Intimate Details

Intimate Details - Part 13 “Encore”

“Come on, Rarity… I really want to see it.”

“Not until it’s finished, darling.” Rarity smiled as Octavia tried to look over her shoulder into the studio. Rarity snapped the door shut and locked the deadbolt, grinning at the frustrated cellist. “You can’t see the dress until your performance. It’s not nearly completed yet.”

“Oh come on now, Rarity… How do you expect me to play without seeing whatever getup you’ve managed to concoct this time?” Octavia pouted as she snatched at the key, but Rarity dropped it into her pocket before it could be taken from her. “It’s unfair.”

“It’d be like revealing your composition before the concert.” Rarity shook a finger at Octavia in a stern-mother sort of fashion. Octavia frowned at her.

“But I have producers and technicians who listen to my compositions extensively before I ever perform them. That’s a terrible analogy to use.”

“It’d be like showing your breasts on the first date.” Rarity teased, giving Octavia’s luscious melons a quick, teasing squeeze. “It just isn’t proper.”

“Hey, we did much more than show our breasts off on our first date.” Octavia grinned as she swooped in for a firmer touch.

“Shush you.” Rarity indulged Octavia with a quick, passionate kiss and a hearty grope before slipping past her down the hall. She didn’t make it very far, though. Octavia snatched her wrist, and in a surprise motion, spun Rarity around and plastered her to the wall. Rarity gasped as Octavia was very suddenly upon her. She couldn’t cry out, though, because Octavia’s lips pressed tightly to her own. Giving a muffled exclamation of surprise and excitement, Rarity raised her arms to uselessly push at Octavia. The incorrigible cellist couldn’t be dissuaded as she forced her tongue into Rarity’s mouth, her hands already pulling at the hem of Rarity’s blouse. Rarity felt the buttons on her blouse tense with pressure. If Octavia kept at it, they were going to-

“Whoops.” Octavia pulled away with a hot gasp, grinning as the buttons on Rarity’s blouse gave out. She heard them fall to the hardwood floor in a cadence of lust, followed shortly by the rest of Rarity’s poor blouse. Octavia’s skilled hands stripped her upper half bare, pulling each stitch of clothing off of Rarity’s chest one by one. Rarity couldn’t stop her, nor did she want to. It took Octavia maybe ten seconds until Rarity was half-naked, and it was only going to take her another ten until Rarity was completely bare. Octavia dropped to her knees in front of Rarity, tugging firmly at the zipper of her skirt. As the fabric loosened around her hips, Octavia hooked the hem of her panties and smoothly pulled them down as well.

“Tavi…” Rarity breathed, nearly falling as Octavia stripped the thin bits of fabric out from underneath Rarity’s feet. “Sweetie Belle will be over for dinner any minute-“

“No she won’t.” Octavia growled, haphazardly tossing Rarity’s clothes down the hall. Rarity was left wearing nothing but her stockings, her back firmly pressed to the hallway wall. “She’s on a field trip to Manehattan’s history museum. She’ll be gone all week.”

“Oh.” Rarity watched, completely mesmerized, as Octavia dove right in. “Oh!” With a gasp, Rarity’s muscles tensed from her shoulders to her toes. Octavia nearly slammed her head between Rarity’s legs, her open mouth enveloping every last bit of the poor magi’s aching womanhood. With a tentative cry, Rarity felt Octavia’s ruthless tongue slide inside of her. It took her maybe twenty seconds of rough licking before Rarity surrendered to her orgasm.

“TAVI!” Rarity cried out, her back arching away from the wall. She nearly fell over with the way her toes curled, but Octavia’s hands clamped on her hips, keeping her firmly in place. If anything, she was lifted a few inches off of the floor as her dripping core expelled a thin bit of liquid. Octavia didn’t pull away for even a fraction of a second. Not one drop of her arousal was missed as Octavia continued licking. The way her mouth was plastered against Rarity’s core, she could hardly breathe. But that didn’t seem to stop her. She continued licking, moving faster and harder. Rarity had just recovered from her first peak when the second robbed her of any remaining muscle control. Shaking and gasping as loud as she possibly could, Rarity sagged into Octavia’s arms. The cellist held her pinned against the wall, her mouth continually lapping up every drop of release Rarity could muster.

