Noticing something about one of the new bow ties, I paused in hanging it on its hook and inspected it. While similar to the original pattern, the cut of the tie was distinct from what I used. “There are a couple of these that are different.”
Coco looked at me, seeming a little worried. “I hope you don't mind. I tried something with it based on an older style of bow tie I had seen.”
“I don't mind at all.” I tied on the bow tie and stepped over to the shop’s fitting mirror. “I like what you've done. It gives them an elegant flare without being too bold.” I turned my head left and right. “If it can make me look good, it will do wonders for anypony else.”
The shop's bell rang, and I turned to the entrance. “Welcome to-” I stopped, mid-sentence, not seeing anypony come in. The door shut, and the sound of claws moving across wood made me smile. “Hello, Spike. How have you been?”
“I can't complain.” He stepped around a display and into view. “Looks like you've been busy. Rarity said your shop was getting thin on merchandise, but it doesn't look like it to me.”
“I can't take credit for that.” I gestured to Coco. “She’s making this place look like a shop again.”
Spike smiled. “Hey there! Long time no see.”
“It's nice to see you too, Spike. Did you come to visit?”
“We could, if you'd like, but I came to see Pin for a suit.”
I leaned back, surprised. “Not that I would turn away a customer, but I thought Rarity was the pony who made your suits.”
“She usually is, but she's not in town. I want to surprise her when I deliver something to her.”
“That changes things. I didn't want to poach one of her favorite clients.”
Spike lit up. “She told you I'm one of her favorites?”
“She talks about you all the time. She is always telling me how helpful you are around the shop and how much she enjoys going on gem gathering trips with you.”
“Yep, that's me.” He poked himself in the chest with his thumb. “Ponyville's number one assistant.”
“I‘ll have to take a measurement or two more than usual, to get an idea of the range of motion I should aim for.” I levitated my measuring tape and pad from the counter. “You looking for a full suit, or just a shirt and jacket?”
“Just a shirt and jacket.”
As I measured him and asked him to move in various ways so I could get an idea of the cuts I would need to make, he looked uneasy. “You feeling okay?”
He avoided meeting my eye. “How much is this going to cost?”
“I don't know, to be honest. If will depend on the style you choose, the cloth you want, things like that.”
He looked to the floor. “Truth is, Twilight doesn't know I'm doing this either. I wanted to surprise her with how professional I look when-” He slapped his claws over his mouth, before he said anything else.
“You did your secret royal stuff,” Coco supplied.
Spike dropped his claws and nodded. “Everypony will know about it before too long, but not right now. We're still setting everything up.”
I looked over the measurements and did some calculations in my head. “Come to the back with me. Let's see what we can work out.” Coco gave me a curious look as I led Spike to the workroom.
“I've ever been back here before,” he said looking around.
“It's nothing much. Just a work and storage area.” I gestured for him to take a seat in one of the work chairs. “I want you to look a few samples, and we'll go from there.” I showed him a selection of the cloth available and the various styles I thought would work with his build. He made his choices, and I jotted notes about what he wanted. “If I had to guess, Rarity modifies patterns for minotaurs when she makes suits for you. Am I right?”
“I think so. She has those kinds of pattern books out when she does.”
“Good. That gives me a better idea of how to start things. We may have to make some adjustments the first time around, but you'll be looking like a million bits after we're through.” I put my things away, keeping a poker face.
He gave me a look. “You didn't say anything about a price.”
“That's true.”
“Give it to me straight. What's the damage?”
“None.”
His jaw fell open. “You can't do that!”
“Yes I can, and I want to.”
He pointed a claw at me. “Look, buster, I'll take my business elsewhere.”
I smiled. “All the way to Canterlot? In secret too?”
A look of realization came across his face. “Oh, yeah.”
“I'm not saying I'm not going to ask for something in return, I'm just not asking for bits.”
Spike grinned. “I gotcha. I scratch your back, you scratch mine?”
“Got it. Just drop the name of your tailor, during whatever's coming up, and we'll call it even. Having a good recommendation from an influential VIP is worth more than bits.”
Spike puffed himself up. “I do have the ear of some of the most powerful ponies in Equestria. You've got a deal.” We shook on it. While he still had hold of my hoof, he said, “I still think you're getting the short end of this bargain.”
“Not at all.” I nodded to my notes. “I'm getting the shop's name out and getting to try something new at the same time. It's rare that I can do that.”
“I don't want to rush you, particularity since you're doing this for free, but when will everything be ready?”
“About the end of the week. I have jobs for other clients I need to finish and then I'll get started.”
