Backgrounds of Fate: Hard Cider


                                            This is a side green to Manos: Hands of Fate by Human Superiority.

                                            The first part was found here: http://pastebin.com/QBMRbrPv

                                            Since Pastebin nuked it I'll also link the earliest thread I could find in five minutes looking in the archive: https://desuarchive.org/mlp/thread/24621019/


                                            For the Manos threads. HEIL MANOS!


                                            >You take another swig of your mug

                                            >Its contents: hard cider.

                                            >Normally it would be a salt lick for you but today you just wanted to drown your troubles.

                                            >Behind you a stallion in a black uniform was swooning a mare in a brown one.

                                            >Both of them hand the same symbol on a foreleg.

                                            >Hands.

                                            >Oh how this town has changed.

                                            >You had half the mind to tell the two younger ponies to sod off but it wouldn't really be worth the trouble.

                                            >Couldn't tell them to properly keep it down in a bar now could you?

                                            >Luckily for you the Black Hand takes the mare to the back of the bar where they have a reserved section for others clad in the same uniform.

                                            >You take another drink reaching the bottom of your mug.

                                            >You hardly felt it.

                                            >You were going to order another round but before you got the words out to the bartender you are surprised to find Black Hand taking a seat on the stool next to you.

                                            >A Stallion.

                                            >You give him a look of confusion.

                                            >Why was he not sitting with the rest of the Black Hands?

                                            >Your look turned into one of contempt.

                                            >He was still one of them.

                                            >The stallion chuckles at your look and speaks.

                                            >"Yeah, I know. I'm not liking us that much anymore to be honest."

                                            >He what?

                                            >"Oh don't look surprised. Not all of us are completely mindless."

                                            >The hand glances to the side and grimaces.

                                            >You follow his gaze to a brown shirt in a booth having a candle-lit drink with... a picture of Manos?

                                            >Yeesh.

                                            >"You know what I mean."

                                            >There is brief silence between the both of you before he eyes you empty mug.

                                            >"You know what? Let me buy you a drink cause it looks like your a stallion after my own taste."

                                            "You know you don't have to do that."

                                            >"I know that, but we Hands have a tab. I figure you could be using their our bits instead of your own."

                                            >You give him a look as you mug is refilled.

                                            >"Besides, I don't see you complaining about having more cider."

                                            >You take a swig before reiterating,

                                            "I said you didn't have to do that... but thanks."

                                            >You both enjoy your drinks for a moment before the hand breaks the silence again.

                                            >"So what is it that you do?"

                                            >Why is he trying so hard?

                                            >Can't he see that you wanted to be left alone?

                                            "If you must know I'm the Chief of Police."

                                            >"A police chief? Sounds like quite the job."

                                            >You scoff and take another drink.

                                            "Yeah, it was exciting, at first. 'To Protect and Serve'. And now look where I am..."

                                            >"Drinking?" the stallion supplied.

                                            "No... well yes. But besides that. I'm bucking useless there's nothing for us to do anymore. Most of the paperwork I see anymore are notices of resignation."

                                            >"What happened?"

                                            >You look at the pony next to you ass if he sprouted another head..

                                            "What do you mean 'what happened?' What's the the most important thing that happened here recently?"

                                            >"The riots?" he tried.

                                            >You put a hoof to your forehead and one last sizable gulp which once again finished off your glass and then slammed it down for emphasis.

                                            "No son. Manos happened."

                                            >A bitter laugh escaped him.

                                            >"Yeah..." he sighed wistfully, "That sounds about right but please do go on."

                                            >Was he patronizing you?

                                            >Regardless, whether it was because you ignored it or the warm glow in your gut you went on.

                                            "Everything was nice at first. The Hands of Fate was just some club or something back then. Who would have thought it would have tuned into this?"

                                            >You made to take another drink only to find it empty.

                                            >The hand clopped his hooves together and the glass was refilled with more of your kind of poison.

                                            >Taking a sip, you continued.

                                            "Then the election happened. He became mayor and heck, I voted for him. Manos had some great ideas. After that... I'm not really sure. It all went changed so fast that we hardly noticed but before we knew it we were completely marginalized by the brown shirts and you guys."

                                            >You huffed.

                                            "Now I get to sit at a desk most of the day with a hoof in my flank while you all get all the glory."

                                            >The pony beside you s just wearing a wry smile and shakes his head.

                                            >"It's not all sunshine and rainbows you know."

                                            "Yeah, police work never i-"

                                            >"I had to put down my sister during the riots."

                                            >That stops anything you were going to say.

                                            >You are silent for a moment but you forego any amount of tact.

                                            "By put down you mean..." you trail off but the stallion nods with a weathered look.

                                            >He drains his mug completely and looks like he wants to lose himself in it for a moment.

                                            >You didn't rightly know what to say to that.

                                            >"It was for the greater good, in the end. We saved lives."

                                            >The sour mood must have been infectious because you found yourself quieted by that.

                                            >"Manos gave us an order and we followed."

                                            >His mug suddenly found itself full once more and he took drink and you did as well.

                                            >The two of you sat in silence the rest of the night nursing you mugs.

                                            >You've gained a bit of respect for the Black Hands though.

                                            >Or at least this stallion.

                                            >Manos may have cost you your work and livelihood but the was nothing compared to what he had cost the poor soul next to you.