“Pwah!” Octavia finally pulled away from Rarity’s abused core with shining lips. She licked them very sensuously, grinning up at Rarity. “Bed.” She panted, picking Rarity up from the floor. Rarity was surprised at the sudden display of dominance and strength from Octavia. She apparently had no problem carrying her, as Rarity soon found herself halfway across the apartment on their bed. She sprawled on her back, watching as Octavia began stripping her clothes off to the side. Still recovering from the muscle-robbing ordeal, Rarity could only smile as Octavia began to crawl onto the bed.

“Please, Rarity.” Octavia swung one well-endowed leg over Rarity’s body, spinning a half-circle in the process. “Return the favor?” Octavia’s knees settled to either side of Rarity’s chest, her calves pinning her arms to the bed. Facing away from her as she was, Octavia only had to drop her wide hips before her moist, burning core was all but forced into Rarity’s face. Rarity didn’t have much of a choice but to return the favor. Her tongue slid forward, parting Octavia’s dripping lips with ease. The cellist groaned out loud, grinding her hips against Rarity’s mouth. Rarity was still in a haze, and having the wide expanse of Octavia’s delicious flesh in her mouth only helped her disconnect from reality all the more. Octavia began to move her hips, and Rarity found it difficult to keep up with the motions anymore.

“Ooh… Oh yes.” Octavia groaned. Rarity couldn’t see anything, and whenever she did open her eyes, all she did see was the long, round curve of Octavia’s ass. Occasionally, she would catch glimpses of the tight pucker just above her nose. That was one hole Rarity had never explored, nor did she really want to. But still, the sight was intriguing. She wondered if Octavia would enjoy it. Tentatively, her hand slid over Octavia’s hip, over the soft, jiggly flesh of her behind, and between the cellist’s soft cheeks. “Haah… Do it, Rarity.” Octavia panted, pushing her rear out more. Rarity was rather surprised by the enthusiasm Octavia was showing. But she wasn’t really in the mood or the position to deny her. Gently, her finger sought that tender pucker of flesh.

She found it soon enough. The ridged feel of it was almost alien to her. She didn’t know how it should feel, or what to expect. But Octavia’s eager panting begged her to continue. Tentatively, she applied just a little bit of pressure to the spot. Her tongue was squeezed as Octavia flexed her core muscles. Much to Rarity’s surprise, then, when her fingertip was subjected to a small bit of suction. It was such a different sensation, but it almost felt like… Like Octavia had kissed her fingertip with her rear! After her muscles relaxed, Rarity pressed further. Octavia let out a long, breathy groan, and Rarity slid inside.

Well this is unexpected. Rarity thought. Her finger slid in to the first knuckle. Inside Octavia’s rear was soft and warm. It lacked the natural lubrication that her vagina did, of course, but the flesh was still soft and malleable. It was rather fun to touch, Rarity had to admit. A few thoughts crossed her mind then. This was, of course, the hole they passed their waste through. She felt disgusted for a second, but then she remembered. Any time Octavia showered, the few times Rarity had had the pleasure of watching her, or catching even a quick glimpse, Octavia’s hands were always on her rear. In fact, her behind was always soapy and smooth in the shower. With a warm smile, Rarity realized. Her lover meticulously cleaned back here. In fact, there was no trace of anything, the further Rarity pushed. Soon enough, her entire finger was inside Octavia, and the cellist was loving it. As her hips continued to ride Rarity’s tongue, she raised her hands above her head, pulling her raven hair off of her shoulders. She must have been an entrancing figure to watch, but Rarity had to settle for feeling. And the sensation was incredibly pleasurable.

