My Little Phony

The circus is in town (it always is, even if you can't find it) and at night it comes alive; scents and sounds and marvels that will make you rub your eyes in disbelief. If you allow the path to pull you along, it will lead you into a mysterious world of light and shadows. Here between the tents and the throngs of people, you'll discover a part of yourself you never knew before.

Can you smell it? The waft of buttery popcorn, the sawdust beneath your feet, the hotdogs, the cloying sweetness of the cotton candy. Can you hear it? Strange laughter from far away, the high-pitched screams that could be fear or delight, the vendors beckoning you closer, the ever present music of unknown origin.

The pathway is lined with games and amusements, hands reaching out to take your coins in exchange for a chance at one of the many prizes. Others are offering tasty treats, sweet and savoury, to give you strength for the next excitement, or for something to churn when you take on one of the rides towering brightly above it all. Someone offers to tell your fortune and another suggests you visit the hall of mirrors. A sign points off into darkness reading 'Witness Oddities and Curiosities you won't believe!'.

There's a lot to experience - so what will you choose to do?

Welcome to The Midway!

[A casual ORP because I wanna rp Rigged! Pop someone in and he'll turn up to show you around, or swindle you out of your Phony Bux.]

Aegis was lured in by the sounds of laughter and the scent of buttery popcorn. Her tail flicked and her greenish eyes narrowed as she continued to trot down past the many booths and many games, looking but not really interested. Carnivals and games wasn't usually her thing but....well something about this place called to her and she was here to figure out what.

Soft clodding sounds echoed off the straw as her feathered hoofs fell, the frill of her saddle kicking up whenever she ruffled her wings. She paused, watching one foal try their best at a shooting booth that was clearly rigged, leaving the foal swindled and downtrodded. Snorting, her face scrunched into a smirk and she bit back a laugh. What fools, giving away their precious bits for some cheaply made stuffed frog that looked like it had seen one too many horrors in the swamp.

Ignoring it, the carousel filly kept on walking, deeper into the carnival, becoming overwhelmed by the scents of various foods. She had half a mind to stop and grab a salted pretzel when something else caught her eye. A punching bag on a stand, lights down either side. Curious, the tiny filly stepped forward, eyes glued to a sign reading 'Test your Strength. Win a Prize!'.

There was something for everyone on the midway. That was what Rigged loved about it. Someone might walk past a booth with a scoff and immediately get drawn into the next one. No matter who they were or how clever they thought they were, something would catch their eye... and their money. And while Rigged preferred the adults with more money to swindle, children could be ever so delightful with their spare change and their big eyes. They more than anyone appreciated the circus.

"Wannna give it a try, little lady?" Rigged asked, appearing from the shadows of a nearby tent with a grin. He leaned against a convenient pole, rakishly lazy. "Mind you, you'll have to be pretty strong."

@Fealine

Aegis was slightly startled at the random old enough appearing seemingly out of thin air. Squinting, she glanced around for smoke or fog or something that might have tried to hide his 'magical' entrance before deciding he was probably just another circus sleeze slinking through the shadows. "Uh..." was all she could spit out at first, turning to face the unicorn. She looked him up and down, noting his crazy spikey brown hair, random eye markings and fancy vest.

Yeah, totally top dog circus level punk. She sorta liked that. But she was determined not to let him swindle her....or at least try. The knock at her strength, however, seemed to hit the right buttons. "I'm plenty strong! You have no idea what family I come from." she scoffed, scuffing her hooves in the dirt and flaring her tiny wings. "Bet I can knock that thing plum off its stand." she said with a confident not.

@Ruriska

Aha, bingo!

She was almost too easy but then, kids usually were. That's why they were so delightful. But he wasn't a complete scoundrel and there was no joy to be had from taking too much of a kids pocket money. The real fun came from giving them a sense of wonder, so they always returned to the circus, even as adults. 

