.livejournal.com]

Cassie froze, shocked to discover that the pony could actually speak. She had seen so much during the war that she hadn't thought that anything could really still surprise her like this, but this talking pony had managed it. In retrospect though, it probably shouldn't have. There were clear differences between this pony and the ones that she had known on Earth, but the similarities between them had given her a false sense of familiarity.

Concern quickly replaced shock though. She hadn't missed the fact that the pony sounded tired. Guilt joined the concern as Cassie replied. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you. I just... you seemed a bit upset about something. I just wanted to know if there was anything that I could do to help, but I'll leave if I'm in the way." Cassie paused for a moment before adding, "I'm Cassie, by the way."

(OOC: Thank you!)

[appletastic]

"My name's Applejack, pleased to make your acquaintance," she answered back, looking up at the red view outside.

"You look a little under the weather too, sugar," Applejack wondered, deflecting the question for a moment. "Almost like you'd seen a ghost."

[chosenlightchld.livejournal.com]

Hikari sighed, yawning a bit as she walked through the ship. Tailmon wasn't with her, having separated a bit earlier. Hikari was well, tired. Hopefully it wouldn't take her that much longer to get to the city and get to her bed.

She blinked when she heard Applejack though, moving over to her. "Is something wrong?"

[appletastic]

Applejack lifted her head for the tired human, trying on a smile. "Sleep just ain't as easy as I expected," the pony admitted, rubbing a hoof against the ground. "Doesn't feel right."

[chosenlightchld.livejournal.com]

Hikari nodded, moving over closer to Applejack. "Oh, right. I forgot how hard it was to get used to this place when I first woke up."

Her hand reached out to rub the pony's head gently. "Well, have you tried going to the city? There's at least a cycle of light and dark there, though I don't think it matches how our worlds used to have day and night."

[appletastic]

Head-petting was new. Most ponies needed to keep their hooves close to the ground, unless they were Rainbow Dash bouncing all over everything in sight---no, that was Pinkie Pie. Sometimes she swore that hyperactive pony had to have some wings hidden somewhere on her.

Once her thoughts were back on track, she leaned toward the younger girl with a soft sigh. Comfort was great right now, no matter who it came from. "Think I could get a few hours down there? The Chancellor's got a nice pasture down there, it wouldn't be such a bad place for a lie-down."

[badluckbabe.livejournal.com]

Jinx was still getting used to things as well. No stranger to night time activities it became harder to get set onto a rhythm when time held no meaning around her.

She stopped short though as her eyes caught sight of another pony. She had already met a pink one and a unicorn who could both talk so it stood to reason this one probably could too...and from the looks of it was uncomfortable.

"I still can't get over how everything around here pulses." Jinx remarked idly, soft enough to not be intrusive if the pony chose to ignore her and keep trying to sleep, but loud enough to be heard.

[appletastic]

Oh, Applejack was plenty awake, and she'd take the company. It wasn't so bad. "You're telling me. If I had to wear that plantwrap all the time, well...it sure wouldn't be a pretty sight."

No, she'd tear it to shreds.

[badluckbabe.livejournal.com]

"Very creepy." Jinx agreed idly plucking at the sleeve of her plant suit. "I'm just waiting on some clothes to get made for me by this nice err...unicorn named Rarity."

[appletastic]

Oh, her friend was already making a name for herself! Applejack was a little envious. She was still waiting on one of the apple trees to ripen before she could really do her thing, but one of them seemed to be getting close. She perked up, smiling at the woman.

"Then you don't need to worry! Rarity's an old friend, she makes some great stuff. Even if it's a tad too frilly for me."

[morganknight]

"I can't imagine it feels pleasant to lie on that directly."

Hands in his pockets, Morgan wandered a bit closer, looking at Applejack curiously. Ponies indeed. Well, he'd seen stranger things even before this ship... pity there were no centaurs onboard. He quite liked centaurs.

[appletastic]

"It ain't," Applejack rolled over, looking down at it in dismay. "Why can't it just...I dunno, lie like a haystack?"

She grouched, carefully pushing up to a standing position. "Think I'm gonna have to try someplace else. Would you happen to know a spot?"

[morganknight]

He dug his omnicomm out of his pocket, then began flipping through the information.

"Normal crew quarters are out, I assume? The only places I can think of are Hydroponics and the City."

[bonnypiperlad]

It's been a confusing few days for Jamie, and he's out for a walk to try and clear his head when he happens to pass the Obs Deck. On a whim, he decides to go in. It's been a while since he's simply watched the Bleed pass by, and maybe it'll help.

He doesn't notice anyone there at first - not until they speak up - but that 'Consarnit' is an unusual enough word that it catches his attention, and he almost chuckles.

"Aye, well, I'd say a pony's not meant to...oh!" He breaks off as he glances over and sees what looks like an actual pony on a meat-couch. Judging by the expression on his face, he's more than a bit surprised by Applejack's presence there. "Er, sorry, I'd not realized ye meant yourself."

[appletastic]

This crew really wasn't used to having ponies around, was it? Applejack rolled right up, flicking her mane out of one eye to see the human.

"Where's a pony supposed to sleep, then?" Applejack wondered. Jamie might just be in a little trouble here.

[bonnypiperlad]

"Aye, well, I thought that..." He's getting the impression that somehow he's managed to irritate her somehow, and he rubs at the back his head, looking vaguely sheepish. "It's just that they're not the most comfortable things to sleep on."

Well, unless you either like to sleep on things that move around some, or are good at falling asleep wherever you can. Clearly the pony doesn't care much for the former, and he might very well be at fault for the latter, which he's feeling a little guilty about.

"I'm sorry if I bothered ye. Would ye mind if I asked why ye wanted to sleep here, though?"

[whining-unicorn.livejournal.com]

Rarity trotted by to look for her friend. It had been a while since she last saw the earth pony and she was already done with her work at the clothiers.

She heard the pony sigh and turned to find a restless pony. "Applejack, you look disheveled. Is everything alright?"

[appletastic]

"Oh, hey Rarity," Applejack sat up, blowing her mane back over her shoulder. The ribbon tying it together had been long lost to the forces of tossing and turning.

"Just trying to get some sleep. Ain't as easy as it used to be to get cozy." To put it lightly. "How's it all coming along?"

[whining-unicorn.livejournal.com]

"Things are going well. Rein is satisfied by my skill at the clothiers." Rarity looked at the poor earth pony and used her magic to braid Applejack's mane.

"Why are you sleeping here? It looks uncomfortable."