It had been about a week since she’d started working at Celestia’s production company as a production assistant. Twilight had been one of the top students of her film history class. It was this very fact that had luckily made Celestia offer Twilight a job at her company when she’d heard the young woman was looking for a job.
Of course, Twilight had heard the horror stories of being a production assistant, but she had always assumed that they were either gross exaggerations, or the poor unfortunate protagonists of the stories had been the unlucky few to have ridiculously impossible bosses.
She would learn soon enough that the horror stories weren’t just dramatizations.
“You… You brought him a caramel latte?” Fluttershy slowly asked, almost as if she was hoping that the careful voicing of her question would somehow change Twilight’s reply. She looked around, warily glancing at the other production assistants running around, as if she was afraid they’d listen in to the conversation. She lowered her voice even more and asked, “Are you sure?”
Twilight nodded. Again. And again when Fluttershy repeated her question, even slower than before.
In retrospect, Twilight should have seen this coming. She’d been so busy being efficient and taking care of every other detail, she hadn’t really thought that it would be catastrophic if the coffee she brought for the photography director was a caramel latte, instead of a caramel-mocha latte with three pumps of almond, soy milk, three spoons of sugar, half a teaspoon of honey, and no whipped cream. Unfortunately for her, the coffee shops had closed at least twenty minutes ago.
“Fluttershy?”
Both women turned around, suddenly remembering they were not alone. There was a woman sitting on a nearby chair, looking absolutely relaxed and carefree as she admired her manicure.
It was somewhat surprising Twilight had forgotten Rarity’s presence, especially considering she’d spent most of her week practically at the producer’s beck and call. Too bad she and Fluttershy had just revealed Twilight’s big mistake to their boss.
“Y-Yes, Rarity?” Fluttershy asked, the only production assistant allowed to call Rarity by her first name on account of them being best friends.
“How much longer until filming?” Rarity asked, taking out her phone and casually scrolling through it.
Twilight wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad sign that she apparently didn’t care about her coffee predicament.
“A-About twenty minutes.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Rarity said, starting to type on her phone.
“Anything else?” Fluttershy asked.
Rarity smiled briefly, still typing away at her phone. “No, that’s all.”
Fluttershy nodded to her before once more directing her attention towards Twilight. She glanced at the coffee on the table, remembered the ‘situation’ and immediately did her face fall. “You’re su—”
“I’m sure,” Twilight replied, her voice barely above a whisper, hoping Rarity couldn’t hear. After making sure Rarity was busy texting, she leaned in. “It’s just a coffee, isn’t it? How bad can it be that it’s not… It’s still a caramel coffee.”
“...Just a coffee?” Fluttershy asked, looking at Twilight as if she’d lost her mind.
“Okay. Not just a coffee, then…”
Fluttershy opened her mouth to reply, but instead she pressed her hand against the earphone on her right ear, simultaneously clutching her radio. After giving an answer to whoever had contacted her, she looked at Twilight and took a deep, deeeeeeep breath. “Okay… Just, uhm… Stay here, and make sure Rarity has everything she needs,” she instructed, finally offering a smile — granted, it looked like the smile one would offer someone about to have a very bad time, but it was a smile nevertheless.
Twilight nodded, clutching her notebook and offering an encouraging smile to Fluttershy, even though… she was the one in trouble? She watched in silence as Fluttershy walked off, and she tried hard to ignore the fact she could hear Fluttershy repeatedly whispering “oh dear” as she left.
Twilight took a deep breath.
She was going to be fine. Okay, so she’d brought the wrong coffee, but she’d brought the tripods when they asked for it, she’d managed to find a place that sold exactly one gallon of luminous paint after 10pm, and she’d successfully coordinated the arrivals and departures of the actors. Surely all that would make up for one teeny mistake, rig—
Unless…
Unless the director hated the coffee so much, he told everyone about it… and if everyone knew about it, then Celestia was bound to find out, and if she found out, she’d probably be horribly disappointed in Twilight, and she’d regret having given Twilight the chance to work at her production office, and then Twilight would be out of a job, and without a job, she’d have no way to eat or pay rent, and oh god, she’d have to ask her paren—
“Could you please remind me to send an email to Fancy Pants this afternoon regarding Apple Crisp’s commercial next week?”