“That's perfect. We haven't even gotten the invitations in yet.” Spike looked at me with pleading eyes. “Forget you heard that.”
“Forgot what?” Tapping a hoof against my temple, I acted as it I was trying to recall something. “I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“I better get out of here before I say something that makes you remember.” After Spike raced out the door and turned down the hall, he called back, “I will drop your name a lot! I promise!”
I chuckled and wrote down some quick notes as to what I needed to do for Spike's jacket. “Those dorsal scales of his could be a challenge,” I muttered to myself. I placed the notes into a folder, tucked them into the file cabinet, and returned to the storefront.
Coco gave me a curious look. “Spike was grinning ear to ear, when he ran past me. What did you do?”
“We came to an arrangement we both found agreeable.”
“With the both of you smiling like you are, I don't doubt it.” After we returned to the store, we resumed putting out more items for display. “Cutting out the pattern and getting the stitching right for the shirt and jacket is going to be tricky.”
“I've worked on suits for minotaurs and one for a diamond dog. If all goes well, I think I can start with what I remember from those jobs and make things work without too much trouble.”
The store's bell chimed again.
“Good afternoon! How can we help you today?”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but it's just me.” Thunderlane leaned around a display and gave me a worried look. “You must be working too hard again. You said 'we'.”
“There are two of us here,” Coco said as moved so he could see her. She smiled at Thunderlane and waved. “Hello.”
Thunderlane's eyes widened. He looked back and forth between me and Coco. “Sorry! I didn't know I was interrupting anything.”
“We're just shelving,” I said. “Thunderlane, this is Coco Pommel. She has been kind enough to agree to help me while she is waiting for her next big contract in Manehatten.”
Coco offered her hoof. “Hello.”
Thunderlane gave her a winsome smile as he shook her hoof. “A pleasure.”
I told Coco, “Thunderlane is part of Ponyville's weather team and is a back up Wonderbolt.”
“Really?” She turned to look at him, seeming to reassess her opinion of him. “That's impressive. Not too many ponies can do jobs like that, much less at the same time.”
Thunderlane shook his head. “It's nothing. I like flying and thought I might as well make bits doing what I love. I'm not even on the full time backup roster for the Wonderbolts yet, so don't be too impressed. When I make the show team full time, then you can get stars in your eyes.” Thunderlane pointed a hoof at me. “Is he treating you right?”
“He's been wonderful.”
“Good to hear.” He leaned towards her and made a show of covering his mouth with his hoof. “You know what they say about the quiet ones that live alone.”
“Thanks, Lane.”
He grinned at me rakishly. “No prob.” His ears snapped up. “Oh, before I forget, the guys are getting together tonight, at the usual spot. There's an important bit of news we need to discuss.”
“I can't make it. I've still got too much to catch up on.”
“Barrel told me to tell you, if said what you did, that I should tell you, 'You can meet us there, or you can be hogtied and carried out of your shop.'” Thunderlane gave me a no nonsense look. “I think he was serious too.”
I rubbed my forehead with a hoof. “I have no doubt he was, and if he didn't tie me up and carry me, he would talk to Mac, and Mac would.”
“Eeyup,” Thunderlane said, doing his best impression of MacIntosh.
“I'll make sure he goes,” Coco said.
“Et tu, Coco?” I said, putting a hoof to my chest. “I thought you would be on my side.”
“We've made a lot of progress the last couple of days. It wouldn't hurt for you go on a colts night out.”
“If you would like, you could-”
Before I could finish, Thunderlane held up a hoof. “Stop right there. The point of a colts night out is that there are only colts involved.”
I ignored Thunderlane, and continued, “Ask Berry if she would like a fillies’ night in with you and Pinch. I'm sure she would enjoy the company.”
“Whew. There for a second, I thought you were so desperate to go on a date you were going to ask her to join us.”
I looked daggers at Thunderlane. “Excuse me?”
“You're lunch dates with Rarity don't count.” He paused and tapped his chin with his hoof. “Now I think about it, I can't remember when the last time you asked a mare out. Have you decided to see if you barn door swung the other way without telling us? Not that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, I have friends I could-”
“Out!” I pointed to the door. “I do not need this kind of abuse, even if it's friendly.”
“I believe he protests too much,” Thunderlane said, with a wink to Coco. “I bet he hasn't even taken you out to lunch, and you're quite the cutie.”
“Thunderlane, you're pushing it,” I warned.
“He hasn't needed to ask me to lunch,” Coco said. “He's been making lunch for the both of us.”
I winced as Thunderlane's eyebrows rose.
“Really?” He looked at me and smiled like a manticore about to pounce a rabbit. “He's been making your lunches?”