Rigged grinned. "Well then, I'm certain that you can too! For you," his voice lowered to a conspiratorial level, as if imparting a great favour, "first go is on the house." He winked.

@Fealine

Aegis leaned back a bit as he leaned down to whisper too her and she found her nose slightly wrinkling. He still seemed untrusting to her, as all circus type did but...there was also something else about him that intrigued her. Like if he wasn't so far off from her own mischievous ways of thinking. Still, a free offer? She'd have it one and done. Scoffing, she laughed. "Humph, alright then. One shot's all I need..." she said confidently, moving her shoulders similar to a human rolling up their sleeves.

PRepping herself she stepped forward, stamping her hooves hard on the ground. The pegasus carousel bab narrowed her eyes and grinned. Rearing up she winded up with all her might, pumping her wings and flew into the punching bag, full on expecting it to just crumble to dust from her might strength. A smug grin was plastered over her muzzle.

@Ruriska

It was a great attempt. Rigged even whistled low and impressed as she launched herself at her target.

As for the punching bag...

It wobbled.

Lights lit up - one, two, three, four... and then stopped. A jaunty tune played from the machine.

"A mighty blow," Rigged crowed. "You're pretty good... for a kid." He grinned and patted the punching bag fondly. "Technically you have to at least reach five out of the ten levels of strength to earn a prize but let me see what I've got back here."

Ah this was good fun, he thought as he deliberately turned away and started rummaging through the box of smaller prizes at the back. "Do you like sticky hands?"

@Fealine

Aegis grinned the entire time as she watched the lights light up, confident it was going to reach the top.

And then it stopped....at four.

"FOUR?!" she huffed, staring in disbelief, squinting at the punching bag and slightly growling. As Rigged stepped closer, seemingly taunting with his low whistle she turned and eyed him. "Clearly...its rigged. I'm much stronger than just four." she huffed again, rolling her eyes and scoffing. She watched him rummage through the box and mention something about sticky hands. "Really... do I look like an infant?" she growled again before turning back to the machine.

"Something's off and I demand a re try!"

@Ruriska

Rigged lifted a hoof and rubbed his chin as he stared at the machine in a way that made him look very thoughtful and surely not all dodgy.

"Well, you already had your free go and this isn't an easy one to beat. You have to actually be really strong-" he said and then quickly amended with, "not that you're not strong but you are still rather, hm, on the small side."

He smiled a little too broadly.

"Do you have an adult nearby who could try it for you instead?"

( @Fealine i'm gonna rename this rp to kid gets bullied by dodgy circus man)

Aegis growled, stomping a hoof again. "why you..." she eyed the unicorn before back to the machine. Frowning she stuck her tongue out at the machine before turning back towards the unciorn.

"I haven't even got your name yet." She squinted one eye, studying him closely. He was totally sus.

Still though.... an adult? Not likely. Her parents probably wouldn't be caught dead here. Well, Her mother maybe but she couldn't imagine Valkyrie here.

"You are here. You are both an adult and nearby. " she grinned, thinking herself sneaky.

( @Ruriska hahaha it would be aptly named )

"Ah, while you are correct in both of those," he replied while also casually ignoring that yes she did not know his name yet, "but unfortunately, I can't assist. Seeing as I work here, it'd be a conflict of interest. I'm sure you understand. You're a smart little lass."

Rigged grinned again and held out a hoof. "One phony bux for another try." There was no joy in taking too much pocket money but that didn't mean none at all. 

@Fealine

Aegi's face fell flat before curling into a frown.

Digging out her small pouch from her saddle she opened it and took out one phony bux and held it a moment, looking it over. She then turned her gaze back to the adult, still very much unhappy, before slapping it into his hoof. "There. But I swear I will break this thing so hard...." she groaned, turning back around and prepping herself to land another blow to the machine.

She'd spice it up this time. Get a running start maybe....

@Ruriska (left it open just incase he wanted to like tamper with the machine lmaooo idk)

Rigged grinned and his payment disappeared from sight, spirited away into his pocket. He tapped the top of the machine, real gentle but with great intent, and said, "give it your best shot, champ."

