Author's Note
I'm forcing myself to just write and publish stuff even if I'm not feeling so sure of it, hope this isn't so bad. I was hoping to establish characters and tone. Feel free to leave any feedback.
Prowling the waters
Had anypony at the gala ever seen a pony as glamorous as Luminous Chiffon? Surely not! If any had then surely they just hadn’t taken a close enough look! That’s about the attitude that the tall, elegant unicorn strode into the room with. It was about the attitude she had when she entered any room honestly. Porcelain white groomed to perfection - there’s no way these other mares took as much time as she did with her coat! Mane of light purple with darker shades flowing through it resembling sunbeams passing through silk, lightly permed and quite voluminous - there’s no way another mare here cared as much for their mane as she did! Long legs carried her curvy body into the room before she practically posed for the crowd, showing off an elegant red (rental) dress with rubies that sparkled almost as gorgeously as the jade of her eyes, she’d say! The whole display culminated in a tail one could only describe as perfect, arching ever so slightly before draping down to the floor in a cascade of delicate ruffles the same shade as her mane. Of course, again, the prideful unicorn would likely declare to any who asked that there was simply no other mare around who put as much love as she did to her tail!
This was the general attitude of Lady Miss Luminous Chiffon, but woe is the pony who called her out on it. There really wasn’t a better word for somepony like her other than straight up toxic. In her eyes other mares were reduced to obstacles or competition, while as for stallions they were labeled potential targets or complete wastes of space! For some strange reason this hadn’t quite worked for her yet when it came to snagging some rich, powerful pony for a husband. Having reached her forties the unicorn was getting desperate, even if she’d never allow herself to believe that.
Despite just how gorgeous this particular unicorn was, posing in the doorway wasn’t turning any heads. After a bit she huffily gave up and trotted her way to the banquet table to start her usual pattern of scoping the place out. On the way her horn flared gently with green energy as she levitated a champagne flute off a nearby waiter’s tray. In case anyone was watching she made a point to keep mind of her posture, back arched and head high, as she scanned the table and helped herself to some of the hors-d'oeuvres. ‘Just a few!’ she’d say if anypony asked but the truth was she’d skipped dinner for this. ‘These rich assholes get to eat like this all the time so what’s wrong with me treating myself?’ thought Luminous to herself as she finished off the last four stuffed mushrooms, using her magic to eat as carefully as possible.This was done after a quick scan to make sure nopony was looking. Gluttony isn’t a good look!.....Damn this shit is good though!
Before too long Luminous had accomplished step one of her operation, what came next was a long night of schmoozing, introductions, fake laughs, and all the other bells and whistles that came with blending in. ‘Too fat….too old….ugh, too creepy!....you just own a rock farm? Yeah, no.’ Partying always came with constant analysis for Luminous as she weeded out the low value stallions at the party. Some weren’t so bad though! There was a hoofful of partygoers who seemed plenty influential in the area and most definitely very, very rich. That second part was honestly the bigger deal to the greedy unicorn. An unfortunate amount of these worthwhile ponies were couples but there were still a few stallions in the end who seemed worth it! Maybe not the best-looking ponies at the party but eh she could put up with it. Really all she had to do was raise her tail now and then to be a good trophy wife, right? Putting up with that now and then couldn’t be that hard now could it? It’s not like she didn’t have practice! Making and keeping a stallion happy would be a simple affair.
Did it make her a sociopath, caring more about a stallion’s wealth than his looks, personality, shape, size, or personal beliefs? If it did then Luminous didn’t care. There were far more important things on her mind as she scanned the room for the dozenth time, making sure she hadn’t missed anypony. Oh…strange, seems she had! Off in a far corner stood the one stallion who’d thus far had escaped her advances, taller than most of the ponies there. It seemed he just so happened to be on the other side of the room whenever it came time to slink up on the next stallion. That large, wildly coiffed mane was hard to miss even in her peripherals, its blond seeming to occasionally shimmer under the gala lights. It contrasted his tightly-braided tail, each golden knot catching the light at its unique angle. As Luminous stealthily approached she took note of his muscular body, looking rather decent at his age! A little older than the unicorn herself perhaps but clearly still rocking it.
While Luminous did her best to approach casually and indirectly, it seems her analysis was noticed as the stallion turned his head to look directly at her, locking eye-contact with a smug grin. That caught the unicorn off guard, stopping in her tracks and just awkwardly matching his gaze for a few moments before breaking away with a cough, flaring her magic to grab champagne off a passing server as a convenient excuse. Had she been that obvious? There was still half the room between them but there was no way he’d been looking at anypony else! There was something about those pale, almost whitish-blue eyes that made her feel like he saw right through her mask on to the rotten pony underneath. It made her feel almost dirty as she sipped her champagne while shooting her new admirer occasional glances. Maybe that’s what did it cause he was suddenly on the move, pushing through the crowd directly at her!
