Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 17:56:25 GMT -6
Emerald Seal was getting a fairly decent working knowledge of modern Equestrian laws. He liked to think he was on his way to being a proper naturalized citizen. However, there were some that he just didn't feel any particular stringent attachment to—victimless crimes in particular, such as, say, for example, hypothetically trespassing on government property. It wasn't a private residence, and he wasn't going to be causing any damage, so he didn't feel it was that bad. He was no thug, after all. What he was, however, was a snoop and a gardener. And on the second floor of the back side of the guardhouse, which he had noticed while making his early-morning walk, there was growing a vine with purple-blue flowers and pronged leaves. He knew that vine well. It had been the bane of his existence in the Empire—the fast-spreading, invasive Spurs Hila vine. It loved stonework and chilly climates, and here it was just beginning to settle in its evil, nutrient-sucking roots. So. It had to be purged. He doubted the guards would know it, but within the month there was no doubt that vine was going to be covering the wall. It would be no trouble to him to just take care of it for them, right? And that was how Emerald justified hopping the back fence of the station, sneaking through the yard, and propping an extending ladder up on the rear wall up to the second floor. While it was definitely illegal, it was for a perfectly fine reason as far as he was concerned. He took a glance over his shoulder to make sure he hadn't been caught—not that the Guard were known for their subtlety—and started climbing up. It looked like the vine had sprouted just on the edge of a windowsill just out of his reach, and spread from there, growing along the cracks in the masonry. If he could just grab it from the base, it would all come out at once, and he could be out of there as quick and quiet as a ghost. "Got you now," he said to himself, grinning, and tried to scoot the ladder over to the windowsill with a light hop. It tilted a bit, moving a few inches. Not far enough, no matter how he strained. He hopped again, the ladder wobbling further—but then he rocked back again, out of reach. Drat. Just one more push... With a great heave, Emerald shoved himself forward—and the ladder kept going. He grabbed onto the windowsill. The ladder fell out from under him—CLATTER CRASH BANG—and he was left dangling from a window on the second story of the guard station. He didn't scream, but his eyes were the size of dinner plates. His hind legs scrambled against the wall, trying to find purchase. "B-bother," he said, looking down. "Hel... hello? Anyone there?" |