@Fealine  8)

She was gonna knock it plum out the park, he'll see. Then he'd be so impressed he'd not only give her her phoyn bux back but all he had out of sheer awe!!!

"You best move then." was all she said before she hunkered down like a cat ready to lunge.

And then with the loudest RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH any foal could ever rah she lunged at the machine, gave a flap of her wings to spin herself around and practically flying horse kicked the thing with her back to legs and all her carousel foal body weight. She landed with a skip and a hop before turning around, panting and scowl faced.

@Ruriska

He watched and waited, nodding eagerly to spur on her best attempt.

And oh - what an attempt it was! It was certainly quite the 'RAH' indeed and Rigged's brows shot up as she launched herself forward in an impressive flying kick with all the strength her body could muster.

The punching bag bounced around and the machine gave a BING. The lights appeared - one, two, three, four, five... and there it stayed.

"BRAVO!" Rigged cried. He reached behind the machine and pulled out a sad little plush bear with a stain on one ear. "A five! How strong!" He offered her the bear with a flourish. "Here's your prize, little lady!" He smiled, a little bit too wide. "Unless you'd prefer the sticky hand?"

@Fealine

A..... five.....

If Phonies could turn red from rage, Aegis would be boiling. She tilted her head back and let out the worst sounding rage scream before finally getting quiet and huffing and puffing like a sad little wofl.

Wasn't she strong? Why did this stupid machine only blink up to five.

Stomping forward, she let out a pathetic word, even she couldn't understand what and took the bear from Rigged and held it, biting down on the stained ear....

And oh? Was that a small angry tear?

@Ruriska

At first Rigged had to work really really hard not to laugh.

The filly was absolutely seething. He was surprised she hadn't burst into flames from rage.

And then she took the bear, one little tear appeared and though Rigged hated to admit it, something in his chest twisted a little. It couldn't have been his heart, surely.

"Aye well, how about you come back tomorrow? Give it another go? Maybe it's broken and needs some maintenance."

@Fealine

Aegis wasn't even sure she wanted to come back at this point but the fact that he even -mentioned- that it could be the machine gave her hope and she sniffled and stomped a hoof in determination. "Fine. But tomorrow that thing is going down!" She groaned, turning to walk away. "And I'm taking him with me!" She shouted over her shoulder as she put the teddy bear on her saddle and ran off, his little semi flat head bobbing around.


It took her all night to fall asleep and by the time the sun rose, she was only just getting some good z's. It wasn't until she heard her mother calling for the 40th time that Aegis finally managed to fling herself out of bed, come up with some sort of excuse to get out of chores, grabbed her money bag and ran off towards the circus.

She marched down the same path she took before, this time with much more purpose, stopping before the punching machine, eyes narrowed and looking around for the unicorn. "Alright...where are you?!"

@Ruriska

"Who are you looking for?" Rigged asked as he materialized from the crowd behind her. He was grinning and knew exactly why she was here but it was fun to fire her up.

@Fealine

Aegis about leaped out of her coat like a cat out of its fur. She spun around, semi arched back before her eyes narrowed on Rigged. "You. We have a score to settle." she turned and pointed at the machine before pulling out one phony bux from her bag and dangling it towards Rigged.

@Ruriska

He grinned and took his payment from her outstretched hoof.

"Always pleasure doing business with you, sweetheart." He beckoned her towards the punching bag. "Your opponent awaits!"

@Fealine

Aegis snorted and wasted no time in spinning around to face the machine. She had dreamed of this moment all night long and today she'd taste sweet sweet victory!

Letting out a loud yell, she slammed herself into the machine front hooves first, her wings fluttering rapidly.

@Ruriska

The bag took a battering and the machine lit up. This time it shot past four, then five, six, seven, eight and... nine! There it stopped. The machine flashed merrily and gave a happy little tune.

