Simplest Things In Life (Jump-in)

[Act One]

After holding out the item for a suitable amount of time for the 2 others to see, Act had pulled the object away from the sunlight. The scale shale returned to it's dim rocky form and the crude map vanished as it was returned to the paper and string still laid upon the table.
"You understand now?"
He starts to put the wrapping over the item and ties it up with his teeth. As the stallion had lowered his head to tie up the package, Act raised it back up to meet the gaze of the others - specifically Book Keeper. But it was a face contorted with a feel of determination and domination. As if his eyes has turned into polished steel and a fire burns behind the pupils, they project the eager and powerful spirit that lingers within.

With a cold and gritty voice, Act mouth begins to build his next dialogue.
"That is why I need to see accurate maps to cross-examine this one with them. That is why I need to know of any rumours of unusual weather patterns and creature's habitat and events within the area, so I can avoid any trouble between myself and them. That is why I need to know all the information I can get about this stone, to help me find this cave.
For that I need your help - To find the last gift my father, Far Out, had given to the family without being able to deliver it himself!"

His gaze slips from one to the other and returns, as if trying to recognize their attention to himself. As his eyes stop moving, his head faces down and is planted firmly on the table, with his 2 front hooves flat down beside it. It was a gesture similar to one pleading to another of superior class upon a ranking system. His voice still quiet and gritty, but with a more emotional glaze to it, he finishes off what he needed to say at that point.
"So, please - help me! Help me find what it was that he wanted us to have and see. I will repay any kindness for your services - fees or otherwise. I beg you."
The head doesn't raise after this act of submission and desperate desire. Act merely waits for the others' reply.

[waaaaaaah]

"Are you prepared to bear the costs of my services?" Book Keeper asked the emotional stallion. Already she was bringing up the relevant information to the forefront of her mind.

[Act One]

Still with the head gripped to the polished furniture, Act replies to Book's question.
"I should have enough to cover costs - Been saving up for a good while to get this chance. Name your price."

[PaintedStar]

"I think I can help too." Lollipop smiled. "I'll ask my father if he knows anything!" Excited to be finally be of any help, her voice was a little louder than needed, but Lollipop started whispering again as soon as she realized her mistake.  "Sorry... So, if any of you can give me paper and pen, I can write him a letter right now." she added with a serious face.

[waaaaaaah]

"Five thousand bits, and a contractual favor to be paid at a later date," Book Keeper told Act One.

[Act One]

As the head flings back with a tuff of purple-lied brown mane, Act's face is lit up with an expression of hope and excitement. With his eyes set on Lollipop, his mouth becomes a gaping hole of shock except from the tips of each edge turning up in delight. 2 hooves shoot out and grab the perky mare's nearest limb in a gentle, yet firm hold.
Now that Act has become quite enthusiastic, it now reflects in the volume and pitch of his voice slightly.

"Th-That's- That's great! Wonderful! I mean, Thank you! That would be fantastic to get some pointers from a separate adventurer. I just wanted to offer you compensation for finding the money, but this is going beyond the call... This is an awful lot from somepony who I've just met and such! So, thank you again - you wonderful, wonderful mare!"

He then hears Book Keeper's demand of 5000bits+favour - a twitch of an ear spontaneously reacts to the news.
5000... That's... doable if I can pull off a couple of more jobs here-and-there.
His face turns to a grin that's like trying to work with its surroundings in an awkward space. He's thankful for the help in a specialist field, but guesses this is "Manehattan prices" being offered and wasn't expecting that. But still, he irons through his kinks and politely accepts the helpful offer.
"Sure thing! Bless you for your patience and I hope good news awaits us! Do you mind if I pay most of it now, and some more in a week's time?"

At that moment, the waiter has made his return to the table with drinks and the muffin selection tray. He sets them down near the edge of the table while the ruckus is going on, trying not to interfere with a little "Well, this seems nice," smirk.
The stony stallion looks at the gentlepony and made an additional request to him.

"Excuse me, may we borrow a pen and some paper to write on, please? It's a very important spur-of-the-moment event that has occurred of which we need to record something."
The employee simply nods and leaves a notepad and pen on the table. With a "Please, leave them on the table once you're done," he walks off back to the kitchen doors.
"Please, enjoy a little muffin-buffin on me, ladies... And here are your drinks!"
Like a pro engulfed in the moment, he professionally slides the drinks near the respective owners of each beverage with his mouth. He then sits there in the same position until the other 2 made their choice of muffin...

