Author's Note

Thank you all so much for the views, likes, and comments! It's far more than I could have hoped for in just the first chapter. There's plenty more to go, so let's get to it!

Notes for this chapter: illness (nothing graphic), consensual removal of clothing, and clunky exposition in the form of dialogue that I feel terrible about, but it's the kind that couldn't be shown too well, so I had to tell. ^-^' Enjoy

Seam Rip

At 2:45 the next day, Razzy pushed her way into Gossamer's Fine Boutique, still dressed in her ill-fitting suit but with a lot less anxiety than the previous day. However, that little bit of self-confidence flew right out the window at the sight of the pony behind the desk. It wasn’t Choquette but someone new, a pegasus mare who was just as pretty. Her coat was a delicate green and her long mane, done in a silky plait down the side of her neck, was pale pink and with gentle white highlights. The new receptionist looked up from her work, and her smile was just as sweet and considerate as Choquette’s had been yesterday. Still, Razzy couldn’t quite help the knot beginning to form in her stomach and the knocking of her knees.

“Good afternoon,” the other pegasus said warmly, and her voice sounded like the higher tones of a wind chime. “My name is Cassatta.” She actually slid out of her seat and stepped out from behind the desk to greet Razzy. Like Choquette, Cassatta wore a simple business suit with a silk and lace camisole underneath. Nimble, jade-green wings were folded tightly to her body.

Razzy stepped forward to meet the new mare, eased somewhat by how no attention seemed to be paid to her own lack of flight. “You can call me Razzy,” she said, taking Cassatta’s hand and smiling. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I have a three o’clock appointment with Miss Silk?”

“Of course. She is just finishing up with a client, but a meeting room has been prepared for you. Please, won’t you sign in and then follow me?” The light green pegasus stood aside so that Razzy could write down her name into the guest book. Embarrassingly, it took a couple of long seconds for her to think to scrawl her full name, but she managed and Cassatta hadn’t seemed to notice how Razzle had lingered over the binder. It was really nice, being put back at ease inside of the lovely shop.

“Your meeting will be on the second floor,” Cassatta said in a low voice as the two pegasi brushed past the silk partition and into the main boutique. “Miss Silk does not usually like to have meetings all take place in just one room. We assistants will prepare a couple of rooms if she has back-to-back consultations and interviews.”

“I suppose...for client confidentiality?” Razzle murmured, keeping just as quiet. The last thing that she wanted was to disturb a potential employer’s meeting by being too loud.

“That’s part of it. Miss Silk incorporates the seasons into her work quite often, and not just in the design,” Cassatta explained, and Razzle Dazzle hung onto her every word. This could be important. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be a quiz or anything. “There are some rooms here that Miss Silk doesn’t use at certain times of the year, just like there are some colors that work best in designer clothing during different months.”

They turned a corner and into a small hallway gallery, lined with pictures of raw silk, some sort of tan pupae, and even a few spider webs. Cassatta continued with her explanation, and while Razzy listened to every word, her eyes still drifted to the very detailed pictures. “Miss Silk keeps us hired year round, but not everyone is here at the same time. I’m just coming in as this season’s receptionist, but I’ve worked for Miss Silk for three years.”

“Oh...I see.” It made sense, in a way. With Canterlot being such a fashion-centric city, some of the practices up on the high streets would have to be used even on the Lower Side to try to gain high-paying clients. As they came to the stairs, though, Razzle Dazzle found that a couple of questions had come to mind. “I...I don’t want to be rude or ignorant, but would it be alright if I asked where you worked when you’re not the receptionist here?”

Cassatta’s smile never waned. “Oh, it’s hardly rude, and I appreciate that you want to know.” She let Razzle take the steps first before following closely, her silk suit briefly brushing against the other pegasus’ wings. “Miss Silk has a few other locations around Equestria where we can stay and work, and she also has a place in the country where I volunteer to help make silk.”

“Make silk?” The notion was intriguing, and though Razzle had never even considered the process of making raw textiles before, something about this caught her attention. “She doesn’t buy it from a warehouse or manufacturer?”

“No, no… Miss Silk has an estate out in the country that produces all of her raw materials, such as fabric and thread,” Cassatta explained. “And I’m always happy to help. It’s not terribly difficult work but still very rewarding, and the room and board are paid. She genuinely wants to make sure that we’re all involved in every aspect of her business, but also that we’re not overworked. To Miss Silk, our health and happiness is paramount.”