Twilight turned around towards Rarity, blinking at her. The producer was still looking at her phone, and for a second Twilight wondered if she’d been speaking to someone through the radio. However, a moment of staring later, Rarity looked to Twilight expectantly.
Oh.
“Oh! Uh, yes!” Twilight blurted out, opening up her notebook and quickly writing down Rarity’s request. When she finished, she noticed Rarity had turned back to her cellphone, but that didn’t stop her from making several more requests which Twilight hastily wrote down. After seven more, Twilight turned back to Rarity expectantly.
“So, what are your hobbies?” Rarity said, still typing away at her cellphone.
Twilight nodded, wrote down the… odd request (she’d have to ask Fluttershy about it later), before once again turning back to Rarity expectantly.
After a moment, Rarity turned to look at Twilight. They stared at each other until Rarity suddenly giggled and clarified, “that was a question for you, darling. We haven’t really been able to talk much, have we? What with everyone running around the place like chickens with their heads cut off.” She sighed and turned back to her cellphone. “Honestly, at this rate, the only thing we’ll manage is to worry the client.”
“Oh, well, it’s like Pinkie Pie said? Don’t run, just walk fast,” she said, omitting the ‘super-duper-wuper’ fast from the original sentence.
Rarity smiled. “Exactly.” She looked back at Twilight, nodding to the chair next to her. “Well, don’t just stand there, Twilight. All that running you’ve been doing. Aren’t your legs about to fall off?” she said, waiting until Twilight obeyed and sat down before continuing, “It’s going to be a long night. You need to take advantage of any second you have to rest your legs.”
Twilight nodded.
And that was it. She honestly didn’t know what else to say to Rarity. Despite the week she’d been working at Celestial Productions, Rarity was still the only one of her bosses that Twilight found herself utterly intimidated by, despite Rarity being only two years older than Twilight.
Maybe that’s what made her intimidating. That she was basically Twilight’s age, and she had already made a huge name out of herself.
It… also might have to do with the fact that Rarity looked and acted like right out of a movie, and there was something about her that made Twilight terrified of screwing up in front of her. She felt very much like a starstruck normal everyday girl faced with the gorgeous moviestar.
“So, your hobbies?” Rarity asked again, putting away her cellphone and snapping Twilight out of her reveries.
“Uhm… I love to read,” Twilight said rather lamely, belatedly realizing how, well, nerdy that sounded. “I’m a big fan of science-fiction novels,” she added, hoping to make herself somewhat more interesting.
“Oh…” Rarity said, looking suddenly concerned. She then smiled childishly and gently patted her hand on Twilight’s knee. “I’m afraid you’re barely going to have time to read. Admittedly, I can’t remember the last time I had the time to sit down and finish reading my thrillers.”
Twilight smiled sheepishly, trying not to focus too much on Rarity’s hand still lingering on her knee. “I’ll find the time, I’m sure.”
Rarity (regretfully for Twilight) took back her hand and leaned back on her chair, still smiling. “Hmmm... I suppose that is true. I can’t remember how many times Celestia caught me with a book hidden under my desk back when I was an production assistant.” She crossed her arms and frowned. “Actually, now that I think about it, maybe that’s why she got glass desks for us.”
“Oh, well, I wouldn’t read on the job!” Twilight blurted out, eager to impress. And failing, of course, judging by Rarity’s raised eyebrow.
“Ah, I see. Yes, I suppose that would be an ill-thought out action,” she replied, and only then did Twilight realize what she’d said.
