Author's Note

The (Friendship) series will be all about how Steel met the mares (barring Twilight and Celestia).

(Friendship) A Giant and a Fashionista

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Rarity wasn’t always a generous and kind pony, the less said about her early years when she lived in the city the better in her honest opinion. And while living in what many would consider a backwater was sometimes challenging for the mare (as most didn’t wear any clothes outside of special moments or for certain types of employment) Rarity truly relished just how… simply life could be.

So when a giant of a Horse came in looking for work Rarity just had to help the poor soul.

She and Steel got along surprisingly well actually. While he clearly had no talent with a needle and thread he made up for it by doing physical labor, cleaning the shop, collecting massive orders of fabrics, and even manning the front while Rarity worked in the back of some of her projects (though those tended to be very hit or miss so Steel didn’t do it frequently).

This also led to them forming a friendship rife with dirty humor, teasing (mostly from Rarity), and the occasional insightful comment from Steel.

“Darling, have you ever considered modeling?” Rarity asked curiously as she did some needlework.

“Can’t say I have.” Steel admitted, “Don’t think it’d work out though. I’m not exactly sociable.”

Rarity just paused in her work and gave him a questioning deadpan.

“Just because I say hello and be polite doesn’t make me a social butterfly Rares.” Steel said dryly, “I can make polite conversation. But I really don’t think I would deal with paparazzi all that well.”

Rarity had to agree with that, in the few weeks he had worked for her Steel showed that while he can be perfectly polite (and surprisingly good with foals) he wasn’t exactly what you would call… socially adept. When somepony managed to get under his coat Steel could get positively vicious and caustic with his “word-shivs” as he once called them.

Once about a week after hiring Steel Rarity was dealing with a snooty Canterlotian unicorn mare claiming that Rarity cheated her with a subpar product. And Steel really tried to play peacekeeper and calm everypony down.

Then of course the mare just had to get all chauvinistic and tribalistic.

Steel verbally lashed out and tore that mare apart, though never once raising his voice (but then again it was so deep he probably didn’t need too) and remained perfectly polite the entire time. Rarity honestly had no idea what happened, the fact that her giant somewhat brutish friend was not only ripping a mare apart verbally but he was surprisingly eloquent and assertive as well!

She couldn’t deny that she got a little excited at Steel “asserting” himself for the lack of a better word.

“Hmm, perhaps I should evaluate him…”

Ultimately however Rarity did refund the mare and lost what could’ve been a regular, but she did however gain something of interest.

Of course she made Steel pay for it by having him do busywork and run errands that didn’t involve his job. Foalsitting included but thank the stars Sweetie took a liking to the big lug, though it was bumpy in the beginning of course.

“Huh, I… well never expected this when you asked me to stay after work.” Steel said, blinking owlishly at some of her more… specialized stock.

Rarity decided to take a chance and expose him to her more risque work to gauge his reaction. Would he disdain and judge her from her tastes and work? She hoped not as he is a very interesting stallion. And in this day and age where mares and stallions are treated equally their society is still very much mare-dominated and stallions are the submissive, though nowhere near as bad as the early days from before the Princesses united the tribes.

“Well darling I decided it wasn’t right to hide a part of my business venture.” Rarity said, “Though I hope this doesn’t make you think less of me, I’m well aware of what some of the more prudish ponies in town think.”

“It’s surprising and not necessarily my thing but you like what you like.” Steel said, “It's certainly not my place to judge, I personally never saw the appeal but I’m not going to kinkshame anypony if they prefer the BDSM or Bondage lifestyle.”

“Well that’s a relief.” And indeed it was, “And you might not see the appeal because I don’t think nothing short of enchanted shackles would hold you down. Besides you strike me more as a dom.”

“Oh? Well… you’re probably right honestly.” Steel said with a chuckle, “And I bet you’re quite the dom yourself hmm? Lil’ Miss Rarity?” He quipped with a smirk.

Both making her blush at the fact that he knew her “title” and at that smirk.

She could easily imagine him leading a mare around by a leash or even spanking somepony with a paddle, though given his size he probably wouldn’t even need a hoof to “discipline” somepony.

“So… while I would love to see you model some of my suits here.” Rarity said gesturing to a gimp suit, “I don’t think you’d be all that comfortable. Besides I’ve got nothing in your size. So how about you model some clothes for me? Of course you’d be compensated.”

“Sure Rares.” Steel said, “Though to be fair you only had to ask.”

Rarity just smiled at Steel and they returned to the front of the store.

Rarity loved visiting the spa, even more so with her friend Fluttershy. Some of her animal friends had gotten sick so she couldn’t go to the spa that day, which upset her as these spa days were the highlight of the week (even more so after a stressful commission).

Though when Steel offered to go with her, mostly because he was genuinely curious and having never gone before, Rarity was thrilled. Not only would she get to have her beloved spa day but she’s also get a chance to see how Steel reacted to stimulation.

After all Aloe (or perhaps it was Vera) told her they lost track of all the times a stallion (usually passerbys) would get an erection and expect a “happy ending” at the end. Most of the stallions reacted poorly when they didn’t get a “happy ending” but Rarity was hoping Steel would be a bigger stallion.

