//------------------------------//
// In which Octavia witnesses Soarin's new aerial display 
// Story: The Boop Loop 
// by gimmick68 
//------------------------------//

It was a late summer morning and Octavia Melody walked with a purpose at the edge of Ponyville. She wore saddlebags and a determined look.  She had a place to be and project she wanted completed.  She had no time for nonsense or distrac- 
“Hey, Octavia, wait up!”
Her ears perked up and she stopped. She turned and looked up to see Soarin gliding down from the sparsely clouded sky. He lightly touched down next to her.  Her heart skipped a beat.
“What’s uuuuuuup, October?” he greeted enthusiastically.
“Good morning, Soarin,” she replied monotonously before starting her walk again.
“Ah, that mood.  Is that anyway to treat your bestest bud?”
“This morning, yes.”
“Same ol’ October,” he chortled.  “Hey, what’s the rush?” he questioned, trotting alongside.
“It’s not a rush,” she countered.  “It is a brisk pace.  I do not intend to miss the midday sun in the Whitetail Woods.  I am hoping to find inspiration for my next piece.”
“Still actively searching for inspiration, huh? How many times do I have to tell you to just let it come naturally?  That’s the best kind of inspiration.”
“Once more, apparently.  This is the way I conduct my process, Soarin.  You know this.  If you’ll excuse me.”  She picked up her pace.
“Can I come?” he asked eagerly.
“Why?  To mock me? To whine?  To complain incessantly about how bored you are?  I’m afraid you might want to sit this one out, old chap.”
“Okay, first of all, don’t call me old chap. You know I hate that.  Second, I don’t complain nearly as much as I used to. And third, I never made fun of you because I didn’t like you…just…y’know, teasing.  I don’t do it anymore.”
She sighed.  “Very well, if you are so adamant then you may accompany me. Though, I do ask you try to be less disruptive than usual.”
“Awesome!”  His enthusiasm was quickly quashed by her stern attitude.  The two walked in silence for a while before Soarin began talking.  He tried some small talk at first but then moved on to deeper topics he knew she took an interest in.  However, despite his attempts to strike up a conversation, Octavia seemed resistant to him. Searching for some way to engage her he picked up a twig and very lightly placed it on her head.  “Hey, Octi, is that a bug in your mane?”
“It wasn’t funny when we were foals, it isn’t funny now,” she stated, giving no other reaction.  “Remove it, please.”  
He did as asked, even brushing off some scraps of bark.  She turned her head just enough so he couldn’t see her close her eyes and fight the contented smile from her face.  They continued on, him beside her.  She could feel him glance over at her frequently and it made her feel uncomfortable. In a good way.  The Whitetail Woods were just over the next rise when Soarin tried again.  “Hey, hey, check it out!  I wrote you a poem.”
She stopped and eyed him suspiciously.  “A poem?  You’ve been unusually chatty and attentive toward me this morning and now make a claim of composing me a poem.  Soarin, why do I get the feeling you intend to court me?”
“Good instincts?  Delayed reaction?  I dunno. Anyway, check it out.”  He cleared his throat.  “I call it ‘October’,” he said dramatically, making an equally dramatic sweep his hoof. 


“Oh, to speak of my October,


An angel a thousand times over.


I’d relinquish all of my time,


If for one day October was mine.


Pierced by eyes of amethyst,


To know the calm cool winds of her kiss,


In sunlight her colors shine,


Oh, what to give to make October mine.”


 