"Impressive!" Rigged crowed. "You must have been training!"

@Fealine

Aegis was actually shocked. She blinked, staring at the light flashing nine and tilted her head. Squinting her eyes she thought it was fishy but the actual excitement that she had actually, possibly, showed this adult how strong she was made her too excited. She threw her head back and laughed. "Told ya so! Though It should have been a ten but I held back clearly." she snorted, fluffing her wings and posing.

@Ruriska

Rigged chuckled. "Ah yes, that must have been it." She certainly seemed happy with the results, which was good because he thought he'd been rather generous with the nine. A ten would have just given her a big head.

"And now for your prize!"

He wandered behind the machine and reached up to where the various larger just as badly-made plushies were hanging. With a flourish he presented her with a frowning gorilla wearing boxing gloves. "Ta da!" He said, bonking her gently on the head with one of the gloved gorilla hands.

@Fealine

Aegis eagerly awaited her new prize, no doubt some kind of glorious reward for her amazing feat of strength just now.

But when he pulled out a gorilla with boxing gloves on it, however, she frowned, wincing as he bopped her despite the fact that it really didn't hurt.

"That's...it? Not even a lame blow up hammer?" she blinked, taking the gorilla and staring at it oddly.

@Ruriska

Rigged's eyes went wide with feigned shock. "How can you not love this?" He waggled the plush. "A blow up hammer? Our prizes are better than that. Look at him. He's a gorilla with boxing gloves!" He leaned a little closer, gorilla and all, voice lowering with conviction. "He's also incredibly strong. Would you like to see?"

@Fealine

"You are so weird..." she said softly, eyeing Rigged. She still didn't really know his name. He both intrigued and really annoyed her but....she had to admit.... she was curious. She liked strength after all... but what could a plush possibly do? "Um....sure...." she said, leaning closer.

@Ruriska

Rigged nodded solemnly and lifted the plush higher.

The gorilla glowered.

"Pow!" He said as he pushed one gloved gorilla fist into the punching bag.

The machine instantly went wild. Lights shot to the top, all ten of them. Obnoxiously loud music played and attracted the attention of passers-by, who stopped to stare curiously.

Rigged waved the gorilla at them playfully and then looked back down at Aegis in an unmistakable smirk. "See?" He offered it to her. "So do you want it?"

@Fealine

"WHAT???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

That was about all Aegis could say in response as her face twisted into all sorts of actions. She grabbed the gorilla from Rigged and posed him, waiting for the light show to calm down before taking the stuffed overgrown boxing monkey and slamming his gloves into the punching bag. She then stood back and waited...

@Ruriska

Rigged watched, trying to contain his mirth, as Aegis ripped the gorilla from his grasp and once again punched the bag. Unsurprisingly, it had the same exact result. Lights, music, ding ding ding, 10 outta 10!

@Fealine

Aegis was now really mad.

Tossing the Gorilla down she ran at the machine with her own two hooves and slammed it again, forgetting to even pay Rigged. She jumped back and waited, huffing, looking as if she were on the verge of angry tears.

@Ruriska

And with that final blow, the machine broke.

It gave a high-pitched beeeeeeeep, the punching bag wobbled and then all the lights and sounds went out completely.

"Well," Rigged said, touching it sombrely with his hoof. "Rest in peace old friend."

@Fealine

Aegis blinked, stuttered, took a few steps back, then screamed.

"WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WHAT?!" she stomped back over to Rigged, albeit picking up the gorilla plush on the way. "Surely there's a prize for breaking it right? I doub't it was that shoddy so that CLEARLY means I'm stronger right?" she blinked, now utterly confused and looking a tad defeated. She sighed and dropped her head. "Nevermind, I think I wanna just go home." she sighed again, squishing the gorilla against her.

She had decided she did not like carnivals. Or circuses. Or anything similar.

