“Okay fillies, first order of business!”

Taffy sqwaked her usual shrill voice, squeezing her pillow tight to her chest as he snuggled in with her two best gal pals.

Blue was much too busy re-clipping her mane behind her ears to pay attention, so it would be up to River to begin.

“Any interesting news from you? Manic Pixie Dream Mare over here is lost her in own reflection like usual.”

“Taffy, I cant believe you didn’t go first!” River exclaimed. “Do you not remember all the juice we got from the family reunion two weeks ago? The stories we could tell about that alone!”

Taffy rolled her eyes and attempted to stifle her laughter into her pillow.

“Oh stop it you!”

She said when her head popped up, trying to rack her brain with what to share first. At this point Blue began to pay attention, looking between them both with a cocked eyebrow.

“Wellll I did hear that a certain somepony got into a fight with Aunt AJ again, right in front of everypony! Summer is such a hothead! What was it about this time? She was lurking around and Jackie told her to kick rocks and find something to do!”

Taffy started slamming her claws into the pillow to mimick stomping hooves.

“I swear Blue, she was wailing like a foal! What were you up to River? The rock farm is pretty big, I didn’t see you too often.”

“I was getting the scoop from Varmint, of course! She was mostly showing off her snakes as always. Brackish practically begged to hold one, like it would really make him more of a stallion! Varmint knew what she was talking about when she said it would bite him. She’s not an expert for nothing-“

River quickly took notice of Blue. “What’s got you blushing so hard, darling?”

Blue was blushing hard, her coat was a gentle cornflower color but her cheeks were bright electric blue. Her words stuttered out between her lips as she put one hoof over her eyes to mask her embarrassment.

Taffy yanked her arm away and got in real close to her face.

“You have an ooey gooey fillyhood crush don’t youuuu!”

“No I…”

“She gives you butterflies in your stomach-”

Taffy began to whisper into her ear.

“-makes you feel all slithery like a snake?”~

At this Blue began to kick and fell over onto her back, no longer able to stifle her childish laughter, Taffy being pushed back onto River.

“Okay okay! You got me! She’s just so smart and brave and strong! Varmint is like Daring Do or something, but cuter and cooler!”

“Cuter and cooler than Daring Do, you say? She must be special indeed!”

River quipped, leaning in with a smirk.

“You’ve got it baaad, girl!” Taffy laughed along.

“So when are you asking her out? There’s no other way she’ll know~”

“I just mean that she uh…she’s very brave, choosing to surround herself with that kind of stuff-”

It was clear Blue was stalling as she struggled to come up with an excuse on the spot.

“-<span class="caps">WHICH</span> IS <span class="caps">WHY</span> I <span class="caps">CAN</span>’T <span class="caps">BOTHER</span> <span class="caps">HER</span>!”

She suddenly blurted out. Taffy, queen of bothering ponies, butted in right away.

“Why not? If she’s a professional, she should be prepared for any distractions. Pretend your pet snake you don’t have is sick or something!”

Blue, speechless and mouth agape, turned to River with a ‘do something’ gaze.

River, of course, didn’t help Blue’s case at all.

“What a marvelous idea! Get her talking about her snakes so you can get her where she’s most comfortable, then you can strike. We can even get you a snake to be your ‘pet’ if you want to be truly convincing.”

A sly grin spread across her face.

Blue proceeded to shove her face into the pillow, her face barely high enough for her voice to be legible.

“Fine. If she kicks my ass for wasting her time it’s <span class="caps">YOU</span> GUYS’ fault.”

…

“I want a cute little cornsnake.”