That was such an oddity to consider, that a boss would do everything in her power to make sure that her staff had stable, consistent employment throughout the whole year and wanted to ensure their well-being. How many employers on any scale could claim to offer both comfortable accommodations and a stipend on top of that for their employees? In Canterlot and Cloudsdale? Hardly any. “She takes such good care of...you guys.” Razzle stumbled a little in speaking; she’d just about to say “she takes such good care of us”, but that wasn’t right, was it? Razzy wasn’t an employee yet.

At the landing, they both stepped out onto an open workshop area. Mannequins were lined up in neat rows, and some of them had pieces of fabric and the beginnings of dresses draped over their bodies. Two mares with short, curved horns attended a matching set of mannequins that seemed to be featuring wedding dresses. “Sunny? Moony? We have a guest!” Cassatta called over, and Razzle shied away just slightly. She was already being introduced to other employees? Wasn’t that a little forward? Then again, Razzy didn’t really know how the business functioned. Maybe they were just more open than others. That seemed to be the modus operandi.

‘Sunny’ and ‘Moony’ looked up from their work and merrily trotted over to greet them. They seemed to be almost like twins; their cutie marks were some form of unfrosted cake, their manes were of a light peach, and they were about the same height and lean body. The only difference was coat colors: a light green for one and soft pink for the other. While the receptionist wore a neat business suit, both unicorns wore matching short dresses of eggshell white with a a black circular structure stitched on the front breast pocket. To Razzy, it looked like a rather angular spindle wheel.

“Miss Dazzle, these are Sun Cake and Moon Cake,” Cassatta said, beckoning with a hand. The two unicorns dipped their heads to the pegasi and smiled kindly. “They are two of our junior seamstresses. After Miss Silk gets to a certain point in her tailoring, she passes her work on to other staff members to help finish. They also make all of the uniforms for Miss Silk’s staff.”

Razzle Dazzle paled under the intense staring from the two unicorns. It wasn’t the same sneering scrutiny that she’d gotten from some of the others at places where she’d interviewed, where their very look told her that she was their inferior. Still, this level of staring was...really a lot, almost too much. It felt like they were looking into her very soul. “I-it-itsa p-p-pleasure…” she tried, but the words came out slurred, and why were they all suddenly looking that much taller? Her head started to feel a little heavy and the floor suddenly became the ceiling-

Three sets of hands reached out to grab her at once. “Steady,” someone murmured, and it didn’t sound like Cassatta. Maybe it was one of the twins? “Carefully, over there,” another person whispered, in another unfamiliar voice. Razzy felt herself carefully lifted by strong, capable arms before being laid down on something softer than her old cloudbed. What felt like a cool cloth was draped over her forehead, and her whole head was then elevated by a pillow. Even though her vision was rather fuzzy, there were shapes looking down at her and exchanging worried whispers.

“Wh-wha…?” she tried, but it all came out slurred again.

“Shh,” someone murmured kindly. “Try not to talk just yet, Miss. Just relax for a few minutes.” A slight weight settled nearby her on the furniture (it must have been a couch of some sort), and a warm hand took her own. A different hand brushed through her hair, careful not to mess up how it was arranged.

They were all so nice and comforting, Razzy mused quietly as she was watched and comforted. It was the most care that she’d received from any group of ponies in quite some time.

There was another set of hoofsteps from somewhere nearby. “Oh, dear. What happened?” It was Fine Silk, and she sounded rather distressed. Razzy tried to sit up to face her interviewer, but her head swam unpleasantly. She felt about ready to be sick, but her stomach didn’t rebel quite yet. That was one good thing; the last thing she wanted to do was humiliate herself in front of her potential coworkers or mess up the rug.

“It’s my fault,” Cassatta murmured, on the verge of tears. Unseen to Razzy, she had a silk handkerchief in one hand and was trying to stem the oncoming tide. “I- I think I overwhelmed her, Miss. I’m so sorry!”

Booted hooves moved a little closer, and there was a ruffle of fabric followed by muffled sobs. “Shhh, my dear. It’s perfectly alright,” Razzy heard Fine Silk whisper. “Your heart was in the right place. Why don’t you go to the kitchen and have Baklava serve you some cake? Moon Cake and Sun Cake, you should go with her as well.”

“Yes, Miss,” the twin-like unicorns replied, and the hands gently left Razzy in order to guide Cassatta through some unseen door.

A new weight settled on the couch as soon as the trio were gone, and a gloved hand settled on Razzy’s shoulder. She didn’t startle; the pegasus felt a little too weak for that. “Razzy? Are you alright?”

Barely sparing a thought for the fact that the beautiful unicorn had called Razzle by a nickname that she didn’t quite remember sharing, she managed to whisper, “I’m sorry, Miss Silk.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for.” One gloved hand took Razzy’s and caressed her fingers, and the other took the cold cloth from her brow and began to brush it over mottled pink and white fur. “It sounds quite sudden. My dear, you’re burning up quite a lot!”

