Radio Baltimare

"I don't know, this is nice." I mumbled, walking down the isle and brushing my hand along some nice cotton rolls. "What were you trying to make again?"

Coco lingered around the isles, slowly scanning each one. "Um, what did you want?"

I looked over the isle, just tall enough to see her over the fabrics. "Oh no, I don't need anything."

Coco looked down to the fabrics. "Then I'm paying." She stated, "It's fine really, I can afford it alright."

I shook my head. "No, you're new in town. It's my treat, alright?"

Coco leaned against the shelves, propped herself upright. "Well then let me make you something." She grew ever so slightly pink. "Let me make up for last night."

I leaned over the isles as far as I could. "Uh, that's why we're here. I mean, I know I said I'd take you here, but this is me making up for getting to hammered to think straight."

Coco looked down and shook her head. "No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have--"

"Coco we're not going to do this." I walked around the isle, standing off with her. "I'm the one at fault, now let me make it up to you."

Coco shook her head again, her collar shaking softly against her coat. "No--"

I reached down, pulling her into a tight hug and tucking her backside under my arm. "Stop it." I carried her towards the corner of the shop, setting her down and meeting her head height. "Listen...you're going to get the fabrics, machines, whatever you want. You can keep them in my house until you move, but you're not--"

"Then let me make you a shirt." Coco shot back, leaning in close. "I feel so bad for what--"

"No, I feel bad." I whispered angrily. "Coco, I was supposed to get you home and--"

Coco leaned in a bit fiery in her own right. "I was drunk. You were drunk. I lead you on, I know I did."

"Coco stop." I held her still by the withers. "You didn't lead me on, we were having fun and I just took it too--"

"No I--"

I shook Coco gently. "Coco, no, bad. Stop shifting the blame from me!"

Coco stared at me, bright blue eyes a bit confused. "Um...there's somepony behind you."

I snapped my head around. A peach unicorn was standing over me, staring at us. "Uh, can I help you?"

The mare shook her head. "No, just making sure you weren't making out." The mare turned away, dusting the shop with her tail as she went. "And you're both wrong, it was the moon's fault."

I stared at the rather intrusive mare. "That's a terrible joke." I stood up, dusting myself off and straightening my pants. "And really Coco, it was my f--"

"No, it--"

"Oh Celestia's sake, kiss already!" The mare shouted, leaning against the counter near the front of the shop. "You, you like him, and you, you like her, now kiss!" The mare stomped her hoof. "Or don't, but go do something!" She flopped down, hooves hanging over the counter. "I can't take anymore, no I'm sorry."

I turned sharply towards Coco. "Uh, we're actually not dating." I stuffed my hands in my pockets. "We just kinda...yeah."

Coco looked around nervously. "Well I- no...no we're n--"

The mare slammed the counter. "Yes, you are!" She flailed her forelegs like mad. "This is a date. Not the best place, but still."

I felt a bit flustered. "Uh, no, it's like. It's complicated alright."

The mare shook her head, brow in a sharp V. "Nuh uh, it's actually really simple." She poked a hoof towards me. "You, you're gonna buy a bunch of fabric and a machine." She moved her hoof to Coco, causing her to pop upright. "You're gonna make a jacket for him," she swung her hoof back over to me. "And you're gonna wear it," And back towards Coco. "And he's gonna buy you lunch, or dinner, or he's gonna eat directly off your body. I don't know, just stop with the sexual tension and buy something!"

I stared at the mare, snapping down to find Coco with a bright blush. I rubbed my face, trying to rid myself of the image of nyotaimorizing Coco. "Uh...sure." I dug into my wallet, finding my bank card. "Coco...go, get the--"

"No. I'll get it." The mare wiggled herself over the counter. "She'll buy the cheapest stuff so she doesn't cost you too much." She hurried off, leaving me standing stalk stiff before the counter. We both watched as the mare loaded up a few bolts of fabric and a slim looking sewing machine onto a cart. "You have a--" The mare stopped when she looked over Coco. "Yeah, you have a kit."

Coco turned away. "Um...yes."

The mare stared at her, glaring quite angrily. "...You're getting a new one." She pointed a hoof up to me. "You, how much you spending."

I jolted upright. "Uh, money really isn't an issue, just don't gouge me."

The mare nodded sharply. "Good boy." She snapped a small box onto the counter and slid it across. "Three hundred bits."

I walked over, grumbling softly. "And I said don't gouge me--"

The mare snatched my card away. "I'm cutting your price down by fifteen percent, don't you start with me." She hastily slid my card, snapping it down against the sewing machine. "Now get out! If you apologize anymore I'm going to lose my great mighty nuggets."

I stared at the mare. "Uh, bad day?"

The mare glared at me. "I was fine until the shy couple decided to have a domestic incident in my shop." She slumped down, laying her chin across the counter. "I have to imagine that's what it would be like if you ever got in a real fight. Oh I'm so sorry I hurt your feelings! Oh, let me make dinner to fix it. No, that's fine, let's go to dinner, I'll pay." She rolled her head to the side. "Ugh. I need a nap."

I nodded, picking up the heavy machine and the bolts of fabric. "Yeah, should close up and get some rest."

"Yeahwhatever." She grumbled, staring down at the thread holders on her counter. "Come back when you need more cloth, just not together. The building will collapse out of sheer guilt."

Coco walked with me, heading through the double glass doors and out into the half empty streets. Everypony either at the beach or at work, leaving the roads mostly abandoned. She looked up at me with a smile. "Thanks, this was really fun."

I smiled down at her. "I can make it better, go apologize to her again."

Coco looked at me with a small frown. "I do- oh, what the hay." She chuckled, turning back towards the shop. I waited outside, hearing a loud yelp as Coco bolted outside. She jammed her hoof against her backside. "She threw a pin holder at me...."

I felt my eyes open wide. "Oh...well shit. Need a bandaid?"

Coco rubbed her flank. "No...I think I'm okay."

I cocked an eyebrow. "We'll see later. See how far this date goes." I turned to the sidewalk, doomed to carry the heavy machine by myself.

Coco ran up, beside me, looking around nervously. "Um...did you--"

"Yes, it's a date." I stated clearly. "Mare said so."

Coco looked around, darting between my shoes and my head. "Oh, I uh...um, okay." She took a deep breath. "Thanks for not being mad--"

"Oh my god, Coco, it was my fault!"