@Ruriska

Rigged brows shot up in mock surprise. "A prize for breaking it? If anything, you owe me the money to have it fixed!" He tutted and then tilted his head as he regarded her with her shoulders slumped, looking defeated. At least she seemed attached to the gorilla now.

"But hey, I'll let you off the hook. It was getting pretty old." He gently bonked her on the head with his hoof. "You know, not everything is about strength. You're allowed to have fun and laugh at things every now and again."

@Fealine

"Laugh?" she blinked, sniffling a bit and wiping her eyes on the gorilla.

What was so funny about that?? She didn't have the money to fix the machine even if she asked both her parents! She panicked before stomping her hooves a bit to calm down when he said he'd let her off the hook. At least now her heart wasn't beating quite that fast. "It didn't look that old though?" she said again, tilting her head at the machine before back to him. "And why are you so strange? Is this how all carnival people act?" she said, one eye squinted as he bonked her. She brought a hoof up to rub her head where he had done so. It didn't hurt but her leg made the motion anyways.

@Ruriska

"Of course," Rigged chuckled. "All carnie and circus folk are the same. We're all a little bit strange but that's what makes it fun. Gotta have a few screws loose to live the lifestyle."

He rubbed his hoof on his chin thoughtfully. "You take yourself far too seriously, little lady. Life's no fun without a bit of laughter.

@Fealine

(OOPS FEA I ACCIDENTALLY MODIFIED YOUR POST)
(@ruri: GOOD THING I DONT LEAVE PAGES LMAOOO ILU)



"I mean your a lot strange okay..." she said snorting but just getting that little bit out made her crack the semblance of a smile, even if only for a few brief seconds. "And I can't help it. I want to be strong and protect the people I love. Doesn't seem like much room for laughter there." she added before letting out a sigh and all the tension she had been holding in. As much as he made her angry, the fact that he was so easy going still made her feel slightly better. Maybe he was right after all....

@Ruriska
Modify message

"You can do that while not being so serious," Rigged said, arching a brow and wondering what exactly this little lass was going through if her main life focus was protecting her family. Didn't kids normally just laugh and run around having fun? "Frowning and being serious all the time doesn't make you any better at protecting them."

He put on a big frown and stomped his hooves about, lowering his voice to grunt out, "oh nevermind, look, I'm stronger now!"

@Fealine

Aegis thought of her parents, her siblings, Oathkeeper and then watched him and at first frowned, but the more he stomped around the more she realized he looked so ridiculous she couldn't help but laugh. "That is so not how I look!" she blurted out before wiping her face as if trying to wipe the smirk off. It felt strange laughing at him, but also at the same time.... kinda good? "You on the other hand, look positively absurd. No wonder you are a circus folk."

@Ruriska

Rigged considered that a win. He'd become somewhat fond of the little punchy-frowny Carousel and it was good to hear her laugh. He stomped some more just to see if he could get another chuckle, even turning in a big circle and kicked the base of the punching bag machine. "So strong! My frowns make me more powerful aaaargh!"

When he finally stopped, it was with a lazy grin, resting his rump against machine as if he hadn't just been being on a weird act. "Yeah, I wouldn't belong anywhere else but here. I'm too strange for normal folk."

@Fealine

Aegis let out another laugh at just how stupid he looked prancing around before stopping to catch her breath and wipe the tears and previous frustration off her face. "Fine fine, I get it I get it." she said with a half exhausted laugh at this point.

She sat down with a soft sigh, resting her head on the gorilla. "No... you wouldn't. I can't imagine you as a normal pony at all." she said, watching him and the broken machine. "I should probably be going now though... mister weirdo."

@Ruriska

"Though the thing is... everyone is a bit strange, we circus folk just wear it better than most. So there's no point taking yourself too seriously." And with that final wisdom, Rigged was bored. There were people not being swindled while he played with a purse that was already empty.

"Go on home, kid. The midway will always welcome you back if you want to return."

He dipped his head and twirled his hoof in a bow and then he slipped away into the shadows of the tents, leaving her to her own devices.

@Fealine