There was an odd twisting sensation in her heart, like some sort of knot was coming undone, and Razzle gave a small, gasping sob. “I’m so sorry!” she repeated, scalding hot tears leaking out from her eyes, no doubt messing up her makeup. “I...I felt fine, and I didn’t want to reschedule-”

Fine Silk just gave another shushing noise and continued to caress the ailing pegasus mare. “I don’t blame you, dear. Did you eat anything at all today that might have upset your stomach?”

Razzle barely managed to shake her head, still weeping quietly. “Haven’t eaten at all.” After such delicious food yesterday, she hadn’t felt hungry for all of today. Those raspberry delights had been so satisfying, right down to her soul.

“Well, there might be part of the issue,” Fine Silk tutted, but in much more of a motherly way. “I’ll have some food and a tonic packed up for you, and I’ll take you home.”

“N-no!” The pink mare almost wailed, suddenly distressed. “Your business-!”

“Will keep while I am away,” the tailor interrupted gently. “Right now, you and your health are far more important to me, and I want to see you home safely to make sure that you have a steady recovery.” Through hazy eyes, Razzy saw the paint unicorn’s beautiful purple eyes wide with worry. Even now, she put forth a heavenly image, far more comforting than Razzy had ever felt from Princess Celestia.

Razzy began to cry a little more while her head pounded and stomach churned, and the unicorn, this wonderful, kind, generous unicorn continued to comfort her with small sounds and gentle caresses. “Choquette became suddenly ill yesterday, too,” Fine Silk mused aloud. “She’s just resting upstairs. I wonder if it’s a bug that’s floating around.”

Razzy sincerely hoped not. It wouldn't do to get any of the wonderful Gossamer ponies ill, let alone Fine Silk. “The interview…” Her stomach roiled before she could finish the sentence, but everything managed to stay down, at least. She didn’t particularly want to mess up this gorgeous shop.

“It can wait until you feel better,” she was told. “I just had a few follow-up questions, but I’m already sorting through the paperwork, Razzy. Ah!” Fine Silk suddenly gasped as a set of boots announced the arrival of someone new. Razzy’s eyes felt so tacky and gunked up that she couldn’t really see who the visitor was.

“I brought the items that you asked for, ma’am.” It was Baklava, the pretty brown unicorn from yesterday who had brought the treats to the interview. There was the soft tinkling chime of magic in use as something was set down nearby. “Is there anything else that you or Miss Delight might need?”

“Not now, but thank you,” Fine Silk sighed, and there was a smile evident in her voice. “You may go back to the kitchen to comfort Cassatta and the Cakes.”

“Yes, Miss.” As Baklava left, a pleasant aroma wafted through the air and caught Razzy’s weak attention. It was a lovely smell, low and rich with just a hint of tang at the end. She’d smelled it before, or something like it, and recently. What was it? Maybe she could ask once she felt better.

“Shall we get you back home before you get any weaker?” Fine Silk offered, standing and placing both hands gently around Razzy’s torso, slightly rumpling her faded suit jacket. The pegasus barely had the strength to speak now, let alone nod, but she tried to show the kindly tailor that she had given her permission. Her head spun as she was lifted by surprisingly strong arms before one of her own was slung over Fine Silk’s shoulder. “There is an elevator nearby. We’ll use that.”

By the time that the two had reached the foyer, Razzle Dazzle was having a great deal of trouble walking, but Fine Silk made no comment or complaint. They took their time down the few steps from the shop, and being on flat ground certainly helped with the journey. This was so awful for Razzle. Not only did she fall ill right before an important interview, but her potential boss was taking precious time to escort Razzy home! She’d done nothing to deserve such kindness from the unicorn, had she? Aside from be polite?

“Do you have any friends or family to help you?” Fine Silk murmured as they crossed into the shadow of Razzle Dazzle’s apartment building.

“No,” the pegasus whimpered hoarsely. “They don’t want me anymore…” All of her old ‘friends and family’ had ostracized her as soon as she’d decided to move to Canterlot and live on the ground. Some pegasi were just like that, unfortunately.

As if understanding the unsaid context, Fine Silk embraced her charge a little tighter. “We’ll get you tucked into bed, and I will for my girls to check on you while you’re ill.”

Even if Razzy had wanted to protest, she couldn’t possibly. She felt so seriously ill that there really wasn’t much that she could take care of in this condition. With so much help from the tailor, they quietly entered Razzy’s apartment building, trudged up to the second floor, and got to her room. When Razzy fumbled and almost dropped her keys, they were quietly taken in a purple magical glow and slid into the lock for her. “Thank you,” she managed, but it made her head and neck throb to just open her mouth.