“Not all of them, but he has.”
“Have any of them any good or have you been gagging them down out of politeness?”
“They've all been delicious.”
Thunderlane's smile grew, which I thought would have been impossible a moment before. “It's good to hear he's been treating you kindly. I bet he's been working your tail off, though.”
“We've both been working at a steady pace, but it's nothing like what I do in Manehatten. There is enough time for me to slow down and really focus, instead of constantly rushing to get a job done.”
“I will let you get back to it, then. I don't want to give him an excuse not to come tonight.” He nodded to her. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”
She nodded back. “Likewise.”
Thunderlane stopped and pointed a wing at me. “You better show up.”
“I'll be there. I don't want to be carried through the streets like a trophy.”
Thunderlane snorted. “You flatter yourself. I doubt you would ever be mistaken for a trophy.”
After the bell rang, and the door closed, signaling Thunderlane was gone, I muttered, “With friends like him, I don't need enemies.”
“He's not too bad. He's just full of himself.”
“I don’t think he’s a bad guy, really. He likes to act smooth around good looking mar...” I trailed off, as Coco looked at me with an amused expression.
She motioned for me to continue. “Go on. Finish the thought.”
“He likes to look good around mares,” I said, as soon as I thought through how to rephrase my words.
She smiled. “So, you're going to act like it was a slip of the tongue?”
“It's the proper thing to do.”
“You don't have to be proper all the time. We're friends, right?” Her ears folded back and she would not meet my eye. “Or am I only a temporary employee?”
“I consider you a friend, but I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“Since we're friends, you don't have to have your guard up around me all the time. Sometimes, when you’re so formal, it makes me feel like I've done something wrong.”
“Sorry. I didn't realize I was making you feel that way. I'll do my best to loosen up.”
Her eyes went to my neck. She titled her head and looked amused. “Your tie is crooked. Hold still.”
I froze, as she worked on the bow.
“Besides, mares like compliments like that, especially when they are spontaneous.” Seeming satisfied, Coco looked up from her work. “There we go. You look handsome.”
I felt my cheeks warm. Before I could say something in response, the store's bell chimed again.
*****
As I slid the key into the lock, I heard large hooves approaching, and a shadow fell over me. I did not even glance over my shoulder as I turned the key. “Hello, Mac. I take it that Barrel spoke to you earlier.”
“Eeeyup.”
“I wasn't planning on skipping. As you can see, I'm locking up the shop to leave.” MacIntosh stood silently as I tucked the key away and turned to him. “I'm surprised Barrel isn't with you.”
“I volunteered to come in his place. The plan was that Mac would flush you out, and I would dive on you as you made your escape.”
I looked up to see Thunderlane hovering above our heads. “Get down here, you buzzard.”
“I prefer to be called a hawk or an eagle, thank you.” Thunderlane glided down and landed beside MacIntosh. “Barrel will escort you home, so no trying to leave early.”
I looked to MacIntosh for support. “All this fuss is making me feel like I'm a foal that needs looking after. I’m not that bad, am I?”
He smiled and moved the sprig of wheat in his mouth from one side to the other, but he did not say a word.
“Come on, you two. We're keeping the others waiting.” Thunderlane trotted away from us, heading towards the tavern. “They'll be on their second ciders, and we won't have even gotten started.”
“It's not a race, Lane.” MacIntosh and I followed, at a more leisurely pace. “Enjoy the evening a little.” I looked up. “It's nice and quiet, the moon is bright, and the stars are out.”
“I'd like the evening a lot more with a mug of cider to go along with all of that,” Thunderlane replied, not looking back.
“You can't tell that he's the youngest of our group can you?”
MacIntosh chuckled. “Eenope.”
The tavern was more crowded than usual. The others had occupied our typical table, saving it from being taken. Barrel, Carrot, and Caramel were talking; as the three of us sat down to join them.
“Bout time you three showed up,” Barrel said, wiping foam from his mouth. “Get lost on your way over here?”
“They were enjoying the moon, the walk, and the stars,” Thunderlane said, making a gagging motion. He waved to Frosted Mug. “Three more over here, Frost! Make that four; I've got catching up to do.” He then turned back to us. “I tried to get them to move it, but that didn't happen.”
“I thought as much. You should do the same. Life passes by too fast as it is, there's no need to rush it.” Barrel took a draw from his mug and then slowly lowered it back to the table. His mind seemed distant. “It's been too long since Berry and I took a walk and enjoyed the stars. I need to fix that.”
“I need to do something with Dazzle too, but we've been working our flanks off here lately.” Carrot leaned back in his chair. “Even with Pinkie helping, it's almost to the point we can't keep up.”
