I wonder why ponies always talk to me like that? Opalescence thought to herself, as yet another of Rarity’s many customers addressed Ponyville’s most famous tailor’s cat with the most ridiculous high-pitched voice imaginable. It’s not like they can expect some kind of reaction from me. Everybody around here ought to know that I am not to be addressed in such a manner.
Yet, the customer continued his incessant high-pitched rambling. Couldn’t he see that Opal had strategically placed herself in the corner, to avoid having to directly interact with the particularly annoying customers?
At least my pet should be done with her work, after this pathetic excuse for a gentlepony leaves. Only one more idiot to close the door behind, and another hard day’s work will be complete.
And so, Opal waited. Waited for her owner to return, to show this idiot the door. Waited for work to end, so that her pet could present her her dinner. But most of all, waited for the idiot in front of her to cease his rambling.
“Oh, I do apologize," Rarity smiled nervously, as she made her way back into the room. "I hadn’t realized how long I had been back there."
The pony who had previously been inviting Opal to rip his face open turned away from the thoroughly annoyed cat, to face the pony who had saved him from a rather messy fate.
Too bad, Opal thought. I would have gladly given him some less temporary decorations to wear.
“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting for too long! It took me some time to find just the right fabric. It’s so easy to lose track of time when you’re working on something you enjoy...”
“Oh, not to worry, Miss Rarity. I was entertaining myself as well. Had a nice little chat with your cat, you see. I’m quite fond of cats.”
Come a little closer and say that again. We’ll see if the feeling is mutual.
“Oh? Opal usually isn’t very fond of strangers...”
I wonder why.
“Oh, quite the contrary! She seems to be very well-behaved.”
For now.
“Enough about Opal, for now.”
Excuse me?
“What do you think of the fabric? Have I picked the right color for the dress you had in mind? If you have any concerns, voice them now, or I’ll have to make even greater adjustments later,” Rarity warned her customer.
Enough about me?
“It’s absolutely perfect, Miss Rarity."
"Really? You have no qualms with my choice of color?"
"None at all, Miss Rarity. I must say, the rumors were definitely true.”
Rumors?
“Rumors?”
“Yes, the rumors about your talent. They are what persuaded me to come here, of all places.”
“Ponies are spreading rumors about my talent? Well, I suppose I do deserve at least some recognition, don’t I?” Rarity smiled, hiding a blush behind a hoof.
My pet deserves recognition, but I don’t? What a world we live in.
“Absolutely.”
“Tell me, if you’ll be so kind, who told you of my talent?”
“You mean... you don’t know?”
I hope this is going where I think it’s going.
“Well, of course not. Why would I know who’s been spreading rumours about me?”
“Oh? I assumed you had spread those yourself.”
Three... Two... One...
“Well, I never! If you weren’t a customer, I would show you to the door right this second!” Rarity yelled, frightening her customer with the sudden loud noise. “I will have you know that I am a lady! Ladies do not partake in gossip, in particular when it concerns themselves!”
The unfortunate customer checked himself, and regained his composure. “My apologies, Miss Rarity. Perhaps I should not have said that.”
“Perhaps?!”
The customer nodded, smiling slightly. “Ah, very well. I shouldn’t have said nor assumed that. I apologize once again, Miss Rarity.”
Rarity studied her customer briefly, and nodded. “Very well, then. Just don’t let such a thing happen again.”
What a shame; I was hoping for a show.
“Now then, Miss Rarity. Your choice of fabric is perfect, as your reputation would imply.”
“So... you have no problems with my design? No adjustments to be made? No features to be added? No changes of mind?”
“None at all,” the customer smiled.
Good, good. Now leave.
Rarity nodded, a slight hint of satisfaction in her eyes.
“Just... one question, Miss?”
“Yes?”
“When will the dress be finished?”
Will this pony never learn when to keep quiet?
“Well, I don’t have very many other projects to work on, to be honest. Your dress should be finished in a week, perhaps two.”
Can you send him off, now? You still have to serve me my supper.
“My gratitude, Miss Rarity. I look forward to admiring the fruits of your labor.”
“Yes, yes. Now then, although I don’t have very many other projects to work on, there are a few that need to be finished soon. Would you horribly mind... well, leaving?”
The customer smiled. “Not at all, Miss. I’ll be happy to leave an artist to her work.”
A bit faster next time, please.
Rarity couldn’t help but smile. She never could refrain from smiling when somepony called her an artist. “Ah, why, thank you. I trust you can find the exit?”
The customer smiled once again, taking the hint. He turned around and left, closing the door behind him.
Now then, can we finally get on to the more important matters?
“Now then, Opal. It looks like it’s finally time to get on with the more important matters.”
This is why I tolerate your stupidity at times, pet.
“We need to finish Fancy Pants’ request before tomorrow.”
You’re joking, right?
“Ah, but perhaps it’s about time we eat something, first. You must be absolutely famished, Opal!”
Huzzah, the pet has caught on.
Opal moved from her corner, and followed ‘her owner’ into the kitchen. Rarity busied herself with preparing a bowl of food for ‘her pet’ while Opal sat there, staring quietly.
“Honestly, Opal, I’m surprised at how well-behaved you’ve been, today.”
I’ll let that slide if you hurry up with my supper.
“Usually, when ponies come so close to you, you swipe at them! Perhaps some of my good manners are rubbing off on you?”
Says the pet that just came dangerously close to attacking one of its customers.
“Let’s see if you can keep this behavior up, hmm?”
Let’s see if you can hurry up.
“Here you go, Opal,” Rarity said, turning around as she levitated a full bowl of cat food into the air, setting it gently beside ‘her pet’.
Your services are no longer required, pet. You can now work on whatever it was you needed to finish. I will stay here and attend to the more important matters, as usual.
“It’s at times like these that I really am glad that I decided to get a cat,” Rarity said, as she watched Opal eat. “Yes, the hairs can get everywhere. And yes, you are a little... grumpy, at times, but you make a fine pet, Opal.”
As do you... Hold on, what? You think I’m the pet? You ponies get more and more odd with each passing day...
Rarity sighed. “Well, it looks like it’s about time I get back to work, then.”
Very well, then. You are excused.