“Aaahn… Haah… Rarity, I’m… So close.” Octavia panted, her hips moving faster and faster. Rarity groaned as best she could with a vagina wrapped around her tongue, but stayed inside of Octavia’s core. Working faster and harder, Octavia rode herself to her peak, crying out loud as her muscles flexed around Rarity’s tongue and finger. Shuddering and whimpering the entire time, Octavia let loose her orgasm. It must have been an intense one, because she fell to her side. Rarity pulled her finger out of Octavia’s rear, gulping air as the warm haven of her thighs surrendered Rarity’s nose and mouth. Her head swam in the aftermath of yet another intense sexual exploration. Laying beside and opposite her, Octavia panted and moaned, though not for very long. Rarity was still struggling to recuperate when Octavia loomed in her vision once more, her lips split in a devious grin.

“I’m not done with you yet.” Octavia teased, grabbing Rarity’s hips.

“What- Aah!” Rarity cried out as she was hoisted from the bed, spun onto her stomach, and dropped once more. “Tavi, what are you-“

Whap!

“Aieee!” Rarity’s back arched as a sudden, lancing pain shot through her ass and into her abdomen. The sudden and intense pain quickly faded in a dull heat on her left ass cheek, which was slowly beginning to turn a ruddy red. “Wh-what are you- AUGH!”

Fwap!

“You’ve kept me out of the loop on that dress of yours for a full week now, my love.” Octavia’s low, sultry tone was nothing short of arousing. Rarity shuddered as yet another firm spank dulled into a burning heat, radiating it’s warmth into her entire lower half. She was already wet from Octavia’s ruthless tonguing and the forced cunnilingus, but this was surely staining the sheets underneath her crotch. Octavia continued talking, her hands kneading Rarity’s firm flesh with a rough, yet surprisingly compassionate touch. “This is your punishment for not showing me your dress.”

“Tavi, I don’t think-“

Smack!

“Augh!” Rarity fought to push herself up on her hands, but another firm blow made her collapse into the sheets. Darkness enveloped her vision as she face-planted into the covers, her open mouth drooling onto the poor sheets. The pain was far more intense for the third spank, but the heat was just as arousing. Octavia’s palms rubbed away the sting, turning it into an even more intense and debilitating warmth. Rarity could only lay on her stomach, drooling and panting as Octavia rubbed her pain away.

“Just two more, my love. Can you handle two more?”

“Y-yeah…” Rarity panted, barely lifting her lips above the drool-soaked comforter to gasp the one shaky word.

“Hmm, good.” Octavia adjusted beside her, preparing for the fourth spank. Rarity caught a glimpse of Octavia’s arm as it slowly raised into the air…

Crack!

Rarity screamed into the covers as loud as she could. The thick fabric barely muffled the panic-fueled scream. Seriously, Rarity thought, She HAD to have broken something. This hurts WAY too much to- ooh… The pain made her head fuzzy from the very first moment of impact. But Octavia rubbed firmly at the spot, and the dull heat flared into an even more intense version than before. Her entire body was on fire. She could feel her thighs quivering, completely at a loss for what to do. Octavia had hit her so hard, she had lost control of her legs. And apparently, her womanhood as well. She could feel the muscles in her core flexing and pulsing, as if they were begging to be filled. Rarity would have killed to touch herself just then, but she knew moving her hands from where they clutched the sheets she would surely be punished more. The heat flared up now and then, almost in time with the pulsing of her core, but it soon died away. Both of Octavia’s hands rubbed her firm, red skin, soothing the pain away.

“Last one, Rarity. Are you ready?” She could only manage a nod at Octavia’s husky-voiced question, her face buried in the sheets. There was a pause that seemed to stretch on into forever. Rarity took a deep breath, waiting for it, for that impact that would rob her breath and make her wetter than an April cloudburst.

THWA-CRACK!

Rarity had never screamed so loud in her entire life. The second Octavia’s hand impacted her skin, the cellist drove two fingers into her aching core. She roughly wriggled them back and forth, fingering Rarity well over the edge of a helpless orgasm. Screaming and writhing on the sheets, Rarity was subject to a pain-laced, rough orgasm, the kind that made her squirt all over the covers. Her legs shook like she was having a seizure, and her chin was slippery with the pure amount of drool oozing from her mouth. She couldn’t control herself. The pain and the pleasure together sent her into a muscle-robbing, completely helpless orgasm.

“Well then.” Octavia sat up on her knees at Rarity’s side, keeping Rarity’s hips pressed down with one hand, while she licked the prodigious amount of fluid free from her other. “Remind me to spank you more often.”

