Day tilted his head slightly. "They all look alright to me."
Sassy shook her head in denial. "No no no. One must call out to you. Just listen, and look." She cocked an ear. "Nothing?"
"Mmm..."
Color was nearby, watching Day view the selection of suits. "Think 'I am a professional', which suit do you think says the same thing back for you?"
"Mmm..." He reached out and brushed a suit just to wander to the muted colored one beside it and onwards to the soft yellows of the next. "This one, I like it."
"Magnifique," cried Sassy with a bright smile, her magic pulling the suit up and away. "I'll have it adjusted just so to fit your every proportion, that's why I had measured you, Day Dreamer, that was your name, correct? I'd hate to get that wrong."
"You're cool." He nodded softly as he stood up and looked towards Color. "Is that all?"
Color swiveled an ear at Sassy. "Send the bill over to Libel and I'll have that paid right up."
"Of course." She didn't have a shred of doubt in what had become a repeat customer. "May I ask, for what occasion are you adorning your friend in finery?"
"That's a good question." Day smiled softly at Color. "I'd like to know too. You know I don't need fancy clothes."
Color pointed towards the castle. "You are coming with me to the castle."
"Woah dude!" He scrambled to his hooves, eyes far wider than normal. "Can I see the gardens? They have so many, and I've heard stories... Woah..."
Sassy clopped her hooves excitedly, sitting on her haunches. "How delightful! I'll be extra sure this suit is looking its best so you can make a royal splash." She giggled at her own mild humor and pranced off to get to work.
Color gently pat the shoulder of his overwhelmed friend. "We'll see but I can't promise that. I have an appointment with Luna. You know her, right?"
Day hiked a brow at that. "Come on... even I've heard of Luna... She's, like... the other princess, right?"
"We have more than two."
"I'm messing with you." He poked Color gently. "I was the one giving factoids before. I know her, she's totally awesome. I can't wait to meet her in the pelt."
Sassy suddenly peeked back in from the back. "When was that appointment? I'd like to put a pin in this before then."
"Tomorrow."
Sassy blinked softly. "The usual turnaround time for alterations is closer to two weeks. Are you comfortable paying to have it done today?"
Color squeaked in surprise, a hoof rising to behind his head. "Oh! Well, I should have known better... I suppose I'll have to pay. It isn't too much I hope?"
She quoted the sum. Day looked shocked. It was more than Color could normally expect to see with several months of hard work. "Alright," agreed Color without hesitation, as if the sum was not much. "Thank you for getting this done on such short notice. I'll be better about it in the future."
"See that you are, but for loyal customers, we aim to please." She vanished, head withdrawing into her workspace to get to the alterations.
Day tilted his head. "Is it really alright to spend that much just for my suit? I mean... I could just go as I am? She probably knows me."
Color squinted a little. "Have you ever had a bad dream... ever?"
"Maybe once..." He shrugged gently. "Maybe she doesn't know me..."
"Exactly. Besides, first impressions are important, and I want you looking proper. Remember, she's the most proper princess."
"True..." Day started for the door. "I want Luna to like me. Thanks, Bro, for the chance. Don't forget to ask if we can see some of the gardens afterwards." He suddenly pranced in place, happiness unable to be contained. "That would be beyond everything..."
"We'll ask," promised Color in a friendly tone, walking along the Canterlot street. "Remember when we first got here?"
"Mm?"
"How lost and scared we were, I mean... Even you didn't really know what you were doing, but I bet you were less scared about it."
"Sounds right." Day glanced left and right slowly. "Think Derpy's around?"
"Muffins? What's your... hay, what's my relation with her? I've been... kind of confused."
"She's a bro." Day nodded with certainty. "A solid one, real good. I'm really happy I met her. You should get her a gift."
"You just finished saying she was your bro, but I should get her a gift?"
"You have the money," Day noted. "Besides, she's worked really hard to make you happy, even if you're never going to even give her a kiss."
Color began to color brightly. "I have a girlfriend!"
"I didn't say you were bad, just the truth." He shrugged softly. "I think she'd like a stallion that would come running across the country for her... She's not bitter though. She's way too cool, what a bro..."
"So... what... would I get her that would be nice but also wouldn't be amazingly awkward?" Color pointed at himself. "If a mare I liked suddenly gave me a gift, I'd start thinking exactly the kind of way I don't want to do with Muffins. I'm not trying to jerk her around."
Day considered that as he watched the other ponies of the town wander past. "Why not a new hat?"
"A new hat?"
"A postal one." He pointed up to his had. "Something sharp and official. She'll like that, but a work gift isn't a 'let's be special ponies' gift."
"Hmm..." Color led the way along. "Well, maybe, for now, we have a day to enjoy, a night to sleep, and tomorrow we got praise the moon."
"Praise the moon," agreed Day with a little smile.
