Good morning, Brush.
Sorry for contacting your out of the blue, but your stories have enchanted me. I actually remember Midnight Castle from when I was a foal. At the time they were one of the few colt fiction stories available, and the only ones with any depth, so I did enjoy them considerably. Don't tell my sister, but I have a first edition signed collection of volumes one and two. (My parents are quite well off and despite their strictness they have always pampered me considerably.)
I must ask, have you written anything before? There are some minor grammar issues, and certain phrasings could be better, but your fiction is nothing short of inspiring. The way you merge emotion and action is something I've rarely seen before; and I'm talking as a soon to be literature graduate. I'm not exaggerating, when I say you're better than many published authors.
Hoping and looking forward to your reply,
MasterOfThisAstra
Thanks :) I always enjoy when pones like my writing. I'm not anywhere near prof level. :D which of my stories have you read?
Brush
All of them, actually. I'm PaintDrop's brother. Maybe I should have mentioned that earlier. She did a printout of all your stories and is doing artworks for them. I just happened to stumble upon them yesterday and, well, got hooked.
To be perfectly honest, I found the notion of my sister visiting a Midnight Castle forum alarming at first. The majority of such places are, honestly speaking, quite suggestive. And her best friend isn't a good influence on her either. I must admit, though, after reading your work, and some of the others', I'm rethinking my stance on the matter.
You most definitely write well, and I'm being a hundred percent objective here. My sister can easily ace college level essays, and her friend, as much as I hate to admit it, is a competent editor, but none of them come close to your work. Even I don't think I could pull that off.
MasterOfThisAstra
Omg! You're PaintDrop's brother?! Never thought you'd join the site! :))) Guess I owe her a story, huh?
PaintDrop said you wanted to read something non-humie. I have a few of those, but they're really crap. No prob to write something dedicated, just tell me what you're into :)
Brush
That's remarkably sweet of you. Before I make a request, there's something I'd like to ask you. Apologies in advance for being insensitive. Are you really a mare? Your writing seems way too gentle and sensitive, almost hurting, to be a mare.
MasterOfThisAstra
Lol! No worries, I get that a lot. I've lost count how many times fans have hit on me thinking I'm a stallion. (You know there are no stallions on the net :P) What about you? Are you really a stallion?
Brush
Yes, I most certainly am. And my parents never let me forget it. Sorry for going on a rant, but this is pretty much one of the few times I get to talk to a mare without my parents going all alicorn on me. Don't misunderstand, I love my parents, and I am grateful to them, but they have outdated views on certain things, sons in particular. While my sister gets free reign, along with all the shouts and groundings that includes, I'm treated as a fragile bunny that would shatter if I set one hoof out of home. Little wonder they sent me to a Celestial College.
Sorry, I tend to rant a lot at times. For some reason I feel you're somepony who'd understand.
Thanks for listening.
MasterOfThisAstra
Oh :( You don't get out much, do you? A close friend of mine had really restrictive parents. She rebelled, doing the craziest things ever, to the point they just let her do what she wanted. Guess it's different being a stallion.
Not that it's not cool, but are you okay sharing this with a pony you've just met?
Brush
I think I know you better than you think. You put a lot in your writing. For one thing, I strongly suspect you really are a pegasus. Also, you seem more hurt than you let others think. I wouldn't be surprised if you hide behind a mask (trust me, I know all about that). I also think that you're much older than my sister, or at least have gone through a lot more experiences than her, not all of them pleasant I think.
Sorry, professional inclination. What I'm trying to say is, can I read something by you? I mean the real you. It doesn't have to be human, though I'll read it even if it is.
Again, I don't want to come as pushy or strange, but your writing resonates strongly with me, all much so that you're a mare. No offense, but most of those I've met were jerks or snobs, or both.
MasterOfThisAstra
I don't know what to say. You've read my stuff, right? As you've seen it's a bit... extremely snugly. What am I saying? Glass of Water has a ten page scene of the characters fucking like rabbits. Are you sure you want to read my unedited works? Pones in the forum joke a lot, but some of them have read the stuff I haven't put online... and they agree there's a reason for that.
Brush
You really don't have to try and shock me. My parents will find you despicable, I'm sure. Just because I'm a stallion doesn't mean I'll faint after reading erotica. And I have no idea how the conversation got here. I usually don't go so far out. I still want to read more of your works, and maybe even sneak a meeting with you?
MasterOfThisAstra
Hold on. You are asking me out?! *confused look* I thought your parents were all strict and such.
Brush
Stallions can do that, you know. As for my parents, what they don't know won't hurt them.
MasterOfThisAstra
Where have you been all my life? :D
Brush
I can't believe I wrote that. I was so convinced you'd laugh me off as a fancolt. Who knew what desperation could achieve?
MasterOfThisAstra
*nuzzles* Disappointed?