“P-please… D-don’t.” Rarity whimpered, still trying to wrap her mind around the pleasure racing through her veins. It was like a drug. She relished every second she spent under this incredible sensation’s influence, and she couldn’t wait to feel it again. She almost wanted to forget the way her legs weren’t responding to her, or the way she couldn’t seem to stop her stomach muscles from spasmodically twitching. She wanted another orgasm, and she wanted it now. “A-anything b-but another… Spanking.”

“What’s that?” Octavia teased, her wet hand resting on Rarity’s ruddy ass cheek. “You want another spanking?”

“N-no.” Rarity whimpered. Yes! Her mind screamed.

“Hmm. Perhaps we should wait.” Octavia teased, sliding her hand up Rarity’s back. With the sheer amount of orgasmic fluid and saliva on her hand, it glided over Rarity’s skin with ease. She slid it up to her shoulder blades and then back down to her rear, even to the inside of her thighs. Rarity groaned as her fingertips brushed the very edge of her aching slit. “But it seems like this bit isn’t tired yet… Tell me, Rarity…” Octavia leaned forward, her full lips teasing the edge of Rarity’s ear. “Do you want me to make you cum again?”

“Y-yes, Please.” Rarity groaned, her fists clenching the sheets as hard as she could manage.

“Hmm. That’s pretty pathetic.” Octavia groaned, pulling Rarity’s earlobe between her teeth. Rarity’s mouth opened in a breathless gasp as Octavia put a little bit of pressure on her ear. “You can beg better than that.”

“Haah… P-please, Octavia… Please make me cum again.” Rarity couldn’t even form a proper sentence anymore. Her head swam with the warm sensation of Octavia’s fingers sliding over her skin, so dangerously close to her desperate pussy.

“Let me hear it one. More. Time.”

“Please!” Rarity wailed. “Please put your fingers inside my pussy and make me cum!”

“There’s a good girl.”

“UHN!” Rarity grunted in a very un-ladylike manner as Octavia’s fingers slid into her dripping hole, passing over the soaked flesh with remarkable ease.

“Hmm. Feels nice, doesn’t it?” Octavia continued to tease, her hot breath racing over Rarity’s ear. Already, Rarity was so close.

“I-I’m going to- to- to cum!” Rarity cried. Her fingers were beginning to hurt with how firmly she was clutching the sheets.

“Cum for me, love.” Octavia was the one begging now. “Please cum for me.” Her hot words and firm fingers sent Rarity over the edge. It felt like all her strength was suddenly expelled along with yet another stream of thin fluid, and Rarity helplessly collapsed into the sheets. Behind her, the abused covers were further soaked with her love juice, forming small puddles that were absorbed into the fibers, creating several large, wide spots of dirty, filthy lovemaking evidence. Rarity was completely lost to the world as she faded away on a cloud of pure, utter, and complete nirvana.

Reluctantly, it faded away, leaving in its place a faint stinging pain and plenty of laundry to be done. “Come on, love.” Octavia leaned forward, giving Rarity’s red behind a tender yet playful kiss. “Let’s get cleaned up.”

“Hmm. Yes.” Rarity groaned, pushing herself up on shaky arms. Her legs were even more unsure, but she managed to awkwardly waddle her way towards the bathroom. Octavia’s shower sported a newly-installed tile bench, which both women used when they wanted to shave their legs, or rest while they paid their long heads of hair the attention they deserved. It was here that Rarity plopped her stinging rear, relishing the cool sensation of tile against her stinging ass.

“I’ll bet that feels divine.” Octavia teased, pulling the detachable shower head off and aiming it at the far wall as she tested the temperature.

“I’ll be sure to show you someday.” Rarity groaned, laying her head back against the glass wall. Octavia grinned over her shoulder, turning the showerhead to a gentle, soothing setting. Rarity smiled as the warm stream hit the lower half of her leg, and she nodded her approval. Very carefully, Octavia began rinsing and scrubbing her off. Every now and then, the two of them would do this for one another. It was a moderately sensual and surprisingly comforting ritual they began to develop. Once a week or so, they would take a very long shower, and lord attention over the other. Be it shaving, soaping, shampooing or conditioning, it didn’t matter. One woman or the other had no control over their hygiene. Instead, the partner would scrub, shave, clean, and generally obsess over every last square inch.

