A Ride on the Tram (Open for now)

[Jimmy E. Brakes]

(((Im figuring that this might be a bit difficult to fit in the timeline. Assuming you aren't incapacitated, this Tram ride can take place some time after the execution. Any person's wanting to join, please be aware of your timeline beforehand, to prevent any nasty paradoxes)))

The sun shone down upon the litter-ridden streets, illuminating the squalor of the denizens below. Despite these grossly unsanitary conditions, the streets were filled with ponies going about their business. Not all of the business was legitimate, mind you, but it was business none the less, and the ponies who endeavored themselves upon it treated it like it were their livelihood.

This is the scene that would find itself beholden to our tram. A faint tolling sound arose from far down the street, and as it approached the scene ponies moved from its path. They turned to gasp and gaze, ensnared by the visage of what they had seen. A tram car? Tram cars hadn't ran these streets in decades- much less during the occupation. The metallic sheen of the car had been polished to a high glow, and the colorful and varied adornments made it stand out like circus. It screeched along the old tram-way, tolling its bell as it went, and giving no damns to the looks of those who watched it.

The tram screamed to a stop at the corner of a major intersection, squealing as its brakes sparked atop the rails. It finally stopped, steamy vapors issuing forth from it at all angles. Finally, the door swung open with a hiss, inviting ponies for a ride.

[Sten Softclaw]

(((Just hopping in, are we? Don't mind if I do)))

Sten was already waiting at the intersection of 3rd and Senecolt for the tram, so it didn't surprise him like it did the ponies. Of course, it was still an impressive thing, all polished wood and shining steel. Ponies were crowding around, but luckily for him, conquerors always got first in line. He hopped up on the step and faced the driver.

"Alright mate?" he said, eager to downplay the 'excuse me, I'm trying to oppress you'." I'm Softclaw. On security detail for the trip."

He passed over thet chitty from HQ. Should be fine, but Sten knew better than to trust military arrangements.

[Rationale]

Rationale was staring off into space, the contents of the book he previously bought swirling around in his head. He almost bumped into a few ponies as he walked down the street, and the appearance of the tram seemed off putting to him. Why was this tram showing up now, of all times? He didn't remember seeing that tram yesterday or the day before. Nevertheless, he was interested. Rationale moved onto the tram as it stopped on the street, and he moved over to one of the seats behind the griffin. He wouldn't dare sit in the same row as a griffin, since he wasn't really in the mood to make a scene. He already had a migraine, if he used any more magic, he would probably pass out.

[Jimmy E. Brakes]

The door closed shut with a satisfying hiss. Steam issued forth from its undercarriage, sending the nearby onlookers scrambling to avoid the damp. "It looks to be just us three," the tramp operator said over the revving motors. The bell tolled, ringing out the trolley's goodbyes. As the trolley left, a lone tear dripped down the cheek of an anonymous street dweller, who had just seen a tram for the first time in his life.

Inside the tram, the operator swiveled in his seat, revealing a dapper young colt of sanguine coloration. He was all tucked into a nice, well-pressed uniform of some sort, and had his hair tucked into a cap atop his head. "Evenin' gents, lemme introduce myself. I am your tram operator for today, an' everyday if we're lucky. Now let's get to knowin' eachother- you, in the feathers: You say somethin' about securin' something?"

[Sten Softclaw]

"Security," said Sten, folding his arms. Not in any mean or military sense, he was just a bit chilly. "Keeping things civil. To remind ponies to buy their tickets and whatnot."

He flashed an eye back at the lone passenger. Keeping the peace, under the circumstances, looked to be an easy job.

[Rationale]

Rationale noticed the other dweller crying, and he wondered what that was about. It was certainly random, unless the sight of the tram was beautiful enough to create some kind of emotion inside of them. As the other griffin stared at him in response to the ticket comment, annoyance flashed across Rationale's face for a minute, before he moved up to the bench across from Sten, reaching into his saddlebag pocket. "How much is a ticket?" He asked, as he stared forward at the tram driver.

[Jimmy E. Brakes]

The tram operator smiled a glint, before adjusting his cap. "Uh, no tickets Mister, we're just cruisin' for the ride, get it? Lucky to get this ol' screamer workin' again, taking her for a spin, to get the route figured out. Yall are just going along, get it?"

"Yall just relax- we'll get to where we're going soon enough," he said, before spinning about back in his seat. "I don't suppose either of you knows where this rail heads?"

[Rationale]

Rationale looked to the griffin as he was asked if he knew where the road ended up to. He silently shook his head along with placing his hoof over his head. He was getting a migraine again, he wished that he had the elixirs to make them go away. But since the griffin invasion, he has had to live with them.

[Sten Softclaw]

"No clue," said Sten, shrugging. "The railhead, I'd presume."

A bad joke, but one worth making. Not good enough to laugh at, mind.
He settled down in his seat. So, the driver didn't know where they were going, but they were going for free. Well, that was fine by him.

[Rationale]

Rationale sighed from the bad joke and placed his hoof over his head before the tram started up and moved. He kept the hoof on the side of his face as he tried to massage away the pain from his terrible migraine.

[Jimmy E. Brakes]

Jimmy pulled his cap down to lessen the glint reaching his eyes. I got to keep my composure around these fellows, might make some repeat business, he thought to himself. "What brings yall to these parts of town, if you don't mind me askin'? Been trying to get an impression of, like, what kinds of people I need to cater to and stuff like that."

[Sten Softclaw]

"Well, I'm just here to keep the peace, like usual." said Sten, casting an eye around the tram. "...However redundant that seems."

Mind you, better in here with two ponies who might want him dead, rather than out there with a whole damn city full. And anyway, the chap at the back looked too unwell to try anything terrorist-y, and the driver was busy. Sten was feeling better by the minute.

[Rationale]

Rationale looked to his right and noticed that the griffin inside of the tram was very menacing, whether the griffin was trying to be or not. After all, when one race completely annihilates the other in a war and takes over, with Rationale being a part of that war, he tends to want to be careful with the griffins that he was around. He turned to the other pony. "I'm just trying to... forget." He said to himself as he opened up a notebook from his saddlebag. He started to write, keeping his peripheral vision on the griffin.

[Jimmy E. Brakes]

The tram screamed along, tearing up asphalt and loose brick as it went along its old path. Jimmy hummed to himself, as he took notes when he could about the tram's route. The tram came to a sudden bend, and he decelerated a bit to make the turn.

Instead of making the turn as expected, the tram jumped the rail and followed a seperate set of rails that had been long unused and slightly paved over. Before Jimmy could react or even try to provide warning, the tram found itself plowing through the plaster, drywall and lumber homes, crashing through living rooms and plumbing alike.

The tram left the homes unscathed, still screaming down its track. "Uh... anyone hurt?" he asked his passengers.

[Sten Softclaw]

Sten wasn't quite paying the attention he should've done, so he was unprepared for the crash when it came. All had been so peaceful, and now he was upside down against the window. An inspiring place for the noble conqueror, sure enough. He slid down and righted himself.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said, rubbing his head. "What an earth was that, anyway?"

[Jimmy E. Brakes]

"It would appear... to be a..."

Jimmy hesitated before telling these chaps about what had happened, and decided to go with a simple white lie. "Oh, eh, that was an electrical bug. Happens all the time- new tram-goer's aren't used to them like we got 'em."

Jimmy straightened his coat a bit and adjusted his cap. No need to excite the chums, just a regular everyday occurrence in the travels of a Tram Operator.

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