"Libelous." It was her boss on the phone. "I got your letter, look. We're on the wrong page here. I want you over at the other branch, sure, but I don't want you quitting."
Libel's eyes partially closed. Part of her expected some kind of flack about it. "Thank you for the good years, Sir. I will treasure them forever."
"Don't give me that, Word. I took you in when nopony else was even glancing in your direction. Don't leave us hanging in this delicate time." She heard something thump. Had he hit his desk? She couldn't be sure.
"It's time for me to spread my wings, Sir." She smiled thinly into the phone. "You can blame the pegasus in me if you'd like, Sir."
"Very funny. Really... No really, what will it take? I want you over there."
Libel had read a few books about how to handle negotiations at work. This was a dangerous gambit. If she took his offer, the spectre that she was willing to walk would remain. The fact that she changed her mind for some sort of favor would be a mark against her, in the long run... It could be entirely unconscious, but it'd be there, lurking.
Besides, she had no interest in Baltimare. "Thank you. If I have need of employment later, I'll certainly think of you."
"Yeah..." There was a hint of defeat there. "What are you even doing? Going to edit for someone else?"
"My tenure of editing has been priceless, but it's time I put more of my own words on the paper. I should get back to work, Sir. I haven't quit yet, and I mean to continue being on time until the last day."
"Thanks." The line went dead.
Libel resumed typing, her wings clacking at the keys. She was really getting more of a hang for it. It still wasn't as fast as she'd seen other ponies doing, but that could take years of work. She was at an acceptable level, where she felt good for taking the time and the risk of trying the new typewriter.
"That was Him, right?" Bottom was peeking in through her door. "It sounded like it went well?"
"He tried to convince me to stay on... I thought he was done with me."
"Oh..." Bottom nudged the door open with her snout. "Human resources took my resignation without comment. I always was... kind of yours... There isn't anyone else in this building I directly worked for, so I suppose no one will miss me."
Libel reached out a wing to brush against Bottom, but the wing was suddenly grabbed in magic and pulled right into a hug between Bottom's forehooves. "Oh! Um... you won't be missed, because you'll be with me, and..."
"It just hurts, in a way... to have it ground in that you weren't much of a... thing... Most of the office will only notice you are gone, not me."
Libel stood up awkwardly, her wing securely held. "Well, I will gladly, and truthfully, tell you that you're half the reason I got anything done. I don't even want to imagine what life here would have been without you."
Bottom smiled gently. "I appreciate that." She gently released the wing. "I know it's stupid, I know that... My brain agrees that being upset about it is beyond immature and foalish... My heart disagrees though and it's throwing a huge pity party and I'm caught in the middle..."
Libel considered, her first impulse to go for a hug, but they were... not that kind of partners... "You should call Day. You know he'd come running."
Bottom smiled at that. "Thank you, for understanding. I think I'll do that." She took a deep and shuddering breath. "Over lunch... For now, let's get back to work. We're not off the clock yet and I will not let my last few days be bad ones."
Libel flipped an ear back. "Yeah, let's do that... but we can catch lunch together? We have things to discuss, happier things, I think."
Bottom perked her ears. "Some new news?"
"Oh, yes." Libel smiled gently. "I'm getting a new partner. A unicorn, real sharp cookie. Insists on using a binary keyboard for some reason or another."
Bottom suddenly snorted, nose wrinkling. "You'd better be careful around that, clutching to old traditions like that..." She turned for the exit. "Thank you, Libel... I'll be there, for Lunch, and past that."
Libel watched her leave with a bit of a trot in her step. She felt a smile spreading. Would having Bottom as a partner work? She felt increasingly certain it would.
The door slammed open to allow a panting earth pony into view. "Bottle?"
"Bottle?" came a voice from beyond the room in the office beyond. Libel peeked out from back there. "Bottle? That is an adorable name that I will never forget."
Bottom's cheeks began to burn brightly, her pet name revealed. "I'm right here, Day." She pat the desk as her magic kept the typing going for the moment before her hoof returned to its usual place. "I just want a big soft boyfriend to lean against right now. Can you be that?"
"Reporting for duty." He nudged the door closed behind himself and ambled up beside her, plopping down on his haunches. "Ready for leaning when you're ready."
"You're a good boyfriend." She casually leaned against him, still working. "Mmm, it's nice to have something soft and warm sometimes..."
"You can tell me what's wrong, if you want. Or don't... I can just be a warm thing if you need a warm thing."
"You are a great boyfriend," Bottom corrected, looking unsure if she wanted a warm thing or a talking person right that moment. Warm thing was pretty comfy, so she took that, leaning on him and breathing softly and typing. Life was just a little more reasonable with the presence of her boyfriend, there, and knowing he was ready to do anything, or just nothing, if it made her happier.
"Change is tough," she sighed out, typing casually. "But that is life."
"Change is rough," he echoed gently. "But you're not alone."