Rarity sat back and let Octavia’s skilled fingers started in on her feet, moving up to her ankles and calves, then her thighs, her aching crotch, stomach, sides, chest, shoulderblades and neck. She re-adjusted, letting Octavia repeat the process for her backside, and then on to her hair. The shampooing, conditioning, and other treatments took almost as long as the other part, but it was the one that Rarity enjoyed the most. After that, Octavia rinsed her off thoroughly, and Rarity felt rested enough to take her turn.

It was oddly comforting, the way the two of them trusted one another so implicitly. Rarity settled on her knees on the warm tile, guiding the stream of water alongside a soapy rag over each inch of Octavia’s smooth and warm flesh. When Octavia leaned her front half against the wall, letting Rarity work over her backside, Rarity paused at the full curve of Octavia’s posterior.

“Something catch your fancy?” Octavia teased, swaying her hips side to side when she noticed Rarity’s apprehension.

“I’m just curious is all.” Rarity mused. She let the showerhead rest on the floor while her hands gingerly spread Octavia’s cheeks apart. There, nestled between the jiggly mounds of flesh, was Octavia’s tender rosebud. Rarity had seen plenty of them in the various forms of pornography she happened to peruse in her years, but never had she had a chance to look at one directly. “Does it really… Feel that good?”

“Would you like to find out?” Octavia panted. Apparently having someone look so intently at her back door was arousing her yet again. Rarity didn’t stop. She swallowed before speaking again.

“I’m… Intrigued.” The ridged flesh was still rather strange-looking to her. Rarity wondered how such a utilitarian piece of flesh could make Octavia cry out and orgasm the way she had just a half an hour ago. “Do you enjoy it?”

“It’s… Different.” Octavia whimpered. “I wouldn’t say it’s everyone’s cup of tea, and anything more than a finger tends to hurt me… But now and then it’s kind of fun to indulge.” Rarity blinked as Octavia turned around, and her vision was filled instead with the cellist’s clean-shaven crotch. She looked up at her raven-haired lover, who was smiling down at her warmly. “Whenever you feel like it, darling, I can show you how it’s done.”

“Thanks.” Rarity muttered with a blush, but she pressed a warm kiss to Octavia’s stomach. The cellist moaned and ran a hand through Rarity’s damp hair. Rarity smiled up at her before planting her hands firmly on Octavia’s hips. “Now turn back around. I’m not done washing you yet.”

After the passionate shower, both women elected to remain nude for the evening. After changing the sheets on the bed and stretching out on top of a thin blanket to air-dry, they settled in for a nice chat. “Honestly, how interested are you in anal?” Octavia asked, rolling her head to the side to look at Rarity. Rarity returned her gaze, meeting the amethyst-eyed cellist with a faint smile.

“Well, I’ve never really been interested in it before today. Sure, I’ve seen it in videos and pictures and whatnot, but it’s never done anything for me to be honest. I haven’t touched myself back there, and Twilight never went back there herself… I don’t know, it’s just… Different.” Her lips spread in a shy smile, and she curled her fingers around Octavia’s. “But… Seeing the way you enjoyed yourself like that, I just… I don’t know, I might want to try… Maybe just once?”

“Well.” Octavia curled her fingers through Rarity’s with a teasing grin. “First thing’s first, we have to get you clean. It might be a little uncomfortable, and maybe not the most hygienic thing, but it’s more-or-less necessary to do anything.”

“How… How do you clean back there?” Rarity asked.

“Hot, soapy water.” Octavia shrugged it off. “The first time’s a little different. You have to put it… You know, in.”

“How?” Rarity asked, her nose scrunched at the thought.

“Well, they make products for those sorts of things. Enema bulbs and whatnot. But you can use a turkey baster, really. It’s the same thing.”

“Really? A turkey baster?”

