Snowy cursed silently as Static pointed out Barometz. How had he not realized that was her purpose immediately?! It had really been obvious, especially to him, given that he had submitted his report last night. He immediately wanted to go with her. Barometz was not something to be encountered alone. At the very least, one of them could treat the other's wounds. He also had to admit that he was curious to meet Barometz again. Something about him was distinctly familiar, and Snowy thought he might know what. This was probably his only chance to see the creature again. And yet...
He surreptitiously glanced around the room. All of them were walking into the premiere rogue's den of their era. As resident rogue, it was supposed to fall to him to make certain they were never caught unawares. He realized that he had unconsciously been reviewing old signs that a pony had picked you for a mark in his head: the shifting gait of somepony concealing a knife to cut a hole in your saddlebags, the special sort of once-over reserved for figuring out where ponies hid their jewelry...and their weapons. The only pony close to his knowledge of thievery (setting aside the fact that he probably knew a half-dozen of their freshest recruits personally...) was Static, and he was too bull-headed for this sort of job. Snowy liked Static, and certainly wanted him on his side in a fight, but fending off cut-purses (and more dangerous rogues) needed to be done quietly, and Snowy didn't think Static had a quiet bone in his body. They needed him. Brisk Iron didn't.
Did they really, though? Most of the team was more than sharp enough to blame the residents if an attempted robbery caused a scene. The locals were beholden to the rules, not them. And with Rhapsody in tow, it wasn't as though they needed lockpicks. He doubted they would need to enter a room quietly. They had all shown themselves to be excellent survivors, and making a quick escape was easier on cobblestone than it was in the wild. He'd have to impress on them that running was a valid option, whether he went with them or not.
The team, 7 ponies strong, was walking into a den of rogues and ruffians. Brisk Iron, all on her lonesome, was going to face some sort of god. AND she was Brisk Iron. Fundamentally Irreplaceable, but it wasn't as though she was invulnerable. She had only barely survived flying through a hurricane, awfully recently. Perhaps she did need him more.
He generally did not like to interrupt questions waiting for answers, but this once Snowy made an exception. He quietly cleared his throat. "Ma'am, I think I would like to sit this one out. Seven pairs of hooves should be plenty, and my horn won't be of much use in this situation. Maple's a far better public relations agent than I am. It's also possible I know a few ponies in Petrichor Falls. Specifically ponies that I never want to see again." As he let the statement hang in the air, he contemplated how much he still hated the idea of letting them walk into Petrichor Falls without him. Maybe there was some way he could send some of his tricks with them...
"Oh of course. I didn't mean to imply...I just...I worry."
[That damn plant is the scariest thing I never want to see again]
Maple, not wanting to get involved with the big pony discussion, (-not from disinterest... just she didn't have anything to add to it.) moved closer to Misty...
"Its okay Misty... I've only ever met one elephant that could turn invisible, and she couldn't have gotten in through the door... also I don't smell peanut butter." Maple whispered... before pantomiming an elephant walking.
Static raised an eyebrow as he looked back to see Maple's pantomiming.
[I swear I'm going to teach these ponies the meaning of the words 'idiom' and 'figure of speech' if it's the last thing I do!]
"Pffft-" Misty puts a hoof over her mouth to stop herself from giggling at Maple's elephant impersonation.
Rhapsody looks over to Night Cap. "No one here is nervous. Being cautious about entering a city ran by thieves is the right approach, not barging in like everything is fine." She replies, while she was concerned about what Brisk was planning to do, she was sure that she could take care of herself... of course Rhapsody wasn't eager to go back to the swamp... at least not with every fire spell known to pony kind... but its was exceedingly clear that the STOMP team would need her more between Night Cap, Maple, and Misty. Snowy sitting things out didn't help much either.