“OH!” she blurted out, very much wishing she could crawl under her chair. “W-Wait! I didn’t mean to say that you—”
Rarity giggled. “I know, darling. I’m just teasing,” she said, the carefree smile returning as did Twilight’s breath. She winked and added, “I promise I won’t tell if I catch you reading, if you promise to keep me updated on the books. Heavens knows I need to catch up on the literature of the past five years.”
Twilight smiled, laughing nervously. “I will…” she said, mentally berating herself for what she’d said. Good going, Twilight. Good going…
“And what type of science-fiction books do you read?” Rarity asked.
Twilight bit down on her lip, her coffee predicament long forgotten. “Hmm… Well, there’s a really fascinating one I’m reading on—”
“Ah! Rarity, cherie!”
The two turned around, and Twilight was horrified to see the Photography Director rushing towards them and his coffee. If Twilight could have, she’d have taken the coffee and ran for it. If only she had magic powers like the heroine of the book she’d read last month, she could simply magically fix the forsaken coffee.
“Ah, Close Shot!” Rarity said, smiling dazzlingly at the man. “Are we nearly ready to start?”
“Not yet, not yet,” Close Shot said when he caught up, running a hand through his hair. “There’s still a few more details to take care of, but I hope we won’t finish at 5am this time…” His eyes then went towards the cup of coffee on the table. “Ah, that’s my coffee, yes?” he said, glancing to Twilight.
Twilight immediately stood up, her heart beating frantically in her chest. “Er, yes, sir!” she said, trying her best not to look as panicked as she felt when he grabbed the coffee from the table. “Just what you ordered… ha ha ha…”
Close Shot nodded, taking the cup of coffee.
It almost felt like everything had switched to slow-motion as Twilight watched him bring the cup towards his mouth. She could nearly see his face of displeasure at realizing it was the wrong coffee; she could almost hear Celestia scolding Twilight for her mistake; she could almost hear—
A gasp?
A loud, theatrical gasp rang out, making Twilight and Close Shot look towards its source. When they did, they found Rarity on her chair, suddenly looking very pale, a hand rested on her forehead. Twilight immediately felt herself panic again. Rarity had been perfectly fine two minutes ago!
“Ra-Rarity, ma cherie!” Close Shot gasped, putting down the cup of coffee. “Whatever’s the matter?!”
Rarity breathed heavily, her long hair falling down and covering her face. “O-Oh, I… I suddenly felt terribly ill,” she said breathlessly, her eyes closed and her breathing uneven. “I-I don’t know what’s come over me so suddenly…”
“Twilight!” Close Shot barked, startling the assistant out of her shock. “Quick! Go get a first-aid kit!”
“N-No!” Rarity suddenly said, stretching out her hand and taking Twilight by the arm. She then gasped — swooned, almost — and let go of Twilight, her hand once more returning to her forehead. “No… I… I have medicine in the drawer in my dressing room, but I have rather delicate… things in there…” She finally looked up at Close Shot, and almost with practiced perfection, she fluttered her eyelashes and whispered, “Close Shot, darling dearest, I… I only trust you…”
The effect was instantaneous, and Twilight could literally see the smitten expression dawning on Close Shot’s face. Twilight, on the other hand, found she felt a little… hurt by Rarity’s comment.
“Oh, Rarity, cherie!” he exclaimed, a blush crawling up his face, as did a passionate expression that Twilight found admittedly somewhat ridiculous. “Yes, yes of course, only I can be trusted to go into such a private place! I’ll be right back, just hold tight!” That said, the ‘dashing hero’ sped off, disappearing behind a door.
The second he was gone, Rarity brushed a hand through her hair and, like magic, went back to looking perfectly healthy. She smiled sympathetically at Twilight and said, “Do excuse me, Twilight. I simply didn’t want our conversation to be interrupted.” She offered Twilight a dazzling smile and gestured with her hand. “You were saying?”
Twilight blinked, and sat down again. “Er… Oh, yes, so, it’s about—”
Riiiiing.