“It’s what I used.” Octavia shrugged. “Not the one in the kitchen.” She grinned at Rarity’s shocked expression. “I keep it wrapped in a towel underneath the bathroom sink. If you’d like, we can get another one.”

“Please.” Rarity grumbled. Octavia laughed at her before rolling onto her side and pulling Rarity close. The two curled tight, their legs tangling together atop the cool, clean sheets. They stayed like that for a few moments before Octavia sat up.

“I almost forgot. Shoot.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Octavia swung her legs over the edge of the bed, pulling the nightstand open. “Tavi? What are you getting?”

“This.” The cellist smiled as she pulled a small, felt-lined box from the nightstand. Rarity’s heart skipped at beat as Octavia passed it off to her. Hesitantly, she lifted the cover, her eyes wide at what she saw. “It’s not an engagement ring, mind you.” Octavia slipped back over to Rarity, smiling at her shocked expression. “Just a promise ring. See?” She pulled one onto her own left ring finger, showing off the gold band. Inside the small box Rarity held was a plain golden band, with no jewels embedded in it. Still, it was elegantly designed, and as she slowly pulled it on, it fit her finger perfectly. Heart racing a million miles an hour, she looked back up at Octavia. “I figured this would be best for now. You know, nothing formal… Just something to remind us. And maybe, when things settle down a bit more, when the symphony is done touring, we can… I dunno…” Octavia blushed, her fingers finding Rarity’s hand gently. “Make it official?”

“Octavia…” Rarity breathed, her eyes brimming with tears. “You only had to ask.” She pulled Octavia close then, their lips meeting in a sweet, tender embrace. The kiss was sweet, simple, and passionate. Rarity felt truly, incredibly happy here in the arms of her lover. The way they held one another was so simple, so true. She couldn’t deny her feelings or hide them anymore. They were meant to be. The rings on their fingers were promises to one another. A promise Rarity knew meant much more than the importance either of them were placing on it; a promise that would last a lifetime if both of them were invested in this relationship.

Rarity slipped off into a deep, restful slumber, her night uninterrupted by nightmares or dreams.

Amethyst was in a fit upon discovering the promise ring. She had hundreds of questions for Rarity, and though it might not have been the kindest thing to do, it took Rarity scolding her co-worker to calm her down.

“Amy. It’s just a promise ring. We don’t have the slightest idea when the ceremony will be. If there’s even going to be a ceremony at all. Why, with all the publicity surrounding Octavia, we might just elect to have a private affair. You know, keep it hushed.”

“Rarity!” Amethyst looked shocked. “You can’t be serious!”

“You see.” Rarity lifted a hand towards the uppity young woman. “This is precisely what I’m talking about. If you react this way, how are other socialites going to react? Imagine the press! Why, the tabloids will be aflame with rumors and talk of the wedding! Every single social gathering for months, we would be all anybody would talk about!” Rarity lifted a hand to her temple, already feeling a headache develop. “I just don’t know if I could handle it.”

“Oh. Oh, when you put it that way…” Amethyst sobered up a little, but she still seemed on-edge. Rarity frowned at her.

“I promise you, my dear. Whenever we decide on anything, you will be the first to know. I’ll text you, or call. That way, you’ll never be out of the loop. Deal?”

“Deal.” Amethyst grinned and took Rarity’s hand in a firm handshake. “Still. You can’t stop me from being happy for you two.”

“I guess not, huh.” Rarity nudged Amethyst’s hip with a warm smile before slipping up onto the stool behind the cash register. “I’ll handle the front-end, darling. Though do you think we can close up a little early?”

“That’s right.” Amethyst slapped a fist into her open palm, smiling at Rarity. “You’re working on the dress for her next performance, aren’t you?”

“Indeed. I think I’m almost done with it, too… Not a moment too soon. She performs this weekend.”

“I wish I could have bought tickets.” Amethyst pouted, picking at the edge of the desk.

“Ahem.” Rarity pulled an envelope from her purse, sliding it across the wooden expanse towards her friend.

“No way.” Amethyst’s eyes went as wide as dinner plates. “You can’t be serious!”

“Oh but I am. You plus one.” Rarity beamed as Amethyst snatched the envelope from the desk and produced two tickets, her eyes still wide with shock.

“I can’t believe it! Rarity, these are balcony seats! They’re worth hundreds of dollars!”

“Oh good. You can sell them and make rent this month.” Rarity teased, peering inside her purse for the other envelope containing Sweetie Belle’s tickets.

“Never.” Amethyst breathed, clearly in shock. "I wouldn’t miss this for anything. Rarity, this is… This is too much! I can’t believe it!”

“Octavia gets dozens of free tickets, but she doesn’t have many true friends to hand them out to. She usually gives them away the night before. But now, it seems, she has someone who will actually benefit from them.” Rarity smiled as she spun the golden band around her ring finger. It was a comforting thought when she realized she was never going to not see another one of Octavia’s performances. She was still suffering from a bit of disbelief that her lover and eventual wife was such a high-end celebrity. Octavia managed to keep on the down-low, thanks mostly to the guards at her apartment, and seldom doing her own grocery shopping. Rarity took care of that now, allowing the cellist to remain relatively aloof from society.

“That’s incredible. I don’t suppose-“

“I’ll get you tickets as often as I can, darling. I’m sure Octavia doesn’t have any issues with it. Particularly if you help me with some of her dresses in the future.”

“So you two are a thing now, hmm?” Amethyst leaned her elbow against the counter. “I don’t mean, like, emotionally… But this is the second time you’ve made a dress for her? If it’s anything like last time, you two kinda have a thing going…”

“Now that you mention it…” Rarity frowned in thought. This was the second time she had made a dress for Octavia, specifically for a performance of hers. Natalie had sought her out just a few days ago, and asked Rarity to produce another stunning ensemble. Rarity gladly accepted the commission and the work, though keeping the dress secret from Octavia was troublesome. She was an awfully good snoop. Rarity had taken to wearing the key on a necklace around her neck all times of the day. Even at night. Octavia wasn’t going to sneak a peek before her dress was ready. If all went well, it would be just like last time. But more pressing than her concerns about anonymity was the prospect of doing this for a career. Could she produce a different dress for each performance?

The phone rang just then, shocking Rarity out of her train of thought. She picked it up woodenly, but composed herself in time to deliver the store greeting. “Carousel boutique, where fashion is always sleek, chic, and manefique!”

“Hello, Rarity.”

“Natalie! Good to hear from you. Is everything well?”

“Perfect, in fact. Octavia just finished her composition in the studio, and I have to say it’s one of her best yet. Something about her music just really speaks to you. She’s developed quite a bit since you’ve come into her life.”

“You can’t mean that.” Rarity blushed, smiling at Amethyst, who was trying her best to listen in.

“But of course I do! Trust me, Rarity. I’ve been a long-time friend and colleague of Octavia’s. I can tell, she’s much more different now that she has you. I saw the ring. You can’t hide everything from me, darlin’.”

“Curse that woman’s lack of surreptitiousness.” Rarity teased.

“Haha. Well, I’m happy for you two. Octavia told me it’s just a promise ring, so I won’t bother you with constant questions about dates and whatnot.”

“Thank you.” Rarity said with a very pointed look towards Amethyst.

“I just wanted to call and ask about the dress. Will it be ready for the performance?”

“I think so. I’m still working on it, but I doubt it’ll take me all week just to finish. I’m confident I’ll have it completed by Friday.”

“Fantastic! You know, I think this may become a new thing…” At Natalie’s words, Rarity felt her heart leap. Even Amethyst lit up. “What do you think, Miss Rarity? Do you think you can make a new dress every solo performance Octavia does?”

“I…” Rarity was at a loss for words. She and Amethyst looked at one another for a few long moments, both of them shocked. Could it be true? Was Rarity about to become a regular designer for one of Canterlot’s leading musicians?

“Yes.” Rarity gulped. “I can do it.”

