Intimate Details

Intimate Details - Part 1 “The Worst Night Ever.”

Rarity’s dreams were surprisingly troubled. They fluctuated from one thing to another, terror and nightmares to pleasant scenarios and idealistic, if fanciful flights through fantasy. They troubled her, but not enough to cause her to wake before her alarm went off. She pounded the buzzing beast back into submission, blinking through sleep-crusted eyelids to try and make sense of the scenario. Finally, she switched the alarm off, groaning inwardly as the incessant ringing came to an end.

“Honestly,” She moaned, rolling onto her back with a sigh. “I need to learn an alarm spell. That thing is getting to be a pain in my rear.” With more than a little effort, Rarity finally sat up and pulled herself from the warm embrace of her sheets. She stretched languorously in the cold December air, shivering slightly as her flimsy nightshirt rose to expose her midriff for a moment. Pulling it back down over her skimpy shorts, Rarity hopped across the cold floor to her bathroom. The sun hadn’t even rose yet, but Rarity needed all the time she could spare in the morning to prepare.

After all, being a fashion designer in Canterlot meant she had to look every bit as fantastic as the dresses she made. Humming happily, Rarity cranked on the water to her shower hot and slipped from her clothes to enjoy the steam and the near-scalding water. She ran through the gamut of hair care products, sighing happily as her frazzled strands slowly were nursed back to their silken sheen. Shower complete, she left the shower and dried as best she could before sitting before her vanity. As her hair dried out, she applied make-up, one beautification process after another. It took her half an hour, but her face was finally presentable.

Next came her hair. Strand after strand was teased into place, hairpsrayed, combed, brushed, and generally fretted over. Another half an hour, and Rarity’s hair was finally in place. She moved on from her vanity to her wardrobe, running a hand over the numerous clothes in her massive walk-in closet, thinking hard over which style to go with. She glanced out of the window at the grey, leaden sky. It was awfully chilly… She settled at last on a tight-fitting turtleneck sweater and a pair of long, slim slacks. Slipping her feet in to calf-high boots and donning a stylish coat, Rarity was finally ready to depart for the day.

She left her bedroom for the short hallway. Her studio apartment boasted a single bedroom with a walk-in closet nearly as big as the entire living room. On that she had been adamant. But the rest of the apartment was relatively small. Her kitchen and dining room were one and the same with a small breakfast bar attached, all of it open to the moderate living room. Aside from that, she had two closets, one for linens and another for cleaning supplies. It was all neatly appointed, but with the commissions from her work, Rarity had just enough to survive on her own.

Such was the life of a fashion designer, she supposed… The living cost back in Ponyville had been so easy to survive on. She had had enough time and money then to afford vacations and breaks when she needed them. Now, she worked her hands to the bone to get even enough to afford groceries. ’All for Sweetie Belle. Remember that.’ She grimaced as she locked her apartment behind her. One short elevator ride later, and Rarity was out into the streets. She huddled close to herself in her jacket, glancing up only to check her progress. The day wasn’t just chilly, it was bitter cold. The sort of cold that cut to the bone and sapped her strength. Her teeth were chattering by the time she finally made it into her boutique.

“Good morning, Miss Rarity.” Amethyst, the co-owner of Canterlot’s Carousel Boutique, greeted her as she walked in through the door.

“Good morning, Amy.” Rarity smiled at her one friend in the whole city. She was thankful Amethyst had arrived early enough to turn the heat on. The boutique was warm and comfortable already. Rarity shed her coat and pulled a folder from the inbox. “Another commission? Already?”

“I think you’re going to like that one,” Amethyst smiled at Rarity over the rim of her cup of coffee. “I was tempted to take it myself…” Rarity opened the folder to survey the sketches of the dress. She fought to keep from blanching.

“Eer, yes. Well…” Rarity peered down at the sketch, at the slender bodice and frilly lace. Such a design was hardly cutting-edge anymore. Why, it looked almost… Trottingham-esque. Like it belonged in some old film about the times when valiant heroes rescued damsels in distress and fought evil kings. Things weren’t like that anymore. Not around Canterlot. “For the Grand Galloping Gala? Who commissioned this?” Rarity asked.

