Spitfire scowled as she looked out at the ponies of Canterlot. No one in the cafe she was sitting at had worked up the courage to ask for her order. Which was just as well as Spitfire was here to scope out a marefriend for the evening, not eat. Normally she would have felt bad taking up cafe space, but she was far too busy with her own problems to spare it concern. Rainbow Dash has been going on and on about her beautiful new marefriend.
Of course, the love-struck newbie (not really a newbie anymore but still) wouldn't shut up about her marefriend. And Spitfire wasn't about to let herself be shown up by the new blood! She knew on a practical level she shouldn't get annoyed. But she was... a bit older than Rainbow Dash and it was poking her that with the focus on her career she hadn't really had a serious relationship. She had resolved to fix that, or at least try. But that wasn't tonight. Tonight was find some pretty young mare, be perfectly honest and upfront about this was just a party to show up Rainbow Dash. And probably bribe them with tickets or something. Then tomorrow was to put at least some effort into finding a possