Friday at the Fool and Flagon (Trixie)

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Octavia had fallen back into her chair, the top of Alicia resting in the tidy fluff of her winter-coated chest, and she let the cello's bow down gently on the floor and let out a groan throughout the apartment that echoed into the wood stove and out through the chimney of the building. "This is so hellishly ... grrrr! Swear, one would be right to assume that I just learned how to play you ten minutes ago or that I've otherwise gone quite simple in my young age!" She sat up with a total slouch, the neck of the instrument on her shoulder. "Right ... no need to sand myself over this and persist for the night, surely time out would be wiser." She sighed to herself and sat up properly. "This calls for relaxing dynamism or such ... somehow ..."

About an hour later, her mint-laden breath fogging up in the freezing Canterlot night, Octavia approached an establishment she had seen many times in passing along the Royal Boulevard in Oldtown: an especially old, wide pub, full-timbered and on a foot-high cobblestone foundation, the windows all lumpy amber panes in diamond-pattern iron framing. From a swinging sign was a painted carving of a pony slipping on a slick of spilled ale and the letting: "Fool and Flagon." Smoke emerged from both chimneys smelling of the usual pine and cedar Canterlot burned year-round, but also the slight crispy scent of cooked foods, nuts and onions and carrots. And at the sight of the place, she cringed a little, head tilting side-to-side as she thought about what must be inside.

Upon entering, she looked down and unwrapped her scarf, just in case some offense to her senses made her need to disguise a grimace necessary. When she looked up at the pub around, her expression ... relaxed rather quickly. The bar was incredibly vast and old, but exquisitely carved, two hearths at either side of the pub full of warm fires, a fiddler playing by improvisation, clearly, but in a suitable pianissimo delivery, easygoing she supposed. Perhaps, she thought, the location would prove to be anything but foul, with not even a single drooling brute fresh off the train to be concerned over! But where to relax ... where to try and collect some sort of musical composure ... She scanned the pub with a casual polish.

[Trixie Lulamoon]

Tonight was one of the rare nights in which Trixie got to have some time off from her studies. Well, she could by studying a spell or something, but she wanted to go out and about. It had been ages since she really stretched her legs and got out of the castle. Sure, there was plenty to explore, but unless you were a fan of architecture or history or something much of it didn't seem that interesting. Nope, Trixie was more of a "out on the town" kind of gal. Towns had ponies that could pay attention to her after all! Er...not that she was a total attention hog. Just, you know, she really wanted to have some ponies looking at her that weren't the Royal Guards. They were so stoic it was kind of creepy.

At least they could offer a suggestion for a place to go. Apparently some of them enjoyed hanging out at some tavern named "The Fool and Flagon". And standing outside it in her cloak - great for protection from the colder weather of fall in the mountains - she could see why. It looked well taken care of, but the smells coming out of it were heavenly! And the atmosphere brought on by timbered building material was a lot more to Trixie's style than the fancy-schmancy design of many other Canterlot establishments. Even from standing outside she could hear the sounds of fiddle and laughter, suggesting a rather merry atmosphere.

So she probably should actually go inside and take part in that mood instead of freezing her plot off out here. Steeping inside, she took a moment to feel the warmth of the fire soak through her as the smell of wood and warm food filled her nostrils. She hadn't been that hungry before coming in, but at the smell of the food apparently reminded her stomach that "hey, you're empty!"

With all these distractions, she didn't notice that she had come in right behind some other pony, and found herself accidentally bumping into the back of some gray-coated Earth Pony.

"Oh, sorry about that. Just kind of got overwhelmed by the atmosphere here. Haven't seen a tavern this awesome since I was in Trottingham," she said, rubbing the back of her head.

"Err....have we met before? I swear I've seen you from somewhere...."

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At the bump, she had stumbled forward a step with a blush of embarrassment and annoyance! Well, so much for her hope not to go the night driven to teeth grinding by the given oafs of Canterlot! She turned, prepared to lance out her admonishments, and was halted by the appearance of a wizard's hat straight out of a costume shop. Then the pony under the hat spoke, a blue mare with a light mane, and Octavia took in a calming breath. The bump was an honest mistake, surely, and the mare didn't look like a drunk ... no, her mane was too thoroughly brushed and her eyes active to be a pony of her worst fears for the evening. She quickly appraised the other mare as an eccentric tourist driven to Canterlot by magical fascinations.

"No ... I don't expect that we've met previously. Perhaps ... perhaps you've seen me at a symphony as I do perform on occasion, though I certainly don't assert that I'm any performer of note. I'm uncertain to the character of Trottingham, though this encounter could be added to the fact that I've heard a many lovely things. I'm new to this location as well, though not to Canterlot, certainly. A pleasure to meet you, miss." She didn't offer her name yet. It made sense to be polite and help smooth the profound awkwardness of one running into a stranger's rear, but beyond that, no sense in presuming that her name would be anything more than a bump on this stranger's way to the bar. Octavia gave a polite nod.