“Fleur De Lis.” Amethyst returned. Again, Rarity fought to keep from blanching.

“What’s the theme this year? Trottingham, circa fifty-five hundred?” She tossed the folder back into the inbox with a sigh. “I’m sorry, darling, but I’m going to let you take this one… I simply cannot bring myself to make such a horrendous thing… Ugh. What happened to the days when a designer’s innovation was trusted and counted upon? Now, they want all the details spelled out properly… Might as well make it themselves at that point.” Amethyst frowned at Rarity as she took the folder.

“You seem off, Rarity… Is everything okay?” The question didn’t quite catch Rarity off-guard, but she certainly wasn’t expecting it. She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose with two fingers.

“I haven’t been sleeping well, darling… Forgive me if I take it out on you.”

“Hmm, that’d explain it. You say you haven’t been sleeping well?” Amethyst asked, walking a slow circle around her. Rarity looked up as her friend looked her up and down.

“Y-yes. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Hmm… I wonder…” Amethyst stopped at last, taking a good, long look at Rarity’s figure.

“Amy… You’re acting strangely now.”

“I’ve decided.” Amethyst ignored her question almost completely. “You’re going out with me tonight.”

“It’s Wednesday.”

“We’ll have a few drinks, maybe meet someone new…”

“And I have projects to finish.”

“Ooh, we could go to that trendy new club!”

“I’m not sure…”

“I know you have just the dress, too. I’ll wear the one with spaghetti straps.”

“Amy.” Rarity laid her hands on Amethyst’s shoulders, stopping the energetic young woman from bouncing too much. “I’m a working magi. I haven’t the time nor the money to go to a… Club.” She grimaced at the thought anyways. Many clubs these days played music she didn’t quite agree with. Let alone like.

“Oh come on, Rarity.” Amethyst smiled and shrugged off Rarity’s hands. “You can afford one night, can you not?” Rarity drew her lower lip between her teeth, thinking over her available funds.

“I don’t know, Amy… I just don’t think I can afford the drinks.”

“Drinks are on me! Look, if you can make the cover charge- Oh what am I saying?” She scoffed and threw her brilliant head of blonde hair over her shoulder. “Two beautiful, hot women dressed in slutty clothes, we’ll get in for free.” Rarity’s jaw dropped at the appalling statement.

“Slutty?! I’ve never-!”

“Oh, come off it.” Amethyst smiled and gave Rarity’s shoulder a gentle slap. “Show a little skin, and all the guys will be on you. Don’t tell me you don’t want the attention.”

“I… Amy, I just don’t know… Remember, I come from Ponyville. I’m not used to all this high-brow society…” Rarity wrung her hands, but then it was Amethyst’s turn to lay her hands on her shoulders.

“Rarity. Trust me on this. When we close for the day, we’ll go home, get ready, and meet at the club. I’ll show you a good time. I promise.” Rarity sighed and sagged her shoulders at last.

“Fine. I’ll trust you on this.” Rarity managed a brave smile. “Now. Let’s get to work.”

Rarity’s work day consisted mainly of working on commissions and other projects that were requested of her, but since Amethyst was handling the commission from Fleur De Lis, she took over the other half of her business. While her boutique mainly sold dresses and suits for fine men and women in Canterlot, she also did alterations, repairs, and other jobs. Shortly after they had opened, she helped an upstanding businesswoman let out the hem on her skirt, and repaired a few suit jackets. Come lunch, she had sold two of her dresses to young women in their high-school years looking for something to wear to some dance or another. Amethyst emerged from the ‘creation room’ where Rarity spent much of her time around noon, shouting something about ‘grabbing a bite’ before she was gone. Rarity decided to work through lunch, though she stopped to quickly munch down a sandwich she had leftover in their fridge in the back.

Once Amethyst returned, Rarity resumed her post at the front of the store, taking an inventory and handling a few more alterations as they came in. Before she knew it, it was four in the afternoon and she was sweeping the floor. Amethyst emerged with a grin on her face. “Finished.” She admitted with a languorous stretch.

“Already?”

“Mhmm. Fleur wanted the dress by the weekend. All that’s really left is the fitting. I’ll call her to come in tomorrow.”