Octavia didn’t speak for a moment and had to remind herself to make some sort of reaction other than a blank stare, her mouth open, and a blush. “I…uh…for me?  I mean, quite creative, Soarin.  Well done.”  She continued her walk, trying to make sense of his words and why her heart was beating faster.
“So, you liked it?” he asked anxiously, keeping pace.
“I’m not sure what I find more impressive: the fact you managed to compose and recite a marginally passable poem and also marginally succeed at rhyming amethyst or that you managed to do so without using any vulgarities or filthy limericks.”
“Sooooo…does that mean you liked it?”
“It was…pleasant.  Yes.”
“Yes!  Nailed it!” He jumped a little and maintained a glide next to her before trotting again.  She shook her head and rolled her eyes before turning her head and fighting off a smile again, unwilling to show her amusement.  
“Hey, I got something else to show you.”
“Soarin, I appreciate your enthusiasm and tenacity but I’m afraid I’ve got to concentrate on my composition.  I simply must complete it by the end of the week.  I’ve delayed it for far too long.”
He hopped in front of her and walked backwards at her pace.  “Aww, c’mon. It’ll be quick and I guarantee you’ll like it.”
She looked at his eager face, and those gorgeous pleading green eyes.  She sighed. “Very well.”
“Awesome!  Alright, I call it the Boop Loop.”
“The what?  Soarin, this isn’t another Wonderbolt display, is it?  We’ve discussed this dozens of times.  I’m not suited to pass judgment on such a thing.”
“Nope.  This is just for you.”
He spread his wings, hopped up and took off. Octavia looked up but kept walking, watching him moved effortlessly and elegantly through the air.  He was about fifteen feet above her and upside down. She watched as he completed his loop, heading directly for her.  She stopped in her tracks and tensed as he sped toward her.  She watched in apprehension as he stopped about a foot from her face.
“Soarin, you know I don’t like it when you do – oop!” She stopped in midsentence to analyze the situation.  Soarin had softly pushed his hoof against her snout. 
“Boop,” he stated, smiling brightly.
Momentarily speechless, she shifted focus between his hoof and his face.  She felt herself starting to blush again and knew she needed to regain control.  “Yes, very amusing,” she smiled politely, patting his hoof and pushing it down.  “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”  She side-stepped and moved past him, letting out a long sigh of relief as she walked away. Her heart beat faster and her body tingled.  She tried to push the boop out of her mind and focus on her work.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t about to let her do that.
Repeating the loop, he stopped in front of her again, this time much closer.  His snout was no more than an inch away from hers.  She was frozen in place by his proximity.  If her heart was beating quickly before, now it was pounding.  He closed the distance, his snout gently bumping into hers.
“Boop,” he said softly.
There was a change in his tone.  It wasn’t playful or childish anymore.  It had warmth, comfort, and, Celestia forbid, seduction.  The tingling in her body nearly made her shiver in excitement.  The warmth in her cheeks was now burning.
She was a loss for thoughts.  Her brain was still trying to process the sensation of his snout touching hers.  She tried desperately to control her breathing, which had become ragged.  He was so close.  Closer than he’d ever been.  She couldn’t help but study him.  His face was handsome and mature but his smile was youthful and immature. And she swore she saw a mischievous glint in his eyes, unashamed to show itself.  And yet…and yet.  All of it together – his voice, his smile, his eyes – carried something she’d never seen before but was painfully obvious: intent.  Her voice wavered as she responded.  “S-Soarin.  Please…stop teasing.”
He backed up a bit before doing another loop. This time he stopped in front of her again, his snout pressed against hers.  But he made another move.  Slowly, softly, sensually, he pressed his lips to hers.  She didn’t try to resist, but then the kiss didn’t last long enough for her to pull back, even if she wanted to.  Her eyes were wide, breathing heavy, heart aflutter, brain shut down.
“Boop,” he whispered, so close his lips brushed against hers.  He moved back, giving her space to process.
“You…you…are courting me,” she stammered.  “After all these years.  Why now?”
“Who says I haven’t been courting you all along?”
“All along?  I…I…I…”  She shut her mouth so as to stop from sounding like a broken record.  “I need some time to think.”  It was all she could say.
“Sure,” he nodded.  
He turned and took off but only got about three feet in the air when he felt a strong pull on his tail.  He hadn’t gained much speed and was taken by surprise so he quickly crashed to the ground.  
“Jeez!”  he grumbled, rubbing his chin.  He turned over and saw Octavia desperately hugging his tail.  She stared at him intensely.
“I’ve thought about it,” she said quickly.  “I just want to know: All…all these years?”
He sat up, propping himself on his hooves.  “Yeah.  Sorry if it was too subtle or…what’s the word?  Ambiguous, yeah.  And sorry for the wait.  Just scared you’d say no.  Kinda dumb, I know.  But, uhh…speaking of which, yes or no?”  He bit his lip in anticipation.
“Soarin…I…”  She giggled and smiled warmly.  “Consider me courted.”  She crawled up to him and booped his snout with hers before pressing her lips to his. “Boop,” she cooed as she rubbed her cheek against his.  
Soarin gasped at the gesture.  He put an arm around her.  “So, are we special someponies now?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she hummed, nuzzling against him.  “Now come along, my gentlestallion.”  She pulled him to his hooves.  “I’ve just been inspired.  And I most certainly don’t want to lose it.”