Don't forget style, that should be considered! [Visual, filtered from Minato]

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow is flush with energy to the point of mania today, grinning and eager as she faces down the scrolls.]

Hey everypony, but especially friends of Minato! I gotta get him a really, really amazing present for Hearth's Warming this year. And I don't think my usual standbys are up to it. [Because as much as he could clearly use a good weight set to put on some muscle, she needs to go more special than that!]

So anypony got any ideas? Stuff he secretly likes that he hasn't mentioned to me yet? A real wish of his? I'll take anything, maybe everything! I'm gonna make this an awesome holiday!

Comments

[usedpartycannon]

He could probably use a new jacket. Doesn't he only have like one or two of those?

[sailorlaughter]

Oh oh oh! So what you gotta do is pay lots and lots of attention, and see if he needs anything or wants anything! Like all YEAR but since you're just starting now maybe for the next couple weeks? And then you remember the things that they don't remember they want so don't put on their lists, and then you GET IT FOR THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WANTED IT!

[mostloyalpony]

(Cue the sudden appearance of this Rainbow, eyeing the scroll -and her other self- with a grin of her own.)

Why not a superfantasticspectacularamazingawesome present? Something he mentioned once that he'd never think you'd remember but never really forgot?

[samplemygoods]

[The difference between someone missing an old favorite from back home and that someone's fillyfriend looking for a super-special gift? Timing and desperation. The capitalist in Bon Bon comes through, clear as day.]

A little bird told me that your coltfriend likes a mare with melons.

[...Bon Bon, Lyra might need to explain the problem with that statement to you.]

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow chuckles, all nervous embarrassment since darn it, Minato, she has to be associated with that.] Yeah, I kinda noticed that, but that's not really super-awesome, is it?

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow takes a moment to let all of that wash over her and sink in, before shaking her head.] That's why I'm hoping one of his friends would have an idea. They might have heard something I didn't!

[elementofloyalty]

Yeah, except he never mentioned anything like that! [That she remembers or processed as important at the time.] But if he ever mentioned it to somepony else, I hope they'll tell me.

[elementofloyalty]

[Somehow, despite all the time she's spent around humans, Rainbow Dash has missed that particular euphemism. Thankfully, because she's not exactly in the latter half of the alphabet when she's in a human form.]

Melons, huh? That could work. It's not SUPER-awesome, but it would make a good second present...

[usedpartycannon]

That's the nice thing about jackets though; you can customize them to be super awesome. Like a entertwined logo of your cutie marks, plus a lot of that J-style and what not.

[samplemygoods]

I dunno...

[Bon Bon pulls a two and a half pound bag of melon candy out from under her counter. A carefully calculated portion - enough to sate a craving and share with a special somepony, but not so much as to make her victimcustomer truly sick of it.]

I just had this flown in from Japony. 'S pretty special around here...

[sailorlaughter]

I don't really hang out with him all that much, sorry. But I can start following him if you want!

[elementofloyalty]

[Something still doesn't seem right, and Rainbow tries to figure out what it is... oh! It's the idea of a jacket in the first place!] Maybe he needs a big ol' coat instead of a jacket! It could look awesome and cool!

[elementofloyalty]

...Well, THAT was convenient. [Rainbow giggles a little, not exactly upset that Bon Bon had ulterior motives for her suggestion.]

Imported though, huh? Well, I did want to give him the best....

[elementofloyalty]

Naw, I know how busy you gotta be figuring out gifts for, like, everypony ever. [Rainbow makes a quiet note to keep tabs on Pinkie this season and make sure the newpony influx didn't overwhelm her.]

[sailorlaughter]

I know, right? There's like SO many more people than before - even more than last year!

[At least for the moment, she sounds super pumped about this.]

[usedpartycannon]

I dunno. I mean, a long coat would be cool, just don't go completely nuts with it. Like no fur lining or whatever. It's too hot unless you want to give him a winter one.

[samplemygoods]

Convenient for me more than you. He asked about it a few months ago, right before Nightmare Night. I told him I had to special order the stock, but I figured I would grab some just to be safe, particularly since Kyouko is very particular about her Pocky.

So, yeah. He'll like it, I guarantee.

[But then the business face comes out.]

It may cost you, though, miss Dash~.

[elementofloyalty]

[Sure, at the moment. But wait till a week from the day when the pressure is mounting and she doesn't know the PERFECT GIFT FOR EVERYPONY... yeah, Rainbow is gonna keep an eye on Pinkie Pie.]

...Whatcha gettin' me?

[elementofloyalty]

Fur lining?! That's not cool. That's for like fancy pony coats. Minato's a cool pony, he'll get a cool coat.

[20% cooler? Well, Rainbow knows what she means, at least.]

[elementofloyalty]

How about I advertise for you? I'll carry a big streamer thing while I do my deliveries!

[samplemygoods]

[Oho? This was the Dash that had been working as a courier, then? Bon Bon's brow raises and she grins wider.]

Well, if you're an independent service, I suppose I would be willing to barter for, say... a day's worth of Hearth's Warming deliveries? Not today, of course, but some time before the holiday hits.

[elementofloyalty]

Heh, you got it. You know there's nopony who can deliver with the speed I offer! [Relieved and now possessing the chance to show off her skills, Rainbow puffs up proudly with a grin.]

[samplemygoods]

True, but Hearth's Warming candy is fragile, too. You'll have to be fast and delicate. I know the pageant in Canterlot would be ruined if so much as one of those giant canes got chipped or cracked...

[She's only providing an example. She isn't actually the one in charge of making those canes this year. (Thank heavens; the one time her father got her that role was the most stressful Hearth's Warming of her life.)]

[usedpartycannon]

It needs to billow in the wind or something. DRAMATICALLY.

[sailorlaughter]

Rainbow Daaaaaaaash, it's a secret! You can't just TELL people their presents!