“Darling, I’m impressed.” Rarity admitted with a warm smile. She tucked the broom into it’s place in the closet and faced Amethyst. “Are we done, then?”

“Let me just give Fleur a call, and we can lock up.” Amethyst strode to the phone on the main desk and dialed a number while Rarity listened to her go through the discussion.

“Miss De Lis? Yes, this is Amethyst with Carousel Boutique. Perfectly, actually! We’ve already finished the main design, we just need you in for the fitting. Mmhmm. As soon as you are able… Tomorrow works fine. After lunch? How does one-thirty sound? Perfect, I have you scheduled! Oh, yes, I’d be happy to! Thank you, Miss. Oh- oh, okay! Fleur.” Amethyst gave a girlish giggle. “All my friends call me Amy. Thank you, Fleur. I’ll see you tomorrow? Right, ciao!” She hung up the phone with a silly grin, which seemed to be infectious. Rarity smiled and jingled her keys, both of them donning coats before shutting lights off and leaving the boutique. Once the door was locked behind them, Rarity turned to her co-worker.

“Where is this club at, darling?”

“Fourteenth and Market. Do you know it?”

“Oh, that old cathedral! Right! It’s been under construction lately, is it finished?”

“Mmhmm. Can you make it?” Rarity thought about the walk. It’d be three blocks, which wasn’t very far normally, but if it was anything like a club, she would have to wear heels. Three blocks in heels might as well have been three miles. She grimaced but nodded.

“I’ll be there. What time?”

“The best time to arrive is past eight. Does eight-thirty work?”

“I’ll see you there, darling.” Rarity kissed Amy on the cheek and hugged her goodbye, turning into the stiff wind. She made the walk home in short order, sniffling a little from the cold. She arrived shortly before five and began to get ready straightaway. Despite her trepidation at being more-or-less dragged along to some silly club, Rarity found herself getting excited. Second only to dressing someone else up, getting dressed up herself was her favorite activity. She hummed a happy song as she began to toss dress after dress onto her bed, looking for the scantiest and most alluring among her massive collection of clothes.

It took several changes and more than a few on-the-spot adjustments to her garments, but Rarity finally found what she was looking for. A bright red miniskirt and a corset-like top that pushed her breasts up and showed off more than a little cleavage were in order. Both were of her own design, and she felt remarkably comfortable in them. Once she had changed into the clothes, she took a good, long look at herself in the mirror.

Rarity seldom did these days, which was rather disheartening, but once she took a moment to actually survey herself, she was rather impressed. She had a full, womanly figure. Her bust was moderate, not overly large, but not small either. What’s more, they were firm and perky. Perhaps not the most attractive in all of Canterlot, but she certainly was enviable. She lifted the hem of her skirt just a little to look at her long, slender legs. Perhaps not that slender, though… As she turned them over in the warm light, she could appreciate the finer, delicate curves of her calves, and the way her thighs dipped in before reaching her knees. Turning about, Rarity looked at her rear, pleased with what she saw.

As a woman who preferred the company of the fairer sex in bed, Rarity could attest to her own beauty. Thought it might be a little vain, she had to admit that were she another woman, she just might go after herself in a setting such as the one she would be in tonight. Flashing a brilliant smile at the woman in the mirror, Rarity left her apartment wearing a heavy coat shortly before eight. Feeling rather sexy and maybe just a little scandalous, she approached the sound of thumping music with hope in her heart.

“Rarity!” Amethyst’s slender arm rose above the crowd gathered in front of the night club, flagging her down. Rarity slipped through the crowd towards the front of the line, smiling at her friend.

“I hope they let us in soon,” Rarity shuddered. “It’s awfully cold out here.”

“Here, let’s go talk to the door man. Open your coat.” Amethyst’s hands pulled at her zipper, and Rarity shivered again at the sudden gust of cold air. She opened her own coat, revealing a skimpy one-piece dress that might as well have just been a bathing suit. Her skirt clung to her hips, and the top left her entire midriff bare. If it weren’t so cold out, Rarity would have been blushing. Instead, the two of them approached the imposing-looking guard at the door with smiles on their lips. He didn’t even look at them twice before pulling the rope aside and letting them in. Even if he did look twice, Rarity could tell it was in admiration. ’Just wait until I take this coat off, darling.’ She smirked at him before shrugging out of her heavy coat and handing it off to the attendant. She tucked the ticket given to her into a small pocket on her skirt before following Amethyst deeper into the club.