[Trixie Lulamoon]

"Oh, uh, pleasure to meet you too," Trixie said, still slightly flustered about the whole thing, but at least she seemed pretty cool about it. Having had more...confrontational results when she had bumped into fancy pants ponies in Canterlot, it was a relief.

Still, she still believed she knew the mare from somehwere.Hmm, they hadn't met before, and Trixie didn't doubt that, but she played at symphonies? Wait, symphonies? Ohhh, now Trixie felt like she had an idea of who this mare was!

"Hey, you're that,uh, Octavia mare, right? The one who plays the cello and stuff?" Trixie said, smiling a little brightly. She wasn't exactly a classical musical fan, but she was familiar with it just enough to have recognized the mare.

That, and the tendency of classical orchestras to take up all the good show halls meant she had lost out to them in her attempts to try and get a stage show in a town. So, inadvertently, they sort of had crossed paths a few times, probably unknown to one another outside of paperwork.

"Anyway, I'm Trixie, Princess Luna's newest apprentice," she said, still loving the sound of the (sort of) title,"If you're not doing much else, wanna hang out for a bit?"

Trixie hadn't exactly planned on doing such things, but she was sure Luna would appreciate her taking the attempt to make friends in a manner that didn't require a bear rampaging through town first.

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Octavia blinked, her features reflecting a thoughtful astonishment, eyebrow raised and eyes giving a trio of blinks. Certainly, she thought, what a strange encounter to have, one where she found herself both suddenly interested in the mare's occupation and talents while simultaneously resisting a twitch of her right eye, but still, she found her most profitable calm of features in a moment, just in time to listen to Trixie's final question, and she took a breath and returned a small, knowing smile. Slight shadows shaded below her brows, the fires' glow lightening up the standing fur of her coat at her cheeks even with so casual a smile. A single ear twitched as part of her never stopped listening to the music.

"Well! Consider me suitably honored to be asked to keep your company this evening, Apprentice Trixie. I don't suppose it'd surprise you to find that quite the conversation starter as I admit that I'm hardly aware of what being a Princess' Apprentice entails and only have assumptions about magic, government, and shimmering fashion. Luna is rather legendary among pony beauty, such that I expect her other legend is starting to pass into the wind of society's afterthoughts, not to downplay the potency of her governing, of which I again admit to ignorance. But yes, I'm Octavia, and it's certainly a pleasant to surprise to find that you think so well of the orchestra that you recognize a nearly anonymous mare at the second chair! Please, wherever you'd like us to sit."

[Trixie Lulamoon]

While she enjoyed the mare's reaction, she did realize maybe starting off with "princess apprentice" was coming on a bit strong. It did seem like something to just drop in during casual talk for maximum effect. Oh well, seems like she was fine with hanging out anyway.

"Well, I'm not that familiar with the orchestra, but I have a friend who really likes you all so apparently remembered something from hanging out with him." she replied as she started walking towards a booth area as she figured it was the most comfortable place for them to go.

"So, uh, first time you've ever been here? First time myself so was gonna ask if you have any recommendations."

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Octavia sat down on her side of the booth which was mercifully a long-set seat so she could be flat and directly face her company & her plate when it arrived. She couldn't help but glance, just glance, towards Trixie's horn with a faint and routine thought of jealousy, but of course, she summoned her polish and smile. "Well, I'm afraid that I'm quite unfamiliar with this place. Suppose that I've come seeking a new experience. However, trying something new with another in the same boat, as it were, often leads to pleasant experiences. By the scent, of course, I'd say there are filling and, if you'll pardon a rather breathy word, hearty items on the menu."

[Trixie Lulamoon]

It had been sometime since she had interacted with the greater Canterlot community, but the brief time with Octavia here reminded Trixie greatly of one thing about them that annoyed them; they always talked with such flowery language. Sure, if she was on stage telling a story she’d get flowery, but this was just idle chit chat at a tavern. But, she kept the ‘you mean a rather breathy sentence’ comment into her head as she settled down into her side of the booth and responded.

”Yeah, it looks like a pretty good tavern. Much better than some of the hole in the walls I’ve found myself in on the road. It definitely smells better than a lot of places, which is always great,” she chuckled,”And definitely not gonna say no to a hearty meal. No offense to the cooks at the castle, but they got nothing on a good cooked meal at a place like this….especially in portion size.”

Trixie’s eyes glanced at a passing tray of food being delivered to another table, a slight gleam emphasizing her delight.

