-Browser Pone Safari pt.6-

>You, Safari, Opera and your name-brother keep talking
>They've apparently been through thick and thin together
>You never knew there was a moose-specific phobia
>Or that viruses could affect AIs so thoroughly
>Opera suggested employing Avast as a countermeasure
>You also latched onto how they'd bonded, and especially how they were there for each other
>Especially how Anon had tried to comfort Opera when she had her first existential crisis
>Those seemed almost mandatory for AIs, or at least distressingly common
>Makes sense, though, AIs are biological, sapient beings as well
>You're not sure you'd know how to handle Safari having one of them, though
>She'd pretty quickly established herself as, well, basically your rock - someone to lean on
>If she broke down, you'd probably fall with her
>You'll cross that bridge when you come to it
>Side note, Opera is really fucking cute, both as a human and pony
>You feel dirty
>As if you'd cheated on your girlfriend
>Like, Safari's cute too, it's just..
>Gah
>You're having this argument with yourself
>Really
>You thought most people left these kinds of thoughts behind in high school
>Sigh
>Well, you'll probably bring it up at some point
>You can already feel guilt gnawing at you
>But fucking hell, the grass is always greener on the other side, you know this on a rational level
>Too bad your brain doesn't want to be rational
>Well, okay, it recognizes that Anon is a better catch than you, both because he doesn't covet someone else
>Also because he's not a neckbearded tub of lard
>And really kind of a fucking bro
>You think there's an entry in the bro code about hooking up with yo bro's ho
>Whatever
>Seriously
>Focus - back to the conversation
>Eventually, the conversation lulls a bit, and Anon looks at his phone, checking something
>He says they have to leave, but that you need to talk again, maybe meet up sometime
>You've got the means of contacting them
>You and Safari leave shortly after them

-You are Safari pony-

>You and Anon are walking homewards
>The day is still young, but he says he wants to check on some things
>And get his bike if you're going out again
>You approve
>Speaking of approving, you really liked Opera and Anon
>They seem like nice people
>And they helped address some of your worries about, well, everything considering you're kind of a young AI
>Speaking of addressing issues, you got the shape-lock thing fixed with Opera's help
>Though neither you nor Anon has brought it up yet
>Actually, the both of you are mostly quiet on the walk home
>It's not an uncomfortable silence, though
>Even if you're thinking about Anon's initial reaction to you appearing
>Is he still freaked out by your being a horse?
>And...well, he never did get to customize you, did he?
>You feel kind of bad about that
>Browsers - be they male, female or anything in-between - should be customized to their user's satisfaction, after all
>You hate how submissive that makes you sound though
>It dawns on you that you might be overthinking it
>That really doesn't help
>As you get home, Anon gets on the computer
>You head to the fridge and levitate out a red bull
>You bring it with you and hand - hoof? - it to him
>"Thanks, Safari. Say, Safari's kind of long, d'ya mind if I call ya, I dunno, Saff?"
"It's not directly ugly, and gets the job done. Sure."
>You pause, then speak up again
"Anon, I'll be frank - you didn't get a chance to customize me when I first appeared here, and I remember you being, to put it mildly, perplexed by my being a horse. Honestly, so was I. But now I've gotten the shape-lock fixed, so I was kind of figuring, well, now's as good a time as any, ya know?"
>He blinks and looks at you
>"Huh, honestly, I hadn't given it much thought, but it's true now that you mention it. Though...like, is it okay with you? I mean, I'd not appreciate someone moulding me like clay for their own personal satisfaction"
>He takes a sip and looks a bit worried
>That feels so very condescending, even if you know that's not how he means it
"Yes, Anon, I'm okay with it, otherwise I wouldn't have brought it up"
>That did not sound like you

-You are Anon-

>You nod
"Well, we can always try, if not, you'll always have your current settings, right?"
>She nods
>"Okay, so let's get to it. Just tell me what to change, and I'll get to it."
"Right. Well, first of all, could you try being human?"
>You cringe, that really came out wrong
>Well, no taking it back
>She starts glowing a brilliant white and morphs into a humanoid shape
>Somewhat shorter than you, lithe frame
>Glow fades
>Her skin's slightly tanned, hair and eye colour is the same
>You notice her bust is rather modest, and that she in general looks like an athlete
>Again a bit like your pony waifu, whose voice you based hers on
>You're having trouble reading her expression
>Additional trouble is being had trying to figure out other ways to custmoize her
>You can't think of anything that would look better
>Though...would she believe you if you said it?
"You look really good. Remember this form, please."
>She nods
>"Are you sure you don't want to customize further?"
"Well..."
>You spend a while going through endless combinations
>She does look somewhat uncomfortable, but insists on finding something pleasing
>After a while, she frowns and looks in the mirror
>And freezes
>Trembling ever so slightly
>She freaks out and morphs back into pony shape
>Runs out into the hallway, somehow opening the door
>You hear her hooves clopping on the pavement
>Shit!
>You get your bike
>Close and lock the door as quick as you can
>Then head after her
>Now why'd she do this?
>It's not your place to judge
>Though you're worried
>You guess the trigger would be related to the customization
>Obivously
>You slowly close the gap between the two of you
>She's fast though
>You feel like calling out to her, but you''re not sure you wouldn't just end up making things worse
>You were always pretty good at that
>Though, what'll happen if you don't say anything?
>Fuck it, you decide to just tail her and let her run it out
>It takes a while, and you're halfway across the city, but she finally slows down, jumping onto a bench and laying down
>Her mane obscures her face, but you can tell she's been crying
>You get off the bike and hesitantly sit down next to her
>You can't find any words, so you decide to say nothing
>After a long silence, she speakss
>You notice her voice is trembling
>"Anon, I'm...really fucking sorry about freaking out like a little bitch. I expected more from myself, and I'm sure you did too. And it was all so damn unnecessary too. But I felt like I'd failed as a browser, as an AI, as your...companion."
>She pauses for a bit
>You can practically hear her thoughts gathering
>"Plus...I felt inferior to Opera, I guess. I mean, she's a gen 1 AI and yet...seemed so much more...complete, well-rounded, and I'll even admit, really fucking cute. Yeah, I noticed the looks you gave her, hard not to, really, but that's okay. I get it. Fuck, I might be lesbian for her. But, well....yeah okay, that's about as eloquently I can put it, and I'd hate to end up repeating myself."
>You nod, then give her a hug
>A tight, firm one
>You only hope your body odour doesn't make her faint
"Safari, it's alright, I get it, seriously, I know it's hard to believe, but I do. I've spent my whole life being inferior to others and not good enough. You know what pulled me outta that? You. And moving out of Mom's basement, I guess, but mostly you. Don't tell me that strong, confident and playful Safari I know is all a lie."
>You smirk
>She kisses you on the lips
>"To put it simply: Where's the nearest ski resort? I'm gonna kick your ass at snowboarding, hooves or >no hooves"