She was well aware of his… *ahem* problems, the poor stallion seemed to suffer from an especially active sexdrive and had a bad habit of getting aroused at the most inconvenient of times. He’d already been fined a dozen times, however he was a seemingly tireless worker (Rarity was pretty sure he had become the official Mr. Fixit of the town) and always managed to pay his fines within a day or two.

So they approached the spa, Rarity looking pleased as punch whereas Steel looked thoughtful.

“Do you think their massage tables can support my weight?” Steel asked, “I mean if not you can still enjoy it. I’ll just have… whatever else they provide.”

“That is a good question. I mean Horses generally weigh a lot more then ponies, and Steel is a particularly massive stallion.” Rarity thought, “Well hopefully they can. It’d be a shame for you to not get the full treatment.”

Besides she really wanted to see how he’d react to no “happy endings”.

“Well I think there's only one way to be sure.” Steel said with a chuckle as they entered the spa.

*snore*

Rarity as well as Aloe and Vera couldn’t help but giggle at Steel.

“My word! I’ve massaged Dragons that don’t give me as much trouble!” And Aloe did look troubled, clearly sweating obviously working harder then she ever had before “Why is this poor stallion so… tense!? This isn’t healthy!”

“Well he keeps himself busy both at my shop as well as around town.” Rarity paused, “Though I think a lot of it is well… sexual frustration. I’ve heard that mare find his stallionhood too intimidating to rut. Obviously what they do isn’t really enough.” She decided not to share her thoughts regarding an overactive sexdrive.

“Poor stallion.” Vera said, “Come on Aloe let’s swap so you can get some rest.”

Aloe took the break gracefully allowing her twin to take over while she went to take over for Vera.

“I’m sorry if this isn’t up to our usual standards Ms. Belle.” Aloe apologized, “Hopefully this won’t sour your thoughts towards us.”

“Perish the thought!” Rarity said, “If anything this is my fault. Perhaps we should’ve gone to the sauna before the massage…”

Aloe just nodded at the reasoning. After a few moments Rarity recalled something she heard about how you could get a story from massaging somepony or something to that effect.

“Can you tell anything about Steel?” Rarity asked curiously.

“From the massage? Well I couldn’t tell you his life story if that’s what you’re wondering.” Rarity snorted at that having never even considered it, “But I can tell you is that he’s a very hard working stallion, and strong. And from all the knots in his muscles I believe he has impressive self-control.”

Rarity just hummed thoughtfully and the rest of the massage session passed quietly barring the occasional snore from Steel.

“I’m so sorry for falling asleep. But that was so relaxing…” Steel said sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head.

Rarity just giggled, “It’s fine darling. Honestly I did that my first time as well.”

The two were now relaxing in the sauna, both with towels wrapped around their waists to keep their intimates from showing (though it took some quick stitch work to make Steel a towel). Though to Rarity Steel looked ready to fall back asleep.

“So, not to be rude or anything.” Steel said, “I’m just wondering why you didn’t mind me coming along?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Rarity asked, “I like to think we’ve become good friends.”

“True.” Steel said, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.”

Rarity just smiled and the rest of the spa trip passed in companionable silence. Rarity was happy seeing Steel finally relaxing, and also equally impressed when Vera (or was it Aloe) made a suggestive tease and Steel did react predictably but he never once acted like a pissy stallion.

If anything he responded with some irritated bemusement.

“Again! Goddamnit!” Rarity just listened to Steel vent as another prospect one-night stand just crumbled.

Sometimes it’s difficult being Steel’s best friend, but it’s something Rarity learned to deal with. Of all his friends Steel held her in the highest regard for everything she’s done to help him. So listening to and letting him vent was just something that she felt she owed the giant.

And it’s not like he got all violent and needlessly aggressive in his frustration, other then the initial outburst Steel was pretty calm. Though how much of that is a learned behaviour or natural

“I swear I keep trying only to trip over my own damn oversized dick!” Oh he was in a rare mood, “How many goddamn times do I have to explain it!? MY DICK WORKS OF BUCKING PORN LOGIC!!!”

Rarity just passed him a glass of hard cider which Steel took and slugged down.

“Feel better?” Rarity asked.

“Yes… and I’m sorry. You didn’t need to hear that.” Steel said with a groan, “I just… it just makes me so mad sometimes.”

“Ponies don’t handle things outside of their comfort zones well.” Rarity said kindly, “And well… you are very outside most ponies comfort zones.”

Steel opened his mouth before closing it, though Rarity imagined what he was going to say and was impressed that he caught himself.

“Now I have some ice cream and I think you need some comfort food.” Rarity said, “Now sit down and relax okay? Don’t think about irritating mares and just focus on relaxing.”

“You’re right Rares.” Steel said with a sigh, “Like always.”

“As is right!” Rarity said in a faux-snooty tone, “Now sit.”

Steel just laughed and took a seat while Rarity got some of the much desired ice cream.

She knew it would go straight to her flanks but she thought it was worth it if it took Steel’s mind off of his love-life woes. Even for a short while.