A Song in the Heart and Paint on the Canvas [Action/Open/AU!]

[elementofloyalty]

[The pegasus pony that cheerfully flies across the lobby to the quad, this morning? There's a few odd things about her.]

[For one, she's flying about walking speed, just a couple feet over the ground. In fact, she may only be flying because of the easel and art supplies case she's got gathered in her hooves.]

[Second, she's singing. Not with words, but she's just in such a good mood that she's cheerfully using her voice as an instrument. (Yes, it's the theme song, if you were wondering.)]

[Third, her mane is noticeably longer than ever, brushed to a sleek shining flow of color that streams around and behind her like a waterfall.]

[Rainbow nods and smiles happily to those she passes as she makes her relaxed way to the quad. Once there, she spends a moment surveying the scene, one hoof to her chin appraisingly, before dropping lightly into place by the stage. With a casual motion of hoof and head, she nudges the easel upright and open, then opens up the art supplies case to pull out her palette and paints.]

[A few quick strokes of a pencil on canvas later, just to set basic scene and proportions, and the pegasus pony is happily mixing paints, still humming as if everything is right with the world.]

Comments

[graynbowdash]

(Well this is pretty interesting. Never thought she'd see Rainbow pick up a paint brush, but Daring's not one to judge. Still, that's not the strangest thing about this. Dash is the kind of girl who's always in a rush, so strolling through like this? She just has to see what's going on.

So don't mind Daring just popping right up to see what's going on.)

Huh...didn't see you as the painting type. Looking for a hobby that's not flying?

[elementofloyalty]

Oh, hello, Daring.

[You know that vibrant taut energy Rainbow's voice has? It doesn't. She sounds downright sedate, if happy, and bizarrely calm. She dabs her brush in the paint, then lays it to the canvas, speaking around it as she holds it in her teeth.]

Are you free for a portrait sometime soon? I'd still love to make one of you.

[graynbowdash]

(That's definitely suspicious, but something she's not going to bring up quite yet. Maybe she can get Rainbow to mention it herself.)

Yeah, I got some time; classes are just about finished for today, anyway. Gives us a little time to talk and all that, right?

[elementofloyalty]

I always enjoy that. I hope your students this quarter haven't been too rough on you?

[From the way the paint is taking shape on the canvas, Rainbow hasn't just picked this up on a lark. There's clear experience and technique in her strokes.]

[graynbowdash]

(When did she find the time to practice painting? It looks pretty good so far and beginner's luck doesn't work in the field of art. Huh...)

Nah, they're a good bunch. Some rowdy ones, some calm ones...little bit of everything, you know? Got a nice variety going on.

(She looks over the painting again.)

That what you have going on right here? A little variety in your schedule?

[elementofloyalty]

I thought it would be a nice change to paint the Quad, yes. I can't seem to find any of my old paintings of it...

[graynbowdash]

That so? I'll help you look for 'em, if you want. Turns out I'm pretty good at finding things.

You know, whenever you're not busy with new paintings.

[rewritethis]

Hey!

[If that sounds uncharacteristically quiet for Ed, it's only because he's on the other side of the quad - halfway down the steps, to be specific. He's a little too far away to pick out the finer details of what she's doing, but that red coat of his means it's probably much easier for her to spot him.

He waves.]

What's with the easel? Finally decided to get yourself a real hobby? Ha, yeah right, that couldn't be it. [It's obvious he's kidding; maybe it's something about this particular morning, because he's clearly not feeling too bad himself. He almost seems more colourful than normal, in fact.

In a move that likely comes as a relief to the eardrums of anyone nearby, he jumps the rest of the steps and starts to make his way over.]

[elementofloyalty]

[Luckily certain Rainbow AUs don't remember certain deeds that certain Ed AUs wrought on certain Rainbow OUs, or otherwise this might be a bit more awkward.]

Good morning, Ed.

[Her greeting is cheerful, happy, and almost songlike -- smooth and possessing none of the taut, vibrant energy that ought to define her voice.]

I'm painting, of course. Still not interested in sitting for a portrait?

[rewritethis]

[Yeah, who'd want to have to deal with awkward? There's enough of it right here as he approaches and gets a better view of the scene. The paints, her mane, her voice... hell, even her body language...

The corner of his smile twitches a bit, although for the moment he's keeping it up.]

Whaddya mean, "still"? Did I miss a memo?

[elementofloyalty]

[She laughs. It's silvery and bright. It probably ought to send cold chills down the spine of anyone who knows Rainbow Dash.]

I thought of a way to sweeten the deal. What if I use your alchemy array for a background? You could even pick your pose. I'm not used to painting more... action, I suppose? But I'm willing to give it a try.

[rewritethis]

[He scratches the back of his neck, his grin remaining fixed all the while.] Like I wouldn't look cool enough without any of that. C'mon.

[Drugged, he thinks. Drugged is most likely. Or possessed, maybe - not that the idea of parallel worlds full of ponies is one he wants to entertain for long, but it could be possible with damn magic instead, right? Still, neither of those explain the hair, and the latter doesn't explain why a parallel world counterpart would act familiar with him. Unless she's also talking about a parallel him... Ugh, this kind of thing makes his head hurt. And besides, if more than one version of him had the bright idea of making friends with a pony, he's a bigger idiot than he thought.

Drugged would probably be easier to check, too. Yeah, he'll go with that.]

Uh... you feeling okay today?

[elementofloyalty]

Yes. You would look cool, even without any of that. So you agree?

[There's a small hint of her typical quivering excitement leaking through as she looks at him hopefully.]

I feel a little off, but that might be because I couldn't find any of my supplies. I had to go all the way into town to get these. It took me all morning.

[scatterflower]

[Chika couldn't help but grin as she saw Rainbow Dash... doing something different. Well, what do you know.]

Hey Dash! I didn't know you liked painting. Why didn't you tell me?

[elementofloyalty]

[Doing something different... looking different... moving different, sounding different...]

Hello, Chika. I don't know how you missed it this long. Willing to sit for a portrait? Perhaps you and Piyomon both?

[scatterflower]

Actually, I think Piyomon's busy right now. Maybe he can show up some other time.

[But something was really weird here.]

But are you okay? You seem a bit... weird today.

[elementofloyalty]

I do feel like I'm a bit off. Maybe it's these new brushes and paints. I couldn't find my old ones anywhere.

[Rainbow grips the paintbrush into paint, then begins laying it on the canvas with measured, skilled strokes.]

[scatterflower]

[No. That wasn't it at all.]

Well, umm... maybe it'll pass and you'll be back to normal soon then?

[elementofloyalty]

[She can, and does, speak around the paintbrush easily.]

I'm sure I'll feel better once I get this painting out of my system. The Quad in winter? Beautiful, perfect!

[earthlychild]

[Aerith has not had much in the way of previous interaction with Rainbow Dash---she just knows the girl's athletic and tough. And something seems wrong here.]

It's...bright. Lively, even. What were you planning to do with it when it's done?

[elementofloyalty]

Hang it up somewhere, I think. I can't find any of my old ones, so I really need to replace them.

[earthlychild]

What did you like to paint best? Landscapes like this?

[elementofloyalty]

Oh, everything. There's some joy and value to be found any time paint touches canvas.

[earthlychild]

That's really beautiful.

Do you do any other art?

[elementofloyalty]

Well, sometimes crayons or markers... but I've always liked paint the best. I get so much color out of it! I can mix all the colors of the rainbow together and get all the colors of the world!