"D-did you just call me a man?" Haze was slightly taken aback by this guy- How arrogant can a stallion get!? "And so what if I am a little nervous about entering an insanity Asylum? "
"Well, if we're gonna go in, we have to knock on the door," said Silver. He walked up to the door, seeing the small sign that said STAFF BUILDING. Well, this must be the right building. He walked up to the door without hesitation and knocked. Three times. CLACK CLACK CLACK. After about 15 seconds, the door was answered by a very attractive female pony. "Hello...?" she said, looking out at the group of seven ponies. "Well, um... just a moment," she said, and quickly closed the door. Silver stood there, then looked back at the group and shrugged. After another 30 seconds or so, the door opened again, and this time a pony who looked a little past middle-aged with a crazy mane and tail opened the door. "Ah, visitors! Coming this late at night, I assume you are looking for a place to stay, no?" He had a deep, resounding voice and did not seem to be unhappy in the least to see the band of travellers. Seeing the surprise on Silver's face, he continued: "Don't look so surprised, lad! We get ponies all the time who are running behind the day cycle, and need to stop here rather than at the next town. We'd be glad to let you stay here!" Turning to include the rest of the group, he said, "Allow me to introduce myself; I am Dr. Compos Mentis. Very nice to meet you!"
The stallion stood before them- Dr. Compos- Seemed relatively friendly, and understood their need for shelter. The thought of spending the entire night at an asylum still seemed spooky to Haze. But at least they would sleep that night, somewhat safely... Nonetheless, Haze was unsure how to respond to the pony, and so backed a little further to the back of the group.
Tyro struggles as hard as he possibly could to remove Slasher Movie Maniacs from his fore-brain. Or anything with a hospital in. They're not fantastic places to be. White, walls of cloying disinfectant and the higher regard of function over style. Everything has been cleared and organised to make for a place that does nothing but work for a living. Nothing is there to look pretty or to brighten the place up. It always there because it needs to be, for a purpose and serve in the higher order. This little world within the echoing wards seems empty and soulless on it's own where the only life is the colony of nurses and doctors inside. Without them, there's just broken people in beds, sitting in a garage for living tissue. Hospitals make Tyro uncomfortable. Even when their open plan. "Hi." Tyro said, still struggling to stop mentally adding the team of a murderous stare with a muzzle to the Doctor's face. "I'm Tyro. I really didn't know you got this more than you think."
Zephyr spaced out a little bit as Silver conversed with the Doctor. Other things clouded his mind and as he came out of his daze the conversation continued. He cocked his head slightly to the left and grinned a goofy smile as he extended his hoof to the Doctor, "Hey there, the name's Zephyr" Zephyr used the same hoof he had extended to shove Dave lightly on the shoulder before the hoofshake had been able to occur. "I wouldn't mind a good drink, and I really wouldn't mind just letting loose, but I don't think we're going to find any booze in an Asylum, bro. He began to chuckle lightly and noticed a look of disdain on the Doctor's face and grinned sheepishly as he extended his hoof once more, this time making sure to finish the introduction.
Haze saw it was her turn to introduce herself to the friendly fellow. "I'm Haze. Thanks for having us." Not having much more to say, she fell silent
Dark Shine shrugged. "Hey there. My name is Dark Shine, but you can call me Dark." He went towards Haze and whispered to her. "I dont like it... Seems.... Too friendly...."
"I don't like any of this..." Haze whispered back. "I still think we should have tried for the next town." It didn't seem likely now they'd been offered shelter here that the other's would want to go, however
Excited that they're finally inside the asylum, he immediately starts poking around to see if there's anything interesting. As he overhears the others chatting with somepony whose voice he didn't recognize. Looking up, he sees the doctor, and quickly trots over. "Hello! I'm Lucky Clover, and it's very nice to meet you!"
"Hi I'm Crash nice to meet you, and is there any place here I can get my noes bandaged up. I think I broke it running into the sign outside." Crash said through his broken noes.
"What man doesn't drink vodka!" Dave shook his head in disappointment "I mean how do you relax with all the crazy people around?..."
Zephyr closed his eyes and put a hoof to his face. This guy obviously wasn't getting the point, and it was safe to assume that it was from years of sending his own brain into an alcohol related frenzy many times. It was better to just leave this one alone and pursue other more meaningful endeavors. Endeavors such as meaningless passive-aggressiveness. He let the lack of common sense go unchecked for now. "Anyway, Doc, do you have any spare rooms we can stay in for the night? We can help around the building if need be to help pay for the night.