It was impossible to miss the large stallion’s shining coat as it cut through the partygoers, earning the occasional ‘good heavens!’ or ‘why I never!’ from other ponies. He had a coat like a silver fox, peppered with sporadic streaks of lighter gray that subtly showed his age. It was a stark contrast to his onyx-black hooves that flashed between the brightly colored forest of horse legs. Turning away, Luminous did her best to look like she hadn’t noticed and was just really enjoying her drink as she stepped casually back towards the banquet table. There wasn’t much time to examine the food though before she felt a presence looming over her, preceding a deep, hearty “Well good evening Miss~”
While she’d known the guy was coming, the sudden greeting still startled the unicorn enough that she dropped her champagne flute, jumping back slightly as it shattered on the ground. The accident turned a few heads but the main reaction was a hearty laugh from the silver stallion. Luminous’ face turned a strawberry red in response, looking up at the stallion like a sheepish filly as she awkwardly brushed the shards under the banquet tablecloth. “Bahaha! My apologies Dear! Don’t worry, I’m sure the help will take care of it.” Giving a little cough Luminous did her best to compose herself and stand pretty, taking a moment to look her new acquaintance up and down. Earth pony, taller than her, fit, probably a little older, sporting both a classic tuxedo top and a wide and confident grin. “A-hem, quite. Miss Luminous Chiffon by the way, charmed~ I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure, Sir..?”
“Colton! Rael Colton, at your service madam! Forgive the sudden approach but the light caught your beautiful horn and I realized we’d somehow missed each other this whole time! Chiffon…I believe I’ve heard of your family. Franchisers in Southern Equestria? Bakeries? Quite the lucrative market I hear!” Hearing that made Luminous take a step back, mask slipping for a moment to expose her shock. None of that stuff about her was true, though it was what she was telling the other partygoers. Was her name spreading that fast, or had he been questioning ponies about her? Either way, her web of lies demanded that she stick to her stories so she coughed again and put on her ‘charm’ face.
“Well now, it’s lovely to finally meet you, Mister Colton! I, ah, see my reputation precedes me! You’re quite right-!” “Southern Equestria? I’ve traveled the area, don’t believe I’ve seen the name on any businesses. How far have you spread?” Rael cut the unicorn off abruptly, turning their meeting practically into an interrogation. Now, lying about herself was Luminous’ bread and butter but something about this stallion’s intensity really put her on the spot. It took a bit of shifting and lip chewing she found her words again. “Ah…yes. We have spread to most of Southern Equestria, it’s just, we um, don’t use our family name for the business, yes. LC Desserts! That’s what you’ll want to look out for.” She coughed, “..next time you’re down in the area, of course. I’m ah, just in the area, yes! Scouting actually, we’ve been looking to expand to the area for awhile now! That’s why you haven’t so readily seen our name, I’m certain of it. Mhmm!” “Oh! Well that makes perfect sense!” Even being a little shaky it seemed her lies landed well enough as Rael continued, “So you must be staying at the Bubble Tree! Unless you have a summer home or the likes?” Buck. She hadn’t thought this far ahead. “Er…yes. The nicest inn in town.. Of course.” That would certainly be easier to fake than a summer home!
“Nonsense!” Again Rael cut his conversation partner off, waving a hoof dismissively before gently rubbing it down Luminous’s neck and shoulder. It was a rather bold move but for some reason she didn't feel her usual disgust.. ‘Should probably take it easy with the champagne’ she thought as the stallion continued. “It’s simply not possible any hotel in Equestria could match the standards of a lady such as yourself!” Luminous blinked blankly in response; who was charming who here? “As such a beautiful, high-caliber lady it makes me quite…irate to even consider the notion of you settling for such plebeian lodging..“ The thought seemed to make Rael genuinely angry. It was just for a moment though before he smiled and gestured widely over the crowd. “Any one of us nobles deserves better! Come! You will be my personal guest tonight!” He turned back towards Luminous with that, wearing an almost hungry smile..
Wait, who was courting who here? After a night of rejection from both sides it seemed a little suspicious that it was suddenly this easy. Looking around though the gala was sort of wrapping up, with more than a few couples already taking their leave. ‘Hmmm..’ With a practiced, casual ease she returned her gaze to the smiling Colton and sized him up and down. He was a little older than she was looking for, but just a little.. There was still as masculine virility about him though, showing a little more brashly than other stallions at the party. His puffed chest seemed purposefully juuust a size too small for the tuxedo top containing it, kind of pushing the limits of such a black tie event. It annoyed Luminous that it was sort of working. Practically peacocking with his size and wild mane it was pretty obvious he’d intended to leave with a mare tonight! A quick peek around to the stallion’s buff flank enlightened Luminous to his cutiemark: a fancy gold ring with both a diamond on the left and a fat pearl on the right. ‘Weeell if that means he's rich I guess it might not be so bad to be his prize for the night. We’ll see what I can make of it..’
As Luminous was finishing up her internal analysis the patient stallion piped up, “Though if your plans are set in stone at least settle for my accompaniment back to the Bubble Tree!” ‘...Shit.’ Was he calling her bluff? The unicorn was actually staying on the other side of town in some nice, private, cheap little corner. Going all the way to the BT would expose her, and force her to trot all over town in her fancy dress! Great.
Buck it. Luminous coughed into a hoof and composed herself, putting on a seductive mask and arching her back to accentuate her curves. Whatever this guy actually did for his wealth she could learn on the way. “Why sir Colton, aren’t all these hotels all the same? I’m sure your abode would at the very least be a more…unique experience~” Oh he liked the answer. With a practically triumphant grin Rael reached out and snatched one last champagne flute from a passing server, gulping it down and gesturing towards the door. “But of course! I can only stand these stuffy events for so long, hah! Time for a change of scenery, yes? Ladies first~”
Well, this was what Luminous was here for technically. “Why, sounds lovely~” Keeping the mask up, she faked a taunting smile and took the lead, playfully flicking her tail at her catch for the night as she passed. ‘He’s a little weird but surely this won’t be so bad. At the very least I’ll get a better bed than usual for the night.’ Rael was quick to follow, his mind churning with his own ideas on how the night would go.. Surely this wouldn't be so bad~
