Staying Put

"I'm in the fashion industry," Rarity responded, nursing her drink between slow, measured enunciation. "My primary lines deal with stallion fashion... suits, urban wear, casual—" she waved her hoof as the words dripped from her lips, "—you get the idea." Pulling her gaze from the sky, she turned to face Jason, her eyes betraying intrigue. "And yourself? Do you work locally?"

It was a simple answer to a simple question, but Jason's situation was a little more complex. "I'm... here on holiday. I live on the outskirts of town, I've got a little house that I built for myself, it's quite cozy, and usually quiet." If you didn't count his recent visitors, that was, but Jason really didn't feel like bringing that up.

Rarity's eyes widened, but it didn't feel like that patronising incredulity or disbelief he was swiftly growing accustomed to. Rather, there was interest there still. "I've considered getting off the grid before, in all honesty. I've often wondered what it might be like to live off the land, grow more accustomed to my own company..." Her gaze was a mile away again, and her voice turned hollow. "Suppose I'm already fairly used to it." A forced blink, and she was back in the moment. "Forgive my curiosity but I wonder, does it get lonely at all?"

"Nature's good company." The smile Jason followed the half-truth with revealed the latter portion: that more was always welcome, only the right kind though.

"If I could go anywhere..." Rarity tapped her polished hoof against the table as she hummed, shaking her head from side to side. "Zebrica. I'd travel by hoof, of course. None of that resort, tour guide nonsense. I'd walk until my legs couldn't carry me anymore, and when energy failed me, I'd rely on my wonder and excitement for sustenance. When I finally dropped, I'd pitch a tent and wait for the next day, hope no beasts decided to make a meal out of me while I slept."

Jason couldn't help but snicker. "You honestly don't look like the type, you know that?"

Rarity rolled her eyes, blowing on her already cooled drink and flicking her curls back. "Please, darling, I think we've evolved past first impressions here. I mean, honestly, you're a stallion that built his own house, that's hardly a common occurrence, stallion or mare." A saccharine smile as she placed a hoof under her chin. "Not to say it isn't impressive, to say the least. The practical ones usually have all the charisma of an old boot, so it's nice to see that you can hold a pleasant conversation too."

"Suppose we're both a little different..." it was a comfortable silence, but Jason broke it without hesitation. "I don't think I've got a specific place in mind, to travel, that is. I've always kind of gone wherever was in front of me, rather than planning it all out. It's how I ended up here, after all."

"I suppose not everyone's as meticulous as me..." She shrugged her withers. "But then, at least you can say that you're actually doing it. Would you say it's been fortuitous thus far?"

Jason couldn't help but notice her extra-long, pristine lashes, the way they fluttered whenever she blinked. Every element of her was done up to perfection, but with a personality like hers, did she even need to make such an effort?

"Jason?"

He snapped to attention, noticing her head had tilted, and he'd been zoned out, staring. "R-right, yeah. I mean, it's been an experience, I can say that much, but I don't know if I've ever really found what I'm looking for." Come to think of it, was he even sure what he was looking for? Escape? Happiness? Suppose everyone wanted that one.

She raised an eyebrow, almost as if she was weighing his response. "Well, I sincerely hope you find whatever it is you need. It shows dedication and self-appreciation, that you've gone out and searched for it. Too many people waste away their lives just dreaming of what they could have." She giggled, slipping her hoof up from her chin to cover her mouth. "Well, I'd know."

Jason felt himself pause with his lips parted. It was an interesting perspective, no doubt, and he couldn't be sure if he'd ever thought of it like that. But then, wasn't what he was doing reclusive, rather than exploratory? Two sides to every coin, he supposed, maybe he was looking at it too cynically? "Thank you." He managed that much, and it was all either of them needed.

He took a sip of his cooling drink, but it soon graduated into a gulp. He couldn't explain it, but something about this situation made him feel dehydrated. Anxious, but in a good way. Maybe it was the sun beating down on him? Say something. Take your mind off of it. "I'm buying the drinks next time."

Rarity grinned, unabashed. "I appreciate it, Jason, but I think you'll find that out of the two of us, I'm the one gainfully employed, and you're the one that's meant to be vacationing. Relax! Let me get your drinks." Glancing left and right, she narrowed her eyes, deviousness etched across her features. "So... when's next time?"

Jason blinked heavily, realising exactly what he'd said. But honestly, it felt right. Why wouldn't he want to see her again? She was interesting, beautiful, and above all respectful, he'd be mad to leave it here. "When would you like it to be?"

"I'm a busy mare, Mister Moors." Rarity winked, draining the last of her cup. "But... I'm sure I could find time for another drink—" she lowered her tone to a scandalous whisper, eyes flicking to the barista from before, "—perhaps somewhere with friendlier staff." A shared chuckle, and Rarity moved to stand. "I know a nice little cocktail bar in the centre of town, would that tickle your fancy?"

Good company and alcohol? Jason couldn't nod much more enthusiastically if he tried. Of course, he tried and failed to play it down. "I'd definitely be down for that. Where would we meet?"

"I have a boutique about five minutes from here. I'm heading there now, if you'd like me to show you to it?" Biting her lip, Rarity looked over to Jason's half-finished beverage. "That said, don't let me rush you. I don't mean to impose at all."

There was only a second between Jason realising what Rarity was referring to and him drinking up, finishing off the cup's contents. Rarity seemed rather amused by that, Jason rubbed the back of his neck. "It was tasty. Couldn't help myself."