Doctor Mentis looked at the ponies with slight disdain, but the look was gone quickly. "Well, I can't say we have any Vodka or anything of the sort here, that being a rather strong drink, but we do have a spot of wine, if you're interested." Seeing the look on Zephyr's face, he said, "Naturally, just a small glass, nothing more. I am perfectly aware of the detriments to your health that come from over-drinking. I am a doctor, after all!" His face broke into a grin. To the rest, a bit overwhelmed, he said, "Yes, yes, hello to you too!" He looked inquisitively at Dark as he whispered to Haze, but didn't appear to pay it any attention. "Now, as to whether we have beds," he said, turning to Zephyr, "Of course! You are welcome to stay the night. We won't charge you for anything but the food; that is, if you would like to stay for breakfast or have a small drink. After all, it isn't like a little company hurts us all the way out here!" He chuckled, and said, "The beds are this way. Ah, and for you," he said to Crashsite, "I shall have Violet fetch you a bandage, if that is what you need. VIOLET!" The attractive female pony who had answered the door earlier appeared at the door, almost as if she had been waiting there. "I need you to get this fine colt a bandage; he seems to have broken his nose prior to his arrival," said the Doctor. Violet nodded, and motioned for Crash to follow her down the hall. The house, as a few of the visitors observed, was not anything like a hospital at all. Really, it looked much more like a mansion. They had only seen the one room, but it was decorated with candles and portraits and other such things on the walls, and wooden furniture was everywhere. The walls, far from being a sterile white, were a much more calm, creamy color. And, most releiving of all, there wasn't a pony in a straitjacket anywhere in sight. Silver, naturally excited to talk as he had just met one of the brightest doctors in Equestria, hadn't had a thought of sleeping since he'd seen the sign. The only reason he'd mentioned it was to convince the others to come with him. After all, none of them seemed to have heard of Dr. Mentis -- something Silver still found incredible. Sure, Mentis Asylum was rural, and many psychologists dismissed Dr. Mentis' methods as ineffective, but having NEVER heard of him? Ah well, anyhow. Silver excitedly trotted back and forth as the doctor talked to the others. He had so many questions...
"Ill settle for wine, where do you keep it? ill just make myself a glass..." Dave waked into the building and started looking around.
"So Violet." Crash said as he followed her down the hall. "What usually goes on around here?” He was trying to start a conversation.
"Well, for those of you who do not wish to sleep, allow me to lead you to the dining room!" said Mentis. "If you go down the hall to the right, then up the stairs at the end on the left, you will find comfortable living quarters, for the rest of you who may be exhausted." He then walked through the door opposite the one he had indicated was the hall to the bedrooms, motioning for those interested to follow him. Silver looked at Dave with a little annoyance, as he had distracted the Doctor for even longer, but eventually he'd be able to talk with him. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Violet, in reply to Crash, said, "Well, most of our time is spend taking care of the patients. We really don't have much free time, you see; that is why Dr. Mentis is always glad to have guests. It gives us an excuse to relax a bit. Taking care of a building full of loons is a bit of a full time job." She smiled, but it didn't seem genuine. Afterwards, she didn't attempt to continue the conversation. "Well, we're here at the first aid room. Technically it's a bathroom, but the building doesn't have a room specifically designed to tend wounds," she said. She took out some bandages and other supplies and applied them rather amateurly to his snout. "There," she said. "Now, I believe most of your companions are going either to the dining room or to bed. Which would you prefer?" she asked. It seemed like she was eager to get him off of her hooves, like she had something else she needed to be doing.
Zephyr smiled contently as soon as he heard the "bedrooms" Stumbling off to the right before much else could be said, he made his way over to the living quarters of the Asylum with a tired look on his face. His eyes drooped and his pupils looked as if they weren't receiving much information. Opening the door, he wandered inside and headed for the nearest bed to being his dreamland adventure.
"Probaby bed." Crash said following Violet. Crash lay on his bed judging how well the day had gone as he drifted into his dreams.
Tyro was pleasantly relieved that there was something vaguely homely about this place. The idea of having to sleep on a mattress he was convinced what part cardboard. Just staring at blank walls, bland paintings with cleaning chemicals fogging every other scent was now just a silly worry. He looks up at the candle lit place as he trots behind the doctor. The warm surfaces and the paintings and the finery was rather pleasant but Tyro couldn't help but go through the usual routine as he followed. That armchair could be good for some cover. So could that sofa. If needed, I could use that mantelpiece to get a little bit of height, maybe, if I jump from it. I'd probably knock the nik-naks of it though. That painting might fall if it had a good nudge. The fireplace is usually a good place to find something heavy to swing about. He was about to question a lack of people but it was late at night. The inmates are probably in bed. "I could go for a little bit of grub." Tyro replied, anticipating cheese and crackers, maybe. He follows the Doctor.