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"Naturally, I have no illusions that the Palace's cooks aren't spellbinding with their creations, but my intuition is that it's a different matter to make meals of a spirit than make them to a spirit of ... straightforward luxury? But truly, that may just be the assumption of a pony that has never eaten at the Palace, and perhaps the cooks there are so undoubtedly the masters of their crafts that the food doesn't even require some sort of elusive personal touch for the perfect flavor." She took a breath as the waiter, in a clean, cozy flannel sweater approached. "Good evening! I'll get an order of those lovely mashed potato and vegetable plates and a mug of the adult's mulled cider, please."

[Trixie Lulamoon]

Wow, the mare definitely liked to hear herself talk a lot...or was it really just that Canterlotian style. In any case, Trixie had to catch herself from dozing off a bit as the mare kept talking.

"All I know is that Princess Luna was really happy when I snuck her a couple of oatburgers and shakes," she chuckled. She figured that info was probably okay to let loose. What was the worse that could happen, some burger places get an extra boost cause someone heard the princess of the night liked burgers?

Fortunately Trixie did not have to think that much longer about food as the waiter finally arrived. Now that she had mentioned it, she realllllly wanted an oatburger.

"Could I get some of those mashed potatoes with a oatburger...and that cider sounds pretty good too," Trixie said.

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Octavia relaxed into her cushion as the process of obtaining food was now set into motion. With an idle time ahead of them, she paid a long moment looking at her companion across from her. Undoubtedly, Trixie was polished, her mane and tail with a silky sheen reflective of thorough brushing and quality products, most likely. With a raise in her eyebrow, she considered, however, that the magician was a sort of eccentric in her cloak and hat, yet Octavia figured that even the most competently-dressed pony would look laughable without the proper confidence, and feeling rather accepting of the outfit on Trixie, it was clear that there was a certain confidence at work. Of course, she thought, why shouldn't there be?

"The thought of Luna indulging in pedestrian foods of that kind ... it's rather fun to think about. You'll have to pardon perhaps a presumptuous background to my thinking, but one would not expect a pony that'd sneak oatburgers and shakes to be a Royal Apprentice. Not to say, of course, that an expectation otherwise is any wise, but I wonder. If I might ask, what is it like to learn under such a profoundly important pony?" She leaned in towards the table a little to punctuate her question. "Is it a rather martial experience, like practicing very difficult magics in backed by the sunset, or is it more academic, with complexities up on the chalkboard?"

[Trixie Lulamoon]

"Heh, if anything the fact that I'm willing to sneak such things is probably a bonus reason for her to have me," Trixie said, chuckling a little. She could get the surprise, and honestly if she hadn't done the deed herself she probably would have been as shocked too. It wouldn't be the first time she was overly proper in her treatment of Luna...and probably won't be the last.

"But, anyway, learning with her has been very....trial and error I guess is the best way to put it," Trixie said, snuggling into her couch a little bit as she pondered how to say this.

"She's very hooves off, usually giving me a spell or task to do and then kind of let me work at it on my own. Which is great because quite frankly Princess or not if I saw a chalkboard of theorems I'd probably walk right out. Never was all that good with the bookish stuff," she said, dismissively waving a hoof to emphasize her disregard for academia,"It's also the closest to what I've always done as a showmare too. Just, you know, keep trying new things till something sticks and whatnot."

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"To read or not to read," Octavia mused. "I suppose that is the question, isn't it? As I understand, the matter of how best to learn and administer the knowledge of magic is quite a subject indeed. Still ... hm ... I should preface the following with a remark to my ignorance of such matters, but ... it seems rather strange that for the most prestigious level of magical apprenticeship, there does not seem to be an intensive, studious element, not even independently. As in crafts around music, flaws appear in the techniques of even advanced students who are mostly alone in their endeavors. But again, I reiterate that this is quite outside my expertise and crafts certainly vary."

[Trixie Lulamoon]

Oh crap, she seemed to be giving the wrong impression of Luna's teaching ability. That wouldn't do at all. Didn't want the princess to get a rep as a bad teacher, especially with all the buzz about how well Celestia did. She did have a school named for her after all...

"Well, I mean, she gives me assignments to do outside of our sessions and stuff so it's not like I don't study. It's just, I have a more...hooves-on manner of learning. I just learn better by doing, that's all. It's just kind of hard for me to wrap my head around charts and theorems and stuff, but when I can just get the feel for things it clicks a lot better...." she said, tapping her hooves together a little nervously. She just really hoped that got the point across and didn't make it sound like Luna was a neglectful teacher.

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"I see ... On the matter, I'm also curious ... to what end does one learn under a Princess? Why, one would think that the ends must involve some sort of prestigious position, perhaps a leader of magical research, perhaps some sort of functional nobility?" Of course, she thought, perhaps her line of questioning wasn't relevant at all. After all, magical ability hardly translated into position, but if that were the case, why learn under a Princess? She unfocused a little from Trixie, glancing to one of the fires. "Of course, hardly fair to overly inquire as to matters that are hardly my business, especially when you're at leisure."