[PaintedStar]

Lollipop drank some of her iced-coffee happily, and takes a chocolate chip muffin from the plate.
"That pen and paper is for me to write the letter right?" she then said with a smile, while pulling the objects towards her with one hoof. She picked the pen up in her mouth just to drop it right after writing down "Dear Father,".
"Um, can I see the map again? I want to draw it down for him to recognize." she said, turning to Act One.

[Act One]

"Oh, er - sure. One moment."
Following the blue-maned mare's request, he unpacked the ornament and notice the empty seat behind her. Swapping tables, he perched himself on the chair behind and held it above Lollipop's head for the sun to shine through. As before the map (now much closer to the other adventurer's daughter) is revealed to be copied.

His face was still beaming with joy from knowing his wish comes a little closer to being fulfilled. He hasn't even noticed how close he is to the mare - something that's rare in his mild-mannered lifestyle. But he continues to be oblivious never-the-less.

[Flufflepuff0]

A yellow pony with no mane walks down the marketplace humming pinky pie smile song unaware of the rocks and almost trips on one and says "whoa that was close"

[waaaaaaah]

Book Keeper patiently waited for Act to finish his other business; however she didn't plan on waiting much longer. She picked up her teacup and sipped some of her tea.

[PaintedStar]

((Sorry for being absent for so long, I have three important things to prepare for as well as a newspaper to make, so I'm kinda busy. I'll be pretty slow to reply for some time.))

Concentrating on copying the map correctly, Lollipop didn't notice how close the grey pony was either. She drew the lines on the paper as delicately as she could. Her eyes were fixed on her work, and she shut out the world around her.
When she was finished, she turned around to ask the stallion if he thought her copy was okay. As she noticed him standing right behind her, she let out a surprised yelp, and fell off the chair. She sat on the ground for a moment, processing how she got there, then laughed nervously.
"Sorry, you just surprised me a little... uh... I just got a little scared..." she laughed again, then tried to get up, only to bump her head in the table.

[Act One]

((Not to worry, RP can wait around for whenever. Good luck with everything - Get them sorted as a priority, we'll still be here. ))

The quick scream broke the stallion out of his own world and he saw the mare ahead of him now fall prone to the floor. Shock and concern caught onto Act as he put the item down on the table near him and looked down towards her.
"Hey! Are you alright?!"
Act heard Lollipop apologize and he thought to himself Scared? Did I do something-. Then she bump her own head on the table whist trying to regain her footing. Seeing that, his concern forced him to leap down to her to check on her under all the furniture. A mixture of worry and shame of something he may have done to spark these events swirled inside. The shame of having a mare knocked to the floor from his actions tasted foul in his heart.

He got eye level to the hurt Lollipop and expressed his fear for her well-being.
"Woah! Are you hurt? I'm sorry! I never meant to scare you. Can you get up?"
With that, his hoof stretches out to the vulnerable pony to aid her in getting back up.

[derpyhooves0]

((I'm still flufflepuff0))
continues "back on my way to" looks at a map "sweet apple acres"

[PaintedStar]

Lollipop took the helping hoof, and stood up. She smiled nervously, and scratched the back of her neck with one of her hooves.
"Sorry, it is my fault really, I am a little jumpy." she said. "Um, so, what I wanted to ask you, do you think my copy of the map is correct?"
She stepped aside so that the stallion could see the paper lying on top of the table.

[Act One]

Once relief settled, the male pony looked over the sheet on the table top and checked each point as well as the route. Act gave a nod and looked back at the one-time copyist.
"Yeah, that's everything. I still need to overlay this with the more accurate maps of the area, but that's the gist of things."

His eyes cast back onto the other mare who was still taking her time sipping the tea while all this was happening. Act returned to his side of the table and held the Caramel Latte near him, still warm.
"I think I best finish things up with Ms. Keeper, since I kept her waiting long enough on her time off."
He then takes the pen and pad and starts writing on an address on the top and bottom of it. Tearing it off the pad and then in half, he slips one piece to each companion. He looks back to Lollipop as to make sure he gains her focus.
"I'm currently staying at the "Crumb-Bum" B+B at that address. It's near the village center. If you need me or you have anything new to discuss, you can find me there in the morning or evening. It that fine?"