We collectively turned to Caramel, who told us, “Sassafras has been filling orders all over the place too. It's like anything from Ponyville is a hot commodity.”
“That would be due to our resident princess,” Barrel said. “Berry and I have even been getting requests for special labels celebrating Twilight's rise to royalty on wines from that year.” He looked to MacIntosh. “I bet you're having trouble keeping apples in storage, with your sister being an Element and a friend to Twilight to boot.”
“Eeyup.”
“Workaholic here has been busier than usual too,” Thunderlane said. He smiled and raised his mug. “I have an announcement to make. We can no longer count one of our members among the single.”
Several heads, at other tables, turned when he made his proclamation. I tried to not let it show, but Thunderlane's words chilled me. I had visions of his announcing that Coco and I were an item, the Ponyville rumor mill getting a hold of the idea, it getting back to Coco, and me having to explain that I had nothing to do with such a thought getting spread around.
“So that's the reason for us getting together tonight,” Barrel said. He looked at MacIntosh, Thunderlane, and me. “Since you three are the ones without a mare in your lives, we've got good odds at guessing who it is.”
“It's Pin.” Carrot said. “He reacted a little too much, when Thunderlane said something.”
“I can't guess, since I know who it is,” Caramel said.
“Well now, that changes the odds.” Barrel slowly grinned as he looked at me. “It is you, isn't it? You're looking more uneasy by the second.”
“Eenope,” MacIntosh said. “It's me.”
Carrot and Barrel looked shocked.
“Congratulations, you big lug!” Barrel said. “Who’s the lucky mare?”
“Miss Sugar Belle,” MacIntosh said, sounding proud.
Carrot gave him a look. “The confectioner from the town Starlight left?”
“Eeyup.”
“I thought he was dating Pinkie Pie’s sister,” Caramel said. “When I asked him how it was going, he set me straight.”
“He might have been and wouldn‘t admit it,” Thunderlane said. “The Apple doesn't roll far from the family tree.”
MacIntosh grabbed Thunderlane and put him in a somewhat friendly headlock. “That was uncalled for,” MacIntosh said, as he gave Thunderlane a light, for him, noogie. “I won't have you callin' into question Marble's morals.”
“It's not her morals I'm calling into question.” Thunderlane tried to wriggle free of MacIntosh's hold, as the noogie intensified. “Let me go, you over-sized lumox! This isn't high school!”
“Eenope.”
“Marble's a very, very, very distant cousin, if she is at all,” Caramel said, leaning away from the struggling form of Thunderlane. “Keep in mind, Pinkie was the source of that information.”
Carrot laughed. “True. She has her own take on things.”
I let out a slow breath. Just I as felt myself relax, Barrel made a slight motion with his hoof to draw my attention. I looked up to meet his eye. He smiled in a way that told that he knew something.
Oh crab apples, was the only thing I could think.
******
“You sure you will be all right making it back?” Barrel asked our buzzed friend. His volume was the same as if we were still in the tavern and still needed to speak up to be heard.
Thunderlane used a wing to wave off Barrel's question. “I'm fine. I'm fuzzy, I'll admit, but I'll get home without any trouble. Thanks, though.” He walked away from us showing no signs of inebriation.
“He can hold his drink better than most pegasi, I'll give him that.” Barrel poked me in the chest with a hoof. “We need to have a little chat.” He looked over my back to Carrot. “Why don't you join us for a minute? You might have something to add to the conversation.”
Carrot nodded. “And I need to keep an eye on you, since you’re worse off than Thunderlane.” After finishing waving to Caramel and MacIntosh, Carrot joined us. “You noticed it too? Our friend here got a little jumpy when Thunderlane made his announcement.”
“This one has gotten himself interested in the mare in his shop.” Barrel said, poking me in the chest again. “From what Berry said, she caught your eye quick.”
“Yes, I like her. No, before you ask, I haven't made any moves.”
“Why not?” Carrot asked.
“I didn't want her to feel weird working with me.”
“Understandable, but don't let that stop you,” Carrot said. “Try it once. If she doesn't seem interested, back way off and keep things professional.” Carrot tilted his head, indicating we should get moving. “Come on Barrel. It’s late, and you’re being loud again.”
“She put any moves on you?” Barrel asked, as we walked with Carrot.
“No, but she's given indications she might be open to being courted.”
“Such as?”
“She wanted me to quit being so formal.”
Barrel snorted. “We want you to get the stick from under your tail too, but we figure that’s not going to happen and none of us are making a pass at you.”
