Overcoming a Fear of Hugs

17 June 2014

12:46 GyroTech looks at Saphling with longing eyes and a charming smile. "Good morning there Saphling. How are ya this fine morning. You're looking lovely."

12:46 Saphling appraises the oddly polite unicorn. "I'm alright. You?"

12:49 GyroTech giggles quietly. "Me? Well I wasn't sure but now that I've layer eyes on you this morning it's already a great start."

12:51 Saphling says, "Well aren't you the charmer today?" She glances at him with half an approving smile. "It's hard to tell whether you're genuine or not, but I'm impressed."

12:57 GyroTech blushes slightly at Sapling's compliment. He reaches up a hoof to brush some of the mare's mane out of her eye or at least pretend to do so. "I'm always genuine my sweet."

12:59 Saphling grabs his hoof, pulls it away from her face, and gently sets it down. "I suppose that's true. I honestly can't remember a time where you've lied to me."

13:05 GyroTech frowns sadly as the mare knocks his hoof away. "Aww, but there was just a little bit of mane blocking one of your sparkling eyes," he notes with disappointment in his voice.

13:06 Saphling shakes her head at him and sighs. "You don't get to do that. Not until you put me back to normal."

13:09 GyroTech huffs and looks at her confused. "I told you last time, I have absolutely no clue what you are talking about, and you never explained either."

13:11 Saphling looks him square in the eyes for a few moments, then looks down and closes her eyes. "Not too long ago, I gave Inky a hug. For some reason, she got really upset by it. She said I never used to be like that... that I used to avoid them like the plague."

13:16 GyroTech cocks his head, looking even more confused. "I mean, yes, I thought it was a bit odd that you seemed more huggy recently, but I think it's a good change. I doubt she was upset either, probably just confused. You still never said why you blame me..."

13:21 Saphling says, "She was /very/ upset. Almost hysterically so. The thing is, I can't remember a time when I didn't like hugs. For me, it was like she had just gone bat-shit crazy about something perfectly natural. No pun intended." She opens her eyes, but doesn't look up. "It really hurt that she would think I could be somepony so heartless as to shun the warmth of a good hug."

13:26 GyroTech shrugs at her, "I mean at one point you found them scary, but if you don't like the thought, then why would you want it reversed?"

13:33 Saphling says, "That's just it, though! I can't imagine finding hugs scary!" She lifts her head and stares with fearful eyes, grabbing GyroTech by the shoulders and shaking him a little bit. "So why are two ponies that haven't ever lied to me telling me this? If I'm to believe you, then something happened to me. Something that changed me so deep I don't even realize it!" She lowers her head, tears forming in her eyes. "That scares me. That /terrifies/ me..."

13:37 GyroTech gets a little off balance as he's vigorously shaken, taking a moment to recover. As she begins to cry he gives the mare a big hug, rubbing her neck with his hooves and nuzzling into her mane. "There, there, it'll be alright. I can see how that might be concerning. Do you even remember when it changed?"

13:40 Saphling leans into GyroTech's nuzzles, desperately in need of comfort. "I don't even remember a change... Inky just freaked out one day..."

13:54 GyroTech presses his snout deep into her mane, massaging her scalp with his nose. "Then why are you blaming me for whatever happened? How am I supposed to change you back without knowing what's going on"

14:05 Saphling says, "Because you're you," she replied, her voice suddenly gaining an icy chill to it. "You're spontaneous. You're known for doing whatever you want until somepony stops you. What if you didn't like that I didn't want hugs? You'd find a way to make me like them, and then you'd do that with or without my initial consent."

14:17 GyroTech breaks off the hug and pulls away from Saphling, a hurt look written across his muzzle. "What? I would never do anything to you that you didn't want, especially after you were to tel me no. I'm not like that at all." He says firmly and then suggests, "Are you sure you didn't just fall into poison joke or something.

14:23 Saphling hangs her head and sighs, defeated. "I'm not sure of anything anymore... only that something can change me at a fundamental level, and I'd never know the difference..."

14:29 GyroTech pats her on the back once more and draws her into one of those aforementioned hugs. "I'll like you, whatever path you happen to take. Perhaps sometimes we must embrace change and the unknown , even when it's thrust upon us.

14:31 Saphling whimpers. "Gyro..."

14:34 GyroTech breaks away from the hug and coughs, looking down apologetically. "Oh, right, sorry...."

14:37 Saphling just lies down and weeps as she questions herself, over and over again.

14:40 GyroTech takes a deep breath and lies down next to her, cuddling the mare. "Look I don't know what caused it, nor do I know how to fix it, and I do prefer you as a huggy pony, but I promise I'll try to help as much as I can. Though this is not my realm of magic."

14:42 Saphling says, "Thanks, but..." She gets up and looks down at GyroTech. "...I think I need to be alone for a while."

14:51 GyroTech doesn't get up to follow her but still feels obligated to try. "We could be alone together, at my house. It's pretty comfortable and we could forget the world."

14:59 Saphling suddenly grabs his mane and yanks back hard, pulling his eyes skyward as she glares fiery daggers down into them. "Are you /kidding me?!/ I'm in the middle of a crisis, and all you want is to snag some /alone time?!/" She throws his head down hard and gallops away.

15:08 GyroTech yelps as Saphling yanks on his hair, dragging his eyes skyward. "i-i-i just thought that well..." His head hits the ground hard before he finishes quietly as she gallops away, "it makes me feel better"

15:28 Saphling runs until she reaches the park, where she climbs to the highest stable branch in her tree and collapses in a heap of sobs.