"There's another difference between us," Rarity grinned, her hips swaying as she began to walk, taking the lead. "I prefer to take my time with something sweet, savour every second of it... especially if you don't get a chance to have it very often." She looked back at him with an accusing stare. "I'll bet you're the type to eat the icing before you touch the cake."

Jason's cheeks reddened. He wasn't sure if it was the other mares he'd been exposed to before now, but he couldn't help but take that as a possible innuendo. "I mean... would that be a bad thing?"

"Hmm, to each their own." Rarity flicked her tail, picking up the pace and forcing Jason to keep up. He was a couple of paces behind her, able to marvel at her entire body with little effort, but part of him wanted to keep his eyes off of her if only for the fact that for once, he was the one doing the staring. "My building's just round the corner... ah, there it is. You see it?"

She pointed, and Jason's eyes followed. While the architecture wasn't necessarily in his tastes, there was a flare about the place, one that he'd definitely attribute with this mare. "So, you want me to pick you up from there tomorrow?"

"Pick me up?" Rarity's ears twitched, as if she'd never heard that exact combination of words leave a stallion's mouth. Eventually, she nodded in earnest. "Yes, that does sound splendid. Shall we say half-six? I'll have just finished closing up by then."

Jason mentally checked his schedule. Oh yeah, nothing, followed by nothing. "Works fine by me, sure!" Wow, that enthusiasm. His mood really had taken a change for the better since meeting her. A thought occurred to him a second later, and he met her with a challenging smirk. "So, can you handle your drink?"

"Not at all, darling, but it doesn't stop me from trying." She turned then, walking over to him and wrapping a hoof over his withers, a short, sweet embrace with heat that emanated even after she was gone. "Now, as much as I hate to cut this short, I need to get back to my customers, and my assistant. Also, as fashionable as it might be to be late? Do try not to keep me waiting tomorrow, I'll only worry."

Part of Jason still felt like he was hugging her back. How the hell was she so different to everyone else? He cleared his throat, biting back a stutter. "I'll try not to, no promises though."

"Oh, promises are the worst, Jason, ponies have a particular penchant for breaking them." A quick look behind her. "Now, if I had a pocket watch, and it could speak, it'd be telling me that my time's up, so I'll have to bid you adieu for now." One last look at him, a subtle smile that made her eyes shine. "I'll look forward to seeing you again soon, Mister Moors."

"And you," he said back, but he was graced with no response excepting the back of her as she slowly sauntered away. It was all softly rolling, swaying hips and a tail that spun in circles as the white unicorn from the little cafe made her way inside, not sparing a look, but likely all too aware of the eyes clinging to her.

Jason tore his gaze away before it was too late to even try.

Coco Pommel wasn't one for snooping, she really wasn't. She liked to keep herself to herself, and worry only about matters that affected her and those she cared about. Gossip wasn't something she had time for, and rumours bored her.

But that wasn't to say that she didn't basically have her snout pressed against the window as she watched Rarity conversing with the hot, mysterious stallion from outside. Rarity was currently alone on the floor with her, the last customer for the morning packed up and shuffling out of the door with his bags. Now felt like an opportune time to bring it up.

"Sooo..." Coco couldn't help but grin as she faced her boss, her friend.

"...so?"

"Sooo, who's the cutie from earlier?"

Instantly, Rarity's cheeks began to redden. "You saw him?"

Coco lightly punched her shoulder, something that was twice as hard for an earth pony to pull off, walking past her and beginning to sort through the register. "Sure did, what's the deal with you two?"

Rarity scoffed, throwing her mane back. "There is no deal, Coco. He's a pleasant stallion, and I'm going to be having a few drinks with him tomorrow evening. That's all there is to it."

Coco looked up at Rarity, studying her intently. "...sure there's nothing else to it than that? Because you know that if there was, I wouldn't judge you, right?"

"Honestly, Coco, I don't just throw myself at any stallion I meet! You should know that much about me by now, surely?"

Coco nodded, taking the tease out of her tone. "I know, Rarity, which is why I'm excited to see you talking to a stallion again! It's been a while since you've found anyone you've got along with..."

Rarity's eyes remained firmly closed as she walked past, levitating items around the shop and placing them in their correct areas by memory alone. "Well, as it stands, he's just a friend. Not even that, an acquaintance, and I'm not getting my hopes up. We'll see if anything happens tomorrow, but I'm not pushing for it by any means. If something did happen, it would be..." Rarity paused, considering the word she was searching for. "Natural. It would just be right."

Coco pondered what Rarity was saying, nodded with a look of deep understanding, then winked and nudged her. "Want me to look after Sweetie Belle tomorrow just in case? Maybe pick you out some nightwear, and dare I say bedwear?" She waggled her eyebrows a couple of times, bumping her flank against Rarity's.

Rarity gasped, placing a hoof over her chest."Coco! Honestly, you're terrible!" A few seconds, and Rarity's blush deepened, her next words coming out as a whisper. "Do you think you could really do that?"

Coco gave a playful curtsy, bending at the forelegs and lowering her neck. "Your wish is my command, m'lady."

Rarity nodded, hesitated, and then nodded again. "Alright, alright, let's do this. We won't have a chance tomorrow, so we'll have to tackle this today." Her eyes scanned the room, and she turned to Coco with a quizzical expression. "Are thongs still considered classy?"

Coco didn't think thongs were ever considered classy. She certainly wasn't about to tell Rarity that, however.