mylittlejamjar | [Visual]

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[Looks like he's calmed down considerably.

Which isn't saying a whole lot. He's holding a stuffed animal to the best of his ability, his ears are laid back as usual and he's pouting.]

This place is still stupid as shit. But I guess I'm supposed to get used to it or something. [Because that's what Fai would praise him for.] I'm looking for someone called Rainbow Dash, so... yeah. Someone help me find him. Or her. Or whatever. I need help figuring out how to fly right.

[This is probably a good idea, since the few times he's tried, his powers kick in the second he's off the ground and he starts bolting through the air.]

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...There's two Ra... fuck, whatever, I don't even care. Can you teach me how to fly? Without... being too fast to control?

Yes. There's a Rainbow Dash native to this Equestria, and there's me, who's been through four different worlds and then ended up on the Equestria that isn't hers.

Also, watch the language. If my friends start spouting profanity I'm gonna be upset.

Yeah. I can teach you to fly.

...Yes ma'am.

[He wilts a bit and fidgets his wings hesitantly.]

Can you meet me over by the forest? I figure we should do this away from the town because... well. [As a demonstration, he takes off experimentally. A second later he has swerved into nearly everything in the area, and crash-landed into the ground before the dust from his take-off has a chance to settle.

Super speed + flying = bad combo.]

[Huh. Well, he's fast, she'll give him that. But fast means nothing without skill.]

Sure, I'll be right there.

[It really is only a moment; Rainbow chooses to show of some of her own speed, slashing through the air from her cloud to the edge of the forest with a rainbow wake. She stops a moment before she hits the ground, hovering there to offer a friendly wave.]

Hey there.

[It takes him a second to return the wave, if only because he's trying to figure out which limb to wave with. It's a little more awkward a gesture between trying to balance on three legs and still not being sure if the gesture is legit.]

Hi. I um... oh, I forgot to say, my name's Lovino. [He pauses.] Is your name seriously Rainbow Dash? I mean... I can see why, but it's... it sounds more like a nickname.

Yeah, pony names are like that. You'll get used to it really quickly. Also, don't worry about being a pony too much, just roll with your instincts. It's not any harder than being a human... at least, I'm guessing you were human.

I was a mutant. [He spreads his wings and fluffs up his fur and feathers as much as he can.] Like a human, except a little different. That's why I've got speed, it was my power. Along with some other stuff. [Lots of other stuff. He's one of those "way too powerful for his own good" types.]

What's with all the speedy people showing up here?

[In reality, there's only one -- well, two if you count Rainbow herself -- but for somepony who prides herself on speed, even one or two others really stand out.]

Anyway, this shouldn't be too hard. The big problem is your control, right? It's on or off? So what I'll do is push back, so you don't go flying into things. Then you can try adjusting how much forward thrust you're putting on.

[His posture becomes rather shy, and he paws at the ground hesitantly.]

My speed happens when I'm scared. And... I really don't like heights. I can barely control myself with little things, so... [Ahem.] I might hurt you if you try to do that. You don't... mind?

[Of course this is no different than the fear training he'd done with Maya, but it's a lot more worrisome when someone will be in front of him instead of just on the side.]

Hurt me?

[Rainbow giggles, then pats him on the head.]

That was precious. But scared's no way to be if you can get off the ground at all. We'll start low down.

[This makes him pout.] I'm not kidding. God, even a rainbow horse can't take me seriously... look, I've gotten people sent to the hospital just from little mistakes. I've killed people from little mistakes. My powers are really, really powerful and I can't control them. So at least listen to me when I tell you you might get hurt.

[He may be exaggerating a bit, but the boy's pretty sick of not being taken seriously back at his school, even getting picked on for his lack of self-control both emotionally and power-wise. Even a tiny bit of disbelieve is enough to tick him off.]

[Rainbow's playfulness melts away in an instant; she lands in front of him, lifting her head up to look at him with iron determination.]

There is one pony who I'll give credit for being as tough as me, and you're not her. You're not going to hurt me. It has nothing to do with how strong you are, it's just how tough I am, okay?

[He lays his ears back and backs up, twitching as he tries not to show much she scares him.]