Brush
Not on your life! *wink*
I think this hasn't sunk in yet, though. Tartarus, my parents would be so pissed. Nopony's ever good enough for their little prince. I have an important exam, so no chance I'll be home for the next week... so want to meet once I'm back from college?Hope you are okay with me being an earth pony.
MasterOfThisAstra
Please, stop my pounding heart! *faints*
Whenever you can I'm cool. Just keep in mind I'm different in real life, so don't be expecting a mare in shining armor. :PBrush
Too late. I'll write to you when I get the chance.
See you soon.
MasterOfThisAstra
I think poor Brush is being Catfished.
Just got caught up. This continues to be funny.
Brush is lucky
Well. Damn. If we take everything that's been said in this chapter at face value for a second... A lot, and I mean a lot of it resonates very strongly with me, personally. I didn't expect that but this chapter's blown me away. In a weird way, it's kind of exciting for a story to evoke the kind of feelings that it did, in me.
But eh, personal rant over. Brush thoretically should check with PaintDrop whether it's really her brother. She probably won't because it's just weird(even though wise) thing to do but at least I hope that she will choose a crowded, open space, possibly with guards around. If this meeting will actually happen of course. Ahh, I sense delicious drama incoming in a few chapters
I also wanted to say that I'm amazed by your dedication to put out a chapter a day, very few authors can do that. Keep going strong :)
7852374 I don't think so. From my experience, a catphish will try everything to avoid meeting irl. Either that or they'll always cancel last minute.
On a partially related note, it's interesting to see someone actually delve into and develop Equestria's swapped gender roles. Despite having a significantly larger female portion of the population as well as nigh-immortal mare rulers, it always seems a little odd when writers utilize human gender roles like "the man of the house" in what would logically be a matriarchal society. It's nice to see someone flipping things for a change.
On an even less related note, apparently my computer is smart enough now that it insists on auto-correcting "man of the house" to "mare of the house". I may have been on this site too long.
Lise Eclaire,
I think you already know what I'm going to say.
(:
7852533
Yeah, I'm worried that's what's going to happen to Brush, dude cancels at the last minute and then strings her along.
I think the show's kind of moved on from that. In the first two-three seasons we saw a much higher female to male portion of the population, but since then the writers have put a lot of effort into making the ratio of background ponies around 50/50 mares and stallions. Additionally, a huge number of the key political and economic positions in Equestria below the level of princess seem to be held by stallions. Ignoring Princes entirely, stallions run two of the largest and most important cities in Equestria (Canterlot and Manehatten), and represent the heights of business (Filthy Rich, Oat Street financiers, Gladmane and his hotel/casino empire). Looking at the representatives of Equestria in the elite boxes at the Equestrian Games, and its at least half stallions. Same with the leaders of cities shown in the Grand Pony Summit. And of course most of the military is staffed/run by stallions.
That said, I have seen a lot of fascinating stories on this site that like to explore the differing gender roles of a matriarchal society, and they do often make for the best reading.
Hmm. Fascinating to see how local gender roles play out. I'm guessing we've never seen MOTA before. Best case scenario, he's a background pony. Still this meeting should be very interesting if everything goes as planned.
I really hope everything goes as planned...
Oooooooh things are heating up nicely
I find your flip on gender...(politics? The correct word has slipped my mind) very interesting.
I'm sure as hell looking forward to that meeting. Will we see it in the companion fic or just the aftermath in the main fic? Either would be interesting.
7851050 :D Well, so far at least one of the posters has been correctly identified. :P
7851105 So reckless... :)
7851145 Cheeky :P
7852374
7852533
To be honest, that is a distinct possibility. Brush has claimed to be famous, and also has a small following (as RRDD does). I guess it'll be revealed in 2 weeks. :D
7852387 :D Thanks
7852504 S/he definitely seems to be :)
7852549 umm... Danny is best humie? :P
7852729 :) Well, I'm going for a predominantly female cocuety with stallions considered weaker and mostly for reproduction.
On that note Celestial College is my version of Catholic School, so MoTA has been raised quite hawkishly (unlike PaintDrop or even RRBB)
7853080 *Dramatic music*
7853165 The first companion fic will be about Lyra discovering MC as well as the first meetup. Names that would potentially revealed: RRBB, MixaMix, Brush.
Hopefully, I'll do a second companion fic February in which a full meetup of the posters (90%) with additional name reveals. Also, something big will happen in the main fic soon. :)
7854090 Hey, whatever makes for a better story, right?
7854173 More like what catches my fancy O:)
7854078
):
i suppose i misjudged your abilities of pattern sensing...
7854247 Aww... sorry :(
7854258
don't worry. all is forgiven, o holy writer of the sacred pony words.
This chapter reminds me of Stable 24.
Funny... I've always pictured Shining Armor in a mare
Lol.
I like the female dynamics.
I write these often in my stories.
Lol.
I like the female dynamics.
I write these often in my stories.
8121050
Bow chicka bow wow!