“She had to have done something more than that,” Carrot said, in a quiet voice, as if trying to compensate for Barrel’s almost shouting. “You reacted too strongly for there not to be something else.”
“She gave she adjusted my tie and told me I looked handsome this afternoon.”
Barrel slapped me on the shoulder. “You’re right to be fidgety. She’s all but given you an engraved invitation to woo her.”
“I don’t feel like I should, with the way things are right now.”
“Why the Tartarus not?”
“She’s under me.”
“Not yet, she’s not. But she might be if you play your cards right.”
My irritation must have shown. Barrel moved out of my reach, as I told him with more force than I should have, “That is not why I am interested in her.”
“Come on. You can’t tell me that, if she offered, you would pass it up.” He dropped his head and looked towards my hind quarters. “Or did you join that cult in Gelding Grotto and you haven’t told us about it?”
I stopped on the path. As Barrel and Carrot to came to a halt, I took a calming breath.
Barrel grinned. “That get under your coat? Guess you still have em.”
“Barrel, stop it,” Carrot said sharply.
“He’s drunk, Carrot. It’s all right.”
“I’m buzzed, but I’m not drunk. I’ve got to work tomorrow, so I can’t get properly hammered.” He moved close to me. “Doesn’t mean I’m not talking sense, either. You like the mare? Grab her.”
“If I recall, Berry beat the stuffing out of you when you did that to her.”
“I was drunk that night.” Barrel laughed, his breath carried the smell of heavy gravity cider. “It might not have been the best approach, but it worked out. At least she knew I was interested after that.”
After a long pause, I conceded, “You might have a point.”
Barrel’s grinned and his ears went up. “What’s this? Mr. Proper might take a pass at a mare?!”
“Not quite how you did with Berry, but I might.”
“I hate to do this, but I’ve got to get back,” Carrot said. “Dazzle is alone with the foals, and they can be quite the hooffull. Pin, give it a shot. It sounds like she wants you to, and you’ve been alone long enough.”
Barrel said, turning from me, “Rarity is a one of a kind mare, but she’s not worth not having another lady in your life.”
“We didn’t get that far, and things ended well enough.” I shrugged. “I didn’t feel like getting back into dating for a while.”
“Two years is more than a while.”
“I know, but work has been so crazy there just hasn’t been time for me to date a mare properly.”
“Take the time, Pin,” Carrot said. “I know the shop means a lot to you, like Sugar Cube Corner does to us, but you still need to take time for yourself away from it.”
Barrel nodded in agreement with Carrot. “Or draw her in into your life completely, work and all. Let her be your partner in everything. That’s what my marriage to Berry has become, and I wouldn’t have any other partner in business or life than her.”
Carrot and I both looked at Barrel, giving him a disbelieving stare.
He looked back to us. “What?”
I laughed. “There is no doubt about it now. You are drunk. You said something almost romantic.”
“You can kiss my mark. I’m crude and I'm not refined, I’ll admit, but I have soft spots too.” Barrel walked past Carrot, heading towards his place. “Come on Carrot. We’ve got mares and foals to go home to.”
Whether or not Barrel meant them as a parting jab his words stung. I had not thought about being on my own for a while. My feelings getting hurt by something said might that might not have even involved me gave me something to mull over as I made my way home.
After returning home I made my way to my bedroom. Seeing myself in the dresser mirror, I stopped and studied my reflection. My hoof went to the bow tie. “I didn’t even think about taking it off, even knowing I was going to a pub,” I told my image. With care, I undid the knot. “Not too long ago, that would never have happened.” After folding and putting the tie on top of the dresser, I looked up at my reflection and smiled. “She is something special, isn’t she?” My expression turned serious. “Should I try?”
Realizing that I was talking to my reflection and sincerely wanting an answer, I rubbed a hoof against my forehead. “I think I might have had too much. Here I am blithering to my reflection.” After finishing my evening routine, I slid into bed. My thoughts roiled with should I’s, what abouts, and worries, before I drifted off.
I woke to the sound of my alarm clock. After a groan and a good stretch, I rolled out of bed and silenced the ringing. My eyes drifted to the bow tie. I sighed, my mind still jumbled about the whole situation with Coco. As I got ready for the day, I sorted through my thoughts. Having slept, and with the effects of the alcohol gone, it proved an easier task.
After a quick breakfast, I made my way to Rose Luck’s market stand. She was setting up and putting her flowers on display. She paused in what she was doing as I approached. “Good morning. You rarely visit the market this soon this soon after making a trip. Did you forget something?”
“No, I got everything the other day. I came to talk to you about flowers.”
A smile came to Rose’s face. “I would love to help however I can.”