W.. we'll see. [He grimaces. Because he really doesn't want to see, not after what he's done back at his school. But if she wants to test him, well.. she isn't quite as scary as Marrow. Not yet.]

Fine, let's just do this.

[She's trying her best not to be set off, but he seems to be rubbing all of her nerves the wrong way. She shakes her head and tosses her mane to try to get her focus back, then nods.]

Okay.

[She rears back as she spreads her wings, then puts her hooves on his shoulders.]

Now, nice and easy, lift off.

[And she braces herself for the push she knows is coming.]

[He paws the ground a bit, hesitant to take off, but slowly starts flapping his wings. And as soon as he feels all four feet leave the ground- whoops, panic mode. All of his energy is suddenly concentrated on shoving against Rainbow Dash, and with his powers activating so quickly he can't really help the burst of energy that feels like her muscles forcing her off at max power as well. This... will probably be painful.]

[Rainbow Dash had her failings of courage, her incredibly low tolerances for minor mundane things, her hangups and her problems. But this isn't a hooficure; this isn't even a flying lesson. This is a CHALLENGE.]

[She grits her teeth, latches on all the tighter, and puts the awesome power of her own wings into pushing right back against him. Thanks to the bound stores of magic inside her augmenting her already-incredible strength, she's only shoved back a few feet before she catches her own force up to his.]

[Woah. He's actually not able to push her back. He ends up staring at her in disbelief and a nice healthy pinch of fear for good measure. He's slowly getting used to being taken care of by girls who could easily kick his ass, at this rate.

The fear of flight is subsiding, at least. He's slowly getting used to the feeling of not being able to touch the ground. Even the fact that he's a foot or two above the ground now, and not about to die. It's actually... pretty awesome.

Before long, the strain of his powers wears out and he drops semi-gracefully to the ground, sitting immediately to get his head straight.]

Hey... you're pretty cool. [+10 Respect.]

[Rainbow hovers in midair for a moment as if she doesn't even register that he's moved... till she sort of tumbles to the ground.]

Owww ow ow wing cramp wing cramp WING CRAMP!

[She rolls over onto her back and around, pushing the wing out of its locked position with her own weight, then scrambles to her feet to hop around gingerly, waving the wing around till the pain subsides. She looks at it sadly, testing its flex and play before folding it back up.]

Uh, when you tell everypony how cool I am, you can... not mention that part.

[Still, she's gotta give him credit, that was something. He might... be almost as fast as she is, once he gets it under control! Definitely not faster though.]

[He folds his wings self-consciously.]

Sorry! I- I didn't mean to hurt you. And.. and don't worry, I don't really talk to anyone that much.

[He paws about a bit more before getting up and nosing her over - only because he's sure he'd just hurt her more trying to use his hooves to check her injuries.] Anything I can do? I mean, to- to help your wings un-cramp?

No, I'm good, I'm good! [She shies away, hating to feel at all vulnerable.] I just shoulda warmed up a bit first. I figured you'd be about like the other fast guy who had trouble flying, but you're either faster or stronger than he is. Hard to tell which.

Probably both. [He turns sheepish and backs up, quick to respect her space. It does suck to be vulnerable, after all.] Sorry, I... I never really tried to control my powers until like... last year. So my control's really fucked up still, and they're way stronger than I am. But... but you were able to stop me still, so that must make you crazy strong. No one else's ever been able to do that, not even... [AHEM.] ...well, yeah, no one.

I'm gonna tell you right now, control is everything! All the speed in the world doesn't matter if you can't pull up from a dive in time and plow the ground. So you better work on that, okay?

[She rubs her mane, sheepishly.] Well, I've got my own training. I sorta know how to use stored magic from others to boost my own strength, long story short.

Kind of like powers, then. [He perks up.] I'm not even that fast on my own, see, I need to be scared or else I can barely keep up with anyone. That's why I could push you so hard, too. I've kind of got... a lot of practice with being scared. More than I have with being in control.

[She crosses her forelegs as she regards him sternly.]

That needs to change. You can't let your fear be what's in charge. You make bad decisions that way and you'll end up hurting people.

Yeah, I... I know that much.

[He definitely learned that the hard way by hospitalizing his brother.]

There was a girl helping me get in control back at my school, but... she's not here now. Can you help me?

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