Friday arrived sooner than Rarity would have imagined. She spent her days working at the boutique and her nights on the dress, much to her lover’s chagrin. She made up for it with plenty of quality lovemaking, of course, but Octavia was incorrigible. They shared the excited news over a fancy dinner, and spent the night ‘congratulating’ one another on their most recent business arrangement. The day after, Rarity hit the production hard, working as diligently as possible to bring her vision to life. As skilled as she was, with as many years’ experience as she had under her belt, it happened readily. Before Friday had arrived, Rarity had brought to life a vibrant and stunning design. It was undoubtedly on-par with her previous dress, though this one was in a whole other dimension of style. She locked her makeshift studio in Octavia’s flat behind her, making sure her partner was nowhere to be seen. Thankfully, Octavia seemed to be gone for the evening. This close to performance day, she was probably practicing or preparing at the concert hall.

Rarity began dinner for two, and was joined by Octavia right around the time she was done. “Hello, love.” She beamed as Octavia slipped into the flat. “Back from the studio?”

“As a matter of fact,” Octavia grinned at her, pulling a bouquet of beautiful, crimson-red roses from behind her back. “I am.”

“Tavi!” Rarity gasped. “You shouldn’t have!”

“Oh but I did.” Octavia passed the bouquet off with a smile, kissing Rarity’s cheek warmly. “To commemorate our first official business arrangement.”

“I thought we did that back on Monday.” Rarity bubbled, taking a deep whiff of the roses.

“You know what I mean. Here, let me get a vase.”

“I’ll cut the stems. Thank you so much!” Rarity went about cutting the stems from the roses and placing them in a vase that Octavia fetched from one of the empty guest bedrooms. She set them on the dinner table before setting it for the meal she had cooked. The two of them shared a light dinner of seared chicken breast in a light parmesan sauce over a bed of steamed asparagus before deciding on an early bedtime. Tomorrow was the performance, and both of them had much to handle before the show went down.

They slept peacefully through the night and spent the entire morning getting prepared. Octavia’s bathroom was easily large enough for both of them, and they chatted amicably while preparing. For Octavia, she had an entire suite of makeup artists prepared to make her beautiful. Her morning was spent becoming as plain as she possibly could be so they could do their job right. Rarity, however, had to prepare for the rest of the entire evening. Octavia excused herself to leave for the concert hall around noon, when Rarity was really just getting started.

Finally, at about two o’clock, Rarity could finally get dressed. Which was an ordeal in and of itself. She wore a long purple dress with a moderately low-cut bust, high-cut leg, and black heels. Her hair was curled and primped in all the proper ways, and there wasn’t a single wrinkle in the satiny fabric of her dress. She looked ravishing.

“Hello? Rarity?” Natalie’s voice sounded from the living room, and Rarity poked her head out of the nearby studio, where she had gone to do one final checkup on the dress.

“In here, dear.” Rarity’s hand glowed as she pulled the covering down over the dress’s stand, concealing it just as Natalie poked her head into the studio.

“All set?”

“Ready and willing.” Rarity nodded, both hands glowing now. “Shall we?”

“I will lead the way.” Natalie held the doors open as Rarity hovered the dress out of the studio and into the elevator. Just like last time, Rarity was taking every precaution to preserve both the dress’s well-being and anonymity. The same two men from before were driving the van, and Rarity sat in the back, keeping the dress preserved during the short drive to the concert hall. Once more, they unloaded on the underground dock, and were given a wide berth by the service staff rushing about in preparation for the show. There were several differences this time around. Octavia wasn’t just some business acquisition. She was her lover. And she wasn’t about to walk out into a crowd of complete strangers. Her little sister and Amethyst would both be there to watch the show with her.

“Right then.” Natalie stood in the threshold of Octavia’s dressing room as Rarity finished her short but stressful journey. “I trust you’ll have everything prepared, then?”

“Naturally. And Natalie?” Rarity set the dress down and let her magic fade away, turning to smile at the woman warmly. Natalie looked at her quizzically, but Rarity stepped forward and wrapped her in a warm, passionate hug. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Hey, don’t go getting all sentimental on me now.” Natalie laughed nervously, patting Rarity on the back. “I have to save my tears for the performance.”

“Right.” Rarity smiled and pulled away. “I’ll wait for her here. See you after the show?”

“If you don’t run off this time.”

“Oh don’t worry.” Rarity idly spun her ring around her finger. “I don’t think I’m running anymore.”