[Visual]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

[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.]

Comments

[action]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

[He shrugs his wings and mumbles a bit more.]

...I guess- I mean... yeah.

[action]

[elementofloyalty]

Again! Do you want to be braver?!

[action]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

[He makes a little squeak like an upset smoke alarm and takes a few steps backward.]

Y-yes?

[action]

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow rises up in the air a foot, spreading her forelegs.]

Again! Do you want to be braver!?

[action]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

Yes!

[It's really not as loud as that looks.]

[action]

[elementofloyalty]

[But it's more definitive! Progress! Nevertheless, Rainbow draws herself up to look down at him.]

LOUDER! Do you want to be braver!?

[action]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

[One more bit of shuffling before he lets out a sonic boom of a shout.]

YES!

[Looks like something spooked him into powering up. Probably being shouted at.]

[action]

[elementofloyalty]

[Completely unprepared, Rainbow tumbles backwards in midair from the sheer force. Once she gets her balance back, she flies back, bonking her left ear with a couple times to clear the ringing.]

Okay! Now we're talking!

[action]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

[He chuckles hesitantly and hangs his head.]

Sorry... are your ears okay?

[action]

[elementofloyalty]

I'm a tough pony, don't you worry. Now, THAT's the kind of attitude you need to keep. Loud, confident! Maybe not that loud, but still. The first step in wanting to be braver is WANTING it!

[action]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

You are pretty tough. [He smirks.] Iunno about confident, but... loud, I can do.

[action]

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow glances around, then ducks in to murmur to him conspiratorially.]

Speaking as a performer, sometimes all you can do is fake confidence. No matter how you feel, you go out there and do your thing like you're the best in the world. And sometimes if you fake it well enough, it becomes real confidence.

[action]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

[This makes him smirk.] If I didn't use that every day of my life I wouldn't be alive right now. Hasn't turned real yet.

[But now he flutters his feathers and nods.] I think I'm too scared to really get confident, but... I can try. I might as well.

[action]

[elementofloyalty]

Hey, you're not doing it now. If you were that good at it, you coulda fooled me into believing it. That's how good you need to get. The important thing is you try! That's ALWAYS the important thing. No matter how hard the journey, you square your shoulders and start it!

[action]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

[This gives him pause.]

So are you faking confidence right now? Or is it real yet for you?

[action]

[elementofloyalty]

[She glances around. Anypony else listening? No? Good.]

There are still some things I fake. But I'm not gonna tell you what.

[action]

[io_non_ti_invidio]

[His ears perk up at that.]

Well, you don't have to fake around me. I know it's tiring.

[action]

[elementofloyalty]

I mostly don't know how to turn it off. It's easier to keep it up than to let it down, for me. But if something ever comes up like that, I'll try to dial it back a bit.

[action] Ding dong suddenly pony account

[al_cielo]

Yeah, I... I know what that's like. Someone I dated back in my school taught me how to let my guard down and now I've got trouble putting it back up. Probably because I was always up before I came to that school... I guess if you're not careful you can end up not being able to pick your guard back up, either.

[Wow what a great inspirational speaker.]

[elementofloyalty]

Me, I find it's really more of a who than a what. Some people it's easier to talk to than others, directly. So the best thing you can do to help yourself is find yourself some friends!

[al_cielo]

Well I've got you, that's a start. You and Wally. I think that'll be enough, though.. I don't really like being friends with too many people.

[elementofloyalty]

It's not the quantity, it's the quality. Wally's good people too. A little faster than most...

[But not as fast as Rainbow, is the obvious implication.]

[al_cielo]

Yeah, he's pretty cool.

[Not as cool as Rainbow Dash, but possibly cooler than Lovi. He doesn't consider himself to be all that cool.]

Once I get over the heights thing, the three of us should race. [He smirks.] Just don't get too upset if I beat both of you.

[elementofloyalty]

Well well! There's some confidence.

[She grins, then draws herself up proudly.]

Once you get it under control, you'll be fast. Just not as fast as me.

[al_cielo]

Oh really? [There's a challenge he can't resist.]

Let's race right now, then. You flying, me running. I bet I could still beat you.