From outside, she could heard the pounding bass from whatever music was playing, but inside, it had been amplified. The first frown of the evening crossed her lips. Amethyst made a bee-line for the bar with Rarity in tow, but they had to cut across the dance floor. Rarity had been to formal balls and even a few parties with her old friends, but never to anything this… Extravagant. Bodies teemed and writhed in time with the pounding bass coming from the venue’s only stage. Atop it, some magi was composing the music by pressing buttons on the console in front of her. One hand was busy switching tracks and making the music, while the other held one half of her headphones to her ear.

Being as unfamiliar as she was with today’s music, Rarity could only describe by a term she had heard once in passing called ‘techno,’ which she was sure was short for ‘technologic.’ The sounds thumping into her ear were certainly synthetic in nature, and hadn’t come from any instrument she could pin down. They were high-pitched, monotonous, and began to hurt. She tried to let the ruckus die down to a rull roar, though the ignorance came at the price of regular hearing. She had to shout at the top of her lungs just to get the bartender to hear her. Amethyst managed through a set of hollers and vague hand gestures that Rarity was on her tab, and soon enough, they both had drinks in-hand.

Amethyst then left her, somehow slipping away through the crowd towards the dance floor. Already feeling woozy from the disorienting music, Rarity resigned herself to searching for a place to sit. Which was a task in and of itself. It seemed the club was mostly standing-room, though after peering into more than one dark corner, she saw that the back wall was lined with booths. Most of these were occupied, but Rarity’s feet were screaming for a rest. Finally, she had to approach one such occupied table.

“Can I sit here?” She hollered, pointing to the opposite bench of the current occupying party. Through the dim light, Rarity couldn’t quite see who it was, but they nodded and adjusted their legs so they wouldn’t be tangled. Rarity smiled thankfully as she slipped into the booth, setting her drink down with a relieved sigh. “Thank you!” She hollered over the ever-present thump of bass.

“You’re welcome! It’s a madhouse out there!” Through flashes of light, Rarity could finally get a decent look at her friendly guest. She had long, perfectly straight hair, delicate features, and a very attractive neckline. Rarity sipped at her drink as her new friend continued. “What brings you here?”

“A friend dragged me along. I don’t know how much longer I can stand being here!” The other person smiled at her and offered a hand, which Rarity took happily. “I’m Rarity! Nice to meet you!”

“-Ia! My G… Brought me to listen to her se… Not a fan!” Rarity could see her lips moving, but couldn’t quite make out the words thanks to a renewed blast of music from the stage. Instead, she nodded politely, even though the meaning was lost to her. Finally, the music subsided enough that the other woman could continue talking. “You said your name was Rarity? You’re that new fashion designer, right?” Rarity nodded with a wide smile, waving a hand over her top.

“I made this myself!”

“It’s beautiful! I’m in need of a dress myself! Here, take my card!” She spotted the thin rectangle of paper slid across the table towards her, but the erratic and dark lighting didn’t allow her to see anything that was written on it. Resolving to the only bit of storage she had left, Rarity slipped the card under the strap of her corset, hugging it against her breast. Just as she was about to open her mouth, though, Amethyst appeared at the side of their table.

“There you are! Rarity, you have to come meet these guys I just met!”

“Amy, that’s a different drink than the one you had…” Rarity pointed to her hand. Amethyst grinned and lifted it to her lips, downing close to half of it in two gulps.

“My second! Come on!” Rarity looked down at her own drink, which was less than a quarter gone. Just as she was about to open her mouth to protest, a hand wound around her arm and lifted her from her seat very unceremoniously.

“Aah! Hey! Let go!” Rarity was suddenly dragged away, stumbling over her own feet as Amethyst laughed and pulled her towards the dance floor. She barely managed to catch sight of whoever it was, waving her goodbye. She managed one last weak wave before she was soon engulfed in a sea of bodies. The music was painfully loud here, and more than one person jostled her as she was dragged along by Amethyst. One particular elbow to her ribs made her absolutely certain she didn’t want to be here anymore. She wrenched her arm free at last, intent on scolding Amethyst, but it appeared they had arrived.

“Rarity, this is Matthew! And his brother Dent!” Amethyst hollered over the music. The one she called Matthew already had his arms around her waist, and Dent was lurching forward. She felt his hands slid around her hips smoothly, his hands laying flat on her rear. She was about to scream at him for touching her in such a way when his open mouth pressed against hers forcefully. Eyes wide, Rarity felt his strong tongue surge between her lips right away. Her fist thumped the big man’s chest firmly, but he wouldn’t back away. She growled and writhed, but his hands tightened, drawing her hips against his hard. She could feel the bulge of his arousal even through his jeans.

“-s ENOUGH!” Rarity finally pulled away from his disgusting kiss, glowering as her magic leapt to life. Hands glowing with the energy, Rarity gripped his wrists and lifted his hands away from her, giving her enough time to spin away.

“HEY!” Dent hollered at her, his hand shooting out the second she released him. He snatched her wrist in a crushing grip, dragging her back against him. “Don’t go runnin’ off, now, darlin’.” He breathed against her ear. He smelled of sweat, alcohol, and filth. Rarity’s stomach turned as his other hand cupped her breast, giving it a rough squeeze. “Dressed like that, we both know yer wantin’ me.”

“In your dreams.” Rarity muttered, wincing against the flash of pain that shot through her chest.

“Haw haw! Lookit Dent!” Matthew and Amethyst were looking at the two of them, both of them smiling like giddy school children. “Already got her tits in your hand, eh bro?” Dent shot a smile over his shoulder at them before turning back to Rarity.

“She’s lovin’ it! I toldya you needed to come here, Rarity!” Amethyst’s stupid, drunk grin was the last straw. Ignoring the pain, Rarity’s one free hand cocked back, glowing already. Dent’s stupid expression barely registered what she was going to do. But by the time he had reacted, she had already committed.

“Oof!” With a magic-fueled slap, Rarity ripped herself free of his embrace, sending the big man stumbling backwards into the crowd. The magical blow sounded out over the music, drawing heads their way suddenly. Dent stumbled into another man, who spilled his drink all over the woman he was groping. Cursing, he wheeled around and decked Dent right in the jaw. Amethyst and Matthew were stunned, giving Rarity just enough time to rip her so-called friend away from the lecherous Dent’s brother. As a brawl broke out on the dance floor, Rarity and Amethyst slipped away unnoticed.

Fuming, Rarity pulled Amethyst along to the front of the club, slamming her coat ticket onto the counter along with Amethyst’s. The other woman was still stunned as Rarity threw her coat over her shoulder, glaring at the other angrily. “You can stay here with that… That… Brute and his brother, but I am going home. You had better be sober for the fitting tomorrow, because so help me, if I have to fit a dress I didn’t create, I’ll be very upset with you. Good night, Amethyst.” Rarity called her by her full name, her tone cold and heartless. Amethyst blinked at her in disbelief. The last thing she heard before she left the club was Amethyst’s feeble reply.

“Rarity, wait-“

The cold wind tugged at her hair and rushed past her ears, drowning out even the thumping music as Rarity left the club. Hands in her pockets and head ducked low, Rarity walked home as fast as she could. She tried to ignore the biting wind against her legs, or the sudden chill of snowflakes hitting her face. The walk home was excruciating to endure, and by the time she finally opened her door, she was shivering with the cold. Her feet were sore and she was absolutely sure she had more than one blister. Kicking her heels of unceremoniously, Rarity turned the heater on high and began stripping out of her clothes. She smelled of alcohol and sweat, thanks to Dent. The stench nearly made her gag, let alone the memory.

As she popped the clasp on her bra, something fell to the ground. She lifted the business card she had been given, glancing it over before setting it on her night stand. Right now, she had more important things in mind. Like scrubbing every last inch of her body free of Dent’s disgusting memory. Card forgotten, Rarity padded nude to her restroom and turned the water on. No sooner was she wet than she began to scrub, and scrub hard. The hot water hurt at first, but she was soon numb to the pain. The soap smelled wonderful, and distracted her from the unpleasantness soon enough.

Finished at last, Rarity dried off with a fluffy towel and made her way to bed. She didn’t bother with pajamas. Knowing her hair was going to be a nightmare sleeping on it wet, Rarity set her contemptible alarm early and passed out.

Again, her dreams were troubled. They consisted more of nightmares than anything that night, mostly revolving around a feeling of being crushed, helpless, surrounded, and hounded. Pinches and pokes sent lancing pain into her body, causing her to writhe and scream. When she finally woke, it wasn’t to her alarm. Instead, a pounding reached her ears. Pounding like… Someone was at her door! Cursing, Rarity flung her covers off and pulled a bath robe over her bare form. Tying the belt tight around her waist, Rarity dashed down the hall and opened her door.

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity’s younger sister stood on the other side of the door. “Why in the heavens are you- Oh! Crying! Darling, come here!” Sweetie Belle’s eyes were laden with tears, and as soon as Rarity wrapped her arms around her, she burst out with a heart-wrenching wail. Concern and an odd sense of motherly affection replaced anger at being awakened as she closed the door and escorted her bawling sister to the nearby couch. They both sat down, and Sweetie Belle’s crying intensified. Rarity shushed her and held her close, letting the poor young woman sob into her bath robe for close to half an hour. At long last, Sweetie Belle composed herself, wiping away at her face pathetically. Rarity offered tissues, which she accepted readily. After several blown noses and a few more shaky breaths, she was finally composed.

“I’m so sorry, Rarity. I don’t mean to bother like this, I just-“

“Nonsense, darling. I’m always here for you. Just tell me, what’s wrong?” Sweetie Belle frowned and her lip trembled, but she didn’t break down again. Instead, she took another shaky breath, shedding a few more tears.

“She left me. Scoots. She left.” Rarity laid a hand over her heart at the news. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had been friends ever since they were children, and their relationship had been no big surprise. Scootaloo had even followed Sweetie Belle to Canterlot when she expressed her interest in going to the magi academy. Last Rarity had heard from her, the two of them were staying in an apartment on the other side of the city, close to Sweetie Belle’s school and wherever it was Scootaloo had been working. Some bar or other, Rarity heard. To hear the two of them were broken up was nothing short of shocking. In fact, there had been talk of a marriage last time Rarity had met her little sister.

“I’m so sorry.” Rarity laid a hand on Sweetie Belle’s back. She collapsed again, leaning into Rarity with a refreshed wave of tears. “Shh. Shh. It’s okay, Belle… It’s okay…” Sweetie Belle cried harder and clutched Rarity hard, her fingers curling into the robe as she sobbed. Rarity didn’t stop her, though. She knew how important it was to have someone to hold you when your heart was broken… While helping her little sister through school was half the reason for her moving to Canterlot, there was more than one reason behind her exodus from Ponyville…

Sweetie Belle sobbed and cried for another half an hour before she composed herself enough to sit up. “C-can I, I don’t know, crash here for a bit?”

“Of course, darling. Here.” Rarity’s hand glowed as she opened the nearby linen closet. A spare blanket hovered it’s way over to them, and she gingerly tucked it in around her sister. “Stay as long as you’d like, Sweetie.”

“Thanks, Rares… I won’t be here long.”

“Shh. Don’t think about that. Here, just get some rest.” Rarity tucked a throw pillow under Belle’s head as she slipped out from under her, leaving her sister to stretch out on the couch. “I have to work tomorrow. Will you be okay on your own?” Sweetie Belle nodded tiredly.

“Yeah… I just need some time away from… Things.”

“I understand. Get some sleep, Sweetie. I’ll leave some breakfast for you before I leave.” Rarity kissed her forehead gently before standing. Sweetie Belle was already asleep, her chest rising and falling slowly. How she had managed to make it all the way across town in the snow and cold, Rarity could only wonder. She sighed tiredly and went back to sleep herself. Thankfully, her dreams were absent.

“Don’t.” Amethyst raised a hand as she opened the front door to the boutique, almost a half an hour late. “Don’t start on me. I’m sorry. I am. But I had a worse time last night than you did.”

“Hhmph.” Rarity planted her hands on her hips, looking angrily at her partner. “I certainly hope not! I wouldn’t wish that on anybody!”