Rarity’s cellphone went off, and Twilight immediately fell silent.
Rarity smiled apologetically and picked up. “Hello? Oh, you’re here? Fabulous! I knew I could count on you, Twist! I’ll send Twilight right away!” She hung up and looked at Twilight. “Twilight, could you be a dear and please go fetch something from the front desk? It’ll only be a minute.”
Twilight jumped up. “Of course! Right away!” she exclaimed, running off towards the front desk.
When she got there, she was surprised to find a woman standing by the front desk, carrying with her two cups of coffee from the store that had supposedly closed over thirty minutes ago.
Had… Surely Rarity hadn’t… Had she?
When she spotted Twilight, she sighed. “You’re Twilight, I take it? Here,” she said, handing Twilight the two coffees. “Honestly, I don’t know who Rarity thinks I am. What does she think I am? A miracle worker?” She paused. “Well, I am, but tell her I can’t keep having my brother open up shop whenever she pleases.”
Twilight thanked her for the coffees and rushed back to where Rarity was.
“Oh, splendid!” Rarity said when Twilight joined her. “Here, give them to me.” When Twilight did as instructed, Rarity leaned over to the nearby table, taking away Close Shot’s coffee and replacing it with one of the new coffees.
Just as she had, Close Shot came rushing back into the room, waving around a medicine bottle. “Here you go, Rarity!”
Rarity smiled amiably. “Oh, thank you, but I feel much better now,” Rarity said when he arrived. “Must have left as fast as it arrived!”
Close Shot looked disappointed he hadn’t been her knight in shining armor. “Ah… Well, that’s good, at least,” he said, putting the bottle down on the table and taking back his coffee.
Once more, it felt like time had slowed-down as both Rarity and Twilight carefully watched Close Shot bring the cup to his lips and take a long, drawn-out sip. After he finished drinking, he exhaled and Twilight was immensely, incredibly and unbelievably relieved to see him give out a satisfied smile.
“Mmm, that hits the spot,” he said, looking to Twilight. “Good heaven, I was worried for a minute. During my last job, some fool brought me a chai latte instead of what I had asked. Glad to see this wasn’t the case.”
“I don’t see why you’re surprised, Close Shot. You should know we only hire the very best,” Rarity said, turning to Twilight and grinning. “Everyone makes mistakes now and then, but Twilight has been terribly efficient.” She turned to Close Shot and fluttered her eyelashes. “You have her to thank for your luminous paint. Heavens know how she managed to find someone selling it at these hours.”
Twilight felt herself go red at the cheeks. She… She hadn’t known Rarity had found about that particular event, and she was finding it difficult to hide the incredibly pleased smile Rarity’s praises drew out.
“Well, I better be off, then,” Close Shot said. He thanked Twilight for the coffee once more before walking off, leaving the two women alone.
Once he was gone, Twilight turned to Rarity. “Miss Rarity, I— I don’t—”
“No need to thank me, Twilight,” Rarity said at length, giggling. “Remember. We’re a team here, aren’t we? Just do make sure to write out the exact specifications of the coffee for next time, hm?” That said, she got up and stretched out. “Well, no time to dawdle.” She grabbed the other coffee and handed it to Twilight. “Here you are. Something to keep you going. I don’t care if we finish at 5am, I still want to hear about your book.”
With a smile, she walked off, and Twilight could only stare, clutching the coffee in one hand, feeling her heart beating loudly in her chest, and not bothering to hide the rather smitten smile on her lips.
Bzzt!
“Pinkie to Twilight! You theeeeere?”
Brought back to reality, Twilight quickly pressed a button on her radio and spoke through the mic attached to her shirt.
“Twilight here!”
“Hey, Twiiii… You remember that camera lense I told you about like an hour ago? We kiiiiinda need it. Like right now. Like right now right now. Like right now right now righ—”
“I’M GOING! I’M GOING!”
