A Hunt for New Business [dated][closed]

17th of November, Evening

It was getting late and Pike Vanguard noticed another group of ponies make a small exodus from his sight. Pike looked up at the dwindling sun and shivered at the thought of being harassed by guards again. "Nope, be confident!" Pike announced to himself, with only a few drug-addled street ponies to hear him. "You don't know who this contact is..." Pike unfolded a small note stating for him to meet at roughly 5:30 in this location. "And there is no signature, so it could totally, absolutely be a trap." Pike hasn't been harassed about his legitimate business in months. Being an accountant is the easy part, "This!" thinking out loud, "is insane. That's what this is!"

Pike shivered. Just a few more moments, then I'll go home, he thought to himself.

*Sticks was walking down the street after leaving the Steelhoof Bar. things hadn't gone as well for them as he thought they would, and he needed time to think. As he went, he noticed a pony mumbling to himself on the side of the street. Most ponies would avoid such a stallion, in fear that he maybe dangerously insane, but SticksNStones was hardly a pony who felt fear. He walked up to the stallion.* Hey pal, what's going on? Are you high or something?

Pike jumped at the brown stallion's question. "Ah, pony feathers!" Pike shouted, almost immediately backing into the wall behind him.

He took a second look at the stallion and gave a quick sigh. "Phew, I'm glad you showed up. I was getting worried that this note had been a ruse." Pike was sweating instead of shivering. "And to clarify, I am very sober." He pointed to other shaded figures on the street. "Unlike some other Celestia-forsaken ponies here."

*Sticks had no idea what this pony was talking about when he mentioned a note, but he wasn't about to correct him.* Right, the note. So, tell me about what you do. *Sticks wasn't sure why, but he had a really that this pony might be able to help him*

Pike glanced up and down the street, then looked back at the other earth pony. With a big smile on his face he shot out a hoof, "Pike Vanguard at your service. I procure wanted pieces of information from rare sources." Pike hesitated and looked over his shoulder. "Well, at least I'm new to the business. Manehattan is not really the place to practice this line of work, but you gotta start somewhere, right?"

Without any pause he started again, "You're a lot more rough and tumble than I expected, did you see my flyer in the bar? Or did you hear about me from one of my regular clients?"

*Sticks smiled to himself;it seemed that he had found exactly the kind of pony he was looking for.* I saw a flyer at the Steelhoof and I could already tell that you were somepony I needed to talk to. Let's find someplace private to talk first though, I wouldn't want anypony (or griffon) to overhear us.

"Good idea! It is getting late after all" Pike seemed relieved.

"I'm currently staying at a client's residence on the west end. I'd rather not get them involved though, so if you had an idea of a place..." The tan pony thought for a moment. "Actually, there might be some empty spaces underneath we can speak more freely." Pike beamed, "the Undermarket can be bustling at this hour, but I think the noise will be a good cover."

Pike's right hoof remained in position for a shake. "I trust you can get there on your own?" Whispering, "two ponies at night are much more suspicious than one, I believe."

*Sticks nodded* Of course. Great idea. Where exactly in the undermarket will we meet? I may need a sign showing me where to go.

Pike stood stunned. He had assumed the tough pony was with the rebellion and had already been given signs to the Undermarket. He covered his surprise with a laugh, "I would love to show you to the Undermarket. But um..." Pike scratched his head with his outstretched hoof. "To tell you the truth, I've been there once before. Supervised." Pike frowned. "We may have to make this meeting tomorrow, I need to call in a few favors. Let's say around five o'clock over there." Pike pointed to the bar. "I believe there's a sewer entrance over there, let's make that our meeting place."

"By the way, I didn't catch your name."

*Sticks held out his hoof in an offer to shake.* SticksNStones, at your service. Meeting there sounds good. I'll be there 5 o'clock sharp.

Pike wore a toothy smile, "I'm glad to have meet you, Sticks. I will see you then." Pike released Sticks' hoof and turned to walk toward the west-end. He casually walked away and turned his head to see where SticksNStones stood and once he was out of view, Pike moved into a brisk trot. Once again, he started to shiver.