[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]

[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.

[elementofloyalty]

Me flying?

[Rainbow laughs, turning a little loop in midair.]

You're fast, but I'm faster. And I'll give you you're really fast, but racing isn't just speed. It's nailing the turns, it's endurance and stamina if the race is long enough...

[al_cielo]

Well, I don't have to worry about turns if the race is straight. [He shrugs.]

I'm not that great at steering, but I am fast. Faster than what you've seen so far. I think I could at least tie with you.

[elementofloyalty]

I'm way faster than you've seen too. All right, we'll play it your way and do a straight run. When you're better with flying, then we'll do a real race, Cloudsdale style.

[al_cielo]

[His ears perk up.] The only person who's ever been competition for me is my little brother. If you can beat me, you're alright in my book.

C'mon. [He waves her over with a wing and points somewhere along the line of the forest.] See where the trees dip back, over there? If you can fly there before me you win. Deal?

[elementofloyalty]

You're on.

[She digs a line in the ground with a stroke of her hoof, then takes her mark on it with a wicked grin.]

[al_cielo]

[He takes his place beside her and immediately starts thinking of all the scary things that could possibly exist, right behind him.]

Ready...

[Snakes pirates spiders bears.]

Set...

[British food demons ex-girlfriend guns ANGRY FAI.]

Go!

[Now engaging hyper-drive. He starts galloping at full-speed until he crashes into the designated finish line.

Although he's still not as fast as he could be with real danger behind him... a cheetah would be jealous.]

[elementofloyalty]

[Did he travel so fast he left a flaming trail behind him from sheer speed?]

['Cuz Rainbow sure did...]

[al_cielo]

[He did indeed, albeit not a rainbow-fire trail, and he is staring at that trail in confusion.]

...Does that normally happen around here?

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow's expression is obviously not because of the twin flame trails existing, it's because one of them isn't hers.]

Okay, that power of yours? Is officially crazy.

[al_cielo]

[He shuffles with a shy chuckle.] I guess so. I don't think I can actually tell who won right there. [He ruffles his feathers bit.] Maybe we need a longer track after all.

[elementofloyalty]

That wasn't my fastest though. It's just not safe to go my fastest this close to the ground. So you're not a champion yet.

[She whacks him on the shoulder a couple times.]

But I bet we can get you there!