don't put my hand next to you

[rewritethis]

[There's really nothing special about the date or anything else today, as far as Ed is concerned - it's just a reasonably sunny afternoon after a spate of showers, which makes it as opportune a time as any to go pick up a few supplies.

And why is he knocking on this door before he heads off to do just that (and it is knocking, not hammering)? Well, it wasn't too far out of the way.

She's probably not even in, right? Probably off with her friends, doing... well, who knows what she might be doing on a day when even a sane person would have a legitimate excuse to randomly break into song, provided they were about five years old? Heh, she's hopeless.]

Comments

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow, whistling a merry tune because she's in a pretty good mood, tugs open the door -- not expecting it to be Ed, so the surprise on her face is both genuine and delighted.]

Hey Ed, what's up?

[rewritethis]

[If there's nothing unusual about today, there's no reason to be surprised she's around, so he tries not to show any.]

Just heading out. What was it you said you were out of again?

[elementofloyalty]

Out of? Uh, I said I was out of metal polish... and my last manebrush snapped...

[rewritethis]

Oh, it wasn't anything urgent? Must've been thinking of something else. I wondered if you were getting those today, is all. [He turns to walk away, raising one hand to wave as he goes.] Well, later.

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow blinks, then grins.]

You sly dog, you're trying to get something for me, aren't you.

[rewritethis]

A dog, me? I just figured it'd save us both heading out. You know, if you're busy. [He grins back over his shoulder.] And you could pay me back whenever.

[elementofloyalty]

Oh yeah, sure, I'll pay you back... soon as I figure out how.

[She winks broadly at him.]

[rewritethis]

So are you busy or not?

[elementofloyalty]

Sure, I got time!

[She ducks back into her room just long enough to grab her usual saddlebags.]

[rewritethis]

[Meanwhile, he carries on walking instead of waiting for her, because what would be the point?]

[elementofloyalty]

[The door slams behind him and a moment later, a blue streak zips around him playfully before falling into wing-step beside him. No point at all, given that she's as fast as she is!]

[rewritethis]

[Neither fazed nor surprised in the slightest, he pushes a door open at the end of the hallway.]

So... [Okay, what can he talk about that isn't a giveaway?] What were you doing in there?

[elementofloyalty]

What, in my room? I was reading a new book!

[rewritethis]

Uh huh. [Well, that's not something he's going to ask about.] I'm just surprised you weren't already outside practising or whatever.

[elementofloyalty]

It's a new book, I wanted to read it. I don't spend ALL my time practicing, y'know. All work and no play, right?

[Rainbow, when did you ever work?]

[rewritethis]

Funny, I was thinking the opposite. [Yep. He hasn't stopped smiling, though, which may or may not set some kind of record.] But I mean, since it stopped raining.

[elementofloyalty]

It stopped raining?!

...maybe I got a bit too sucked into the book. [She chuckles sheepishly, running a hoof through her mane.]

[rewritethis]

[Because Ed is a raging hypocrite, his reaction is:] Oh, come on. You've got a window in there.

[elementofloyalty]

It's hard to read a book when you're looking at a window. I'm sure this is news to you.

[Sarcasm, yes, but PLAYFUL sarcasm!]

[rewritethis]

[Shrug.] It's called peripheral vision. And you've got ears, too.

[Raging hypocrite.]

[elementofloyalty]

I said your name 59 times once to get your attention when you were reading some book, and that's just the times I counted. I don't think you have a leg to --

[Rainbow immediately freezes in midair, as she realizes the inappropriateness of this metaphor.]

[rewritethis]

[Ed doesn't stop walking, but he does start laughing.]

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow giggles nervously as she runs a foreleg over her forehead in relief, then catches up with a couple of quick wingbeats.]

Anyway, you're WAY worse about getting sucked into books than I am.

[rewritethis]

And since when were we talking about me?

[Oh, look, they're pretty much out through the front gates.]

[elementofloyalty]

Since I brought you up!

[Sure, they're going really slow, but Ed isn't built for speed. Rainbow forgives him.]