Gentle hands helped the ailing pegasus to sit down on the edge of her rickety bed. Nearby, her keys and whatever objects that Fine Silk had also been levitating were set down on her little bedside box. The unicorn made no remark about anything in the room, like the cardboard boxes that were still unpacked or how the bed was so neatly made. “We’ll get you settled in, and everything will be just fine,” she promised quietly, and Razzy found that she could almost believe the tailor. She just hoped that she wouldn’t have to feel like this forever.

“Why don’t we...oh…” Fine Silk trailed off a little awkwardly. Razzy got the distinct impression, humorous and adorable as it was, that the slightly older mare was wringing her hands bashfully. “I suppose that I’m so used to seeing other ponies without clothing, I haven’t asked your permission.”

Razzy found herself barely muttering “you can." She was starting to shiver, and her wings felt like two icebergs on her back. The oppressive suit jacket was unbuttoned by careful fingers and set off to the side. She didn’t care that Fine Silk only had to do a little maneuvering to help get off her skirt. It just felt far too stuffy and constricting, even though she was cold. Her blouse and bra came next, leaving her in just her panties, in front of someone who could be her future boss. If Fine Silk had no issue, though, Razzy was pretty certain that she didn’t mind, either. It was actually...rather nice to have someone being so non-judgmental and unconditionally kind and compassionate, especially when she was at her weakest.

Nearby came the soft release of fabric. “Please, won’t you allow me to put your nightgown on you?” Fine Silk’s voice was so soft, affectionate, and held no disgust or annoyance. She truly was the best.

Razzy managed a small, hoarse “yes”, even with her head hanging down. Magic formed around the sheer silk gown to leave Fine Silk’s hands free. She helped to lift Razzy’s arms up over her head. The pegasus sighed with relief as the fine fabric brushed over her sweaty face and hands. It was both warming and cooling at the same time, such a relaxing sensation in an uncomfortable situation. Her wings briefly flared out through the wide slit in the back, and even pressing her feathers against the back of the gown felt rejuvenating in a way. Tender, skilled hands sculpted the silk down Razzy’s body so that it formed to her very slight curves.

“The chest area seems a little small for you,” Fine Silk whispered, brushing a gloved hand over Razzy’s red face and through her damp hair kindly. “The next time that you come into the shop, I’ll modify it for you.” The unicorn helped tilt Razzy back into the bed and began to draw up the silk comforter that she’d gifted the pegasus three days ago. Purple magic levitated a bottle of a light-green milky liquid over to the tailor/caretaker.

“This tonic has been helping Choquette recover from the same thing that you have,” the bicolored unicorn explained, tilting Razzy’s head up. “Please, won’t you have a little?”

“Yes,” the pegasus weakly answered, opening her mouth as much as her aching jaw would allow at the moment. A few drops of the tonic hit her parched tongue, and Razzy’s lips fastened over the bottle so that she could drink more strongly. It felt almost purifying, washing away some traces of the sickness. The minty flavor settled her stomach almost as soon as it hit her aching belly. She relaxed into the hand supporting her head and neck.

This was truly something special, a type of unconditional motherly attention that she hadn’t experienced since leaving home for the ground. Razzy had dreaded not being able to experience anything like it again unless she decided to have her own foals.

The sweet, creamy, minty tincture continued to drip into Razzy’s waiting mouth while she almost suckled the bottle. Her stomach was calming down and a minty freshness seemed to flow into her veins. Even her wings began to feel less icy and heavy. Unfortunately, the bottle was soon emptied, and was levitated away by a deep purple magic.

“There...does that feel a little better?” The low, rich voice of Fine Silk drifted through the feverish haze that had taken over Razzy’s mind. She clung to it like a life ring, but she wasn’t going to be feeling better from the fever immediately. She tried to mumble that whatever the solution had been, it had done wonders, but Razzy couldn’t hear her own reply. The silk duvet was tucked under her chin, trapping her underneath the insulated weight.

“Don’t be worried,” the matronly unicorn whispered, and...was that a kiss to Razzy’s forehead? “We’ll take care of you. We’ll be your family, Razzy.”

Family...a thing that she hadn’t had since leaving Cloudsdale. If she were lucky enough to be hired on by Fine Silk...all those kind, beautiful mares at the shop could be her new family. That was a nice thought, thank you, and a great last thought for Razzy to have before she drifted off into feverish sleep.

She dreamt of a beautiful family of mares, that milky medicine, and raspberry delights.