“Ugh. Please, spare me.” Amethyst rubbed the bags under her eyes with a groan. Upon closer look, Rarity could see that she certainly looked terrible. Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, and she wore a rather conservative sweater and slacks. Rarity herself sported a long-sleeve shirt and a vest along with some stylish jeans, to help compliment the snow boots, but Amethyst looked worse than she had since Rarity had seen her. “I never should have taken you out last night. I’m sorry.”

“Well, I suppose I could forgive you. Come here.” Rarity pulled Amethyst into a hug, stroking her hair gently. Amethyst returned it after a moment of hesitation. “Though I’m still angry.”

“Let me make it up to you? I’ll buy breakfast?” She offered with a sheepish smile.

“As long as it’s the bagels from next door.” Her smile turned genuine as she pulled her coat back on.

“Be right back. Sour cream and chives, right?”

“Always. Thank you, darling.” Rarity smiled as Amethyst left on her short errand. Rarity only had enough food in her apartment for Sweetie Belle that morning, so she had left it for her sister. She had intended to go without until that evening when she got off work, so she could go grocery shopping with her limited budget. Now, though, coffee and a bagel were on their way. The day was looking up already. No sooner had Rarity started to go through the inbox than Amethyst returned with their food. The scents made her stomach rumble, and Rarity tore into the bagel ravenously.

“Wow. You were hungry, huh? Do you want me to get another?” Amethyst asked with a ghost of a smile.

“No, thank you, darling.” Rarity talked after she washed the first bite down with a gulp of hot coffee. “Sorry. No. I don’t need it… I just ran out of food last night.”

“I thought you were doing okay on all that?” Amethyst asked, opening her lid to add another packet of sugar to her steaming beverage. Rarity sighed and sipped her drink once before sharing all that had happened after the club last night.

“Oh, I didn’t know… Poor Sweetie Belle. I remember my first breakup. It was terrible. Well, good on you for taking her in like that.”

“She’s the reason I moved here in the first place.” Rarity sighed as she finished off the bagel. “All my extra money goes towards her tuition. That’s why I’m living in that shoddy studio and scraping by paycheck to paycheck.”

“Rarity! That’s ridiculous! Doesn’t she have, I don’t know, a scholarship or something?” Rarity sighed and curled her fingers around her coffee.

“She does, a small one, but even with that and my contribution she barely gets by… Scootaloo was helping her with rent and groceries. Between the three of us, we made just enough to send her to school. Now, though, I… I don’t know what we’ll do.” Rarity put her face in her hands, groaning to herself. Sweetie Belle could move in with her, and if she picked up a part-time job, they might be able to get by… The stress was beginning to build up. For a woman in her early thirties, Rarity couldn’t afford any grey hairs.

“You know I could help out…”

“I couldn’t ask that of you, Amy…” Rarity waved her off. “You have your own school to be worrying about.”

“Yeah, but… Rarity, you can hardly feed yourself. Let alone someone else. This is a problem.” Amethyst leaned over, speaking in hushed tones. “Just a little bit, please… To make up for the embarrassment from last night. Don’t make me beg.”

“Look, you keep buying coffee and bagels, and I’ll consider that enough. At least then I won’t have to worry about cooking my eggs before they spoil.” Rarity lifted her coffee in a toast before smiling boldly. “I’ll work it out, darling. I always do.” Amethyst frowned at her, so Rarity re-affirmed her point. “Sweetie Belle and I will be fine. Two tough magi against Canterlot. What could possibly go wrong?”

“Well, I’m not going to stop buying you breakfast, that’s for sure.” Amethyst grumbled into her own cup.

“Oh come now, dear. Besides. I think I got us a new customer.” Rarity remembered the card she had thought to slip into the pocket of her jeans that morning. She pulled it out and slid it across the front desk to Amethyst, who picked it up with a curious frown.

“What’s this?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Some card from someone that had survived the night. I haven’t quite read it yet.” She waved as she took another sip at her coffee.

“Rarity…” Amethyst said, her eyes wide.

“Hmm?” Rarity hummed into her coffee.

“This is Octavia’s card. She’s the first-chair cellist… For the Canterlot Symphony.”

“Great.” Rarity wiped coffee from her chin. “That stain will never lift.”