“Are your clothes still damp, Darling?” Rarity called from the back of her shop. Sunset glanced towards the door to the staff only section, and quickly patted herself down. The hemline of her top was still damp, and the lower half of her pants were definitely still wet.
“Yeah,” she called back.
“Then go ahead and pick something to wear now, and pick a couple of shoes too.” Her voice sounded even further away this time.
“Rarity, I can’t. This is too much.”
“Now now, I won’t take no for an answer. You’re one of my best friends, and someone in need. I think that qualifies you for more than my normal amount of generosity, wouldn’t you say?” Rarity had been getting louder, and as she finished she leaned around the door to give Sunset a pointed look. “Now finish picking enough clothes to last you a week, I’ve got a few items at home I just know will work with your colours.”
Rarity began to look Sunset up and down with a critical eye, and for some reason it made Sunset blush, and she had to fight the urge to turn away. Luckily for her, it was over quickly, and Rarity seemed none the wiser. Sunset quickly busied herself amongst the racks, picking out a few choice outfits. Rarity soon arrived with a suitcase full of the materials of her craft, and took Sunsets selection, putting them in alongside her items.
“Now, while I am often prepared for Sweetie Belle visiting, my selection of food is rather limited. I have child ready meals in for her, so I plan to order in tonight, unless you want to pick something up specially?”
“Order in sounds lovely right now,” Sunset nodded. “I’m good with just about anything.”
“Excellent. Here,” she handed Sunset the keys to her car, “you pack this in the trunk, and I’ll re-close the shop.” Sunset took the keys, and both women went about their task.
The rain was still lashing at the ground as Rarity pulled up outside of her house. Looking over at her passenger, she found Sunset looking down at her feet, and completely spaced out. Reaching over, Rarity placed a hand on Sunset’s shoulder, and gave her a gentle nudge. “Hey, you still with me Darling?”
Sunset jumped in her seat, her head snapping up. “Huh.”
“We’re here.” She pulled her hand back, and as Sunset looked out through the car window, Rarity noticed that the corners of her eyes were wet. “Come on now, let's get inside as quick as we can; I don't fancy being caught in this rain a second time today, and I'm pretty sure you don't either."
Sunset agreed with that sentiment, but she found herself looking at her friends townhouse, that was sandwiched between two others in a row about ten long. It suddenly struck her that in all the time she had been friends with the Rainbooms, she had only ever visited the homes of two of them - Pinkie's house and AJ's farm. Taking a better look at the front of Rarity's, she couldn't help but note the general look of the place was something far below what she had expected from the fashionista. "Erm, Rarity?" The purple haired girl stopped short of opening her door, and looked back at Sunset, "How come your house is so..." She motioned with her hands, unable to pick any words that wouldn’t offend her host.
“Run down? Shabby? Old?" Rarity supplied, causing her friend to turn away ashamed. "Don't feel bad for thinking it Darling, I am well aware of the state of my home." She sighed, looking reflectful. "When I first moved out from my parents house, my clothing business was still a fledgling dream, but the way I saw it was a need to stretch my wings and fly. So I picked somewhere I could comfortably afford, a planned short stay before moving somewhere better once my store opened. But ever since then, almost all of my spare income has gone into either the store, or research." She slapped her knees, bring an end to that train of thought. "More importantly, it does exactly what I need it to do, and you are welcome to stay as long as you want to."
With a click and a slam, Rarity slipped out of the car and into the rain, leaving Sunset in thought. She looked up at the building, her brows furrowed and her mind running, 'This could work.'
As the front door shut, the noise of the rain was finally silenced, and the two young women stood in the hallway, dripping water onto the hardwood floor. "When you said the door sticks, I didn't think you meant it would take a good few minutes to un-jam."
Choosing not to respond, Rarity reached out and flicked the light switch. Nothing happened. With an annoyed grunt, she hit the wall above the switch, and the bulb above them flicked to life. “Like I said, what I could afford at the time. Everything here works, just… not always first time. Now, I’ll give you the full tour later, but I’ll show you to your room first.” The stairs creaked as the pair ascended. “And here you are. You can get yourself out of those wet clothes, and I’ll make sure the water is hot enough for a shower.”
“Thank you Rarity, really. I should be used to it by now, but you always do too much.”
“And by now you should also know my feelings on that too, Darling.” The usually reserved woman stuck her tongue out at Sunset, and the two shared a quick but needed laugh. “The bathroom is the door opposite yours, so chop chop, I want a shower too when you’re done.”
Sunset let out a contented sigh as she felt herself sinking into the couch. Her stomach was full, she felt clean after her shower, and she was in serious danger of succumbing to a food coma. Everything was perfect, until she felt a nasty chill across her legs. “Bbbrrrrrrr.”
A blanket dropped onto her lap. “I’m sorry Sunset, that’s one more thing about this house. The back door lets in a terrible draft. It’s funny really; I’ve gotten so used to this house that these things have become commonplace.”
Accepting the blanket, Sunset covered herself up, and snuggled against the arm of the coach. “Don’t worry so much about it Rarity. The building you just learnt I lived in was worse than this, it hadn’t been used in twenty something years. Compared, this place is a palace.”
“I guess you’re right.” She chuckled, before picking up the TV remote. “Now what say you to a little drama before bed?”
A quick word of agreement later, and Sunset found herself watching one of Rarity’s favourite soap operas, but it didn’t take long before she had zoned out, the program merely background noise and flashing lights. Her thoughts drifted to the earlier events of today, and the image of smouldering rubble dominated the forefront. She was saved from more brooding as she registered a sudden silence. Blinking, the room came back into focus, and she found that the TV had been switched off.
“Well Darling I am dead on my feet. And, a lady must have her beauty sleep after all. I grabbed a set of nightwear from the shop that should fit you; you’ll find it on your bed. Good night Sunset.” Rarity began heading up the stairs, light creaking accompanying each step.
“Good night Rarity.” Sunset waved at her host, who disappeared from sight in a few more creaks. With a heavy sigh, she pushed herself up from the coach, and the blanket fell free to her feet. The cold draft bit at her immediately. With that for motivation, she quickly followed Rarity’s example and head upstairs. The room she had been provided with had white wall paper, accented with pink and purple stripes. Each room in the house had been given a token makeover, but the focus had clearly been the bedrooms, evidence by the Sweetie Belle colour scheme around her. Wanting nothing more than this day to be over, she quickly changed, and slipped herself into the awaiting bed. I would be lying to myself if I said I’d take my old beat up mattress over this. Even super comfortable, her mind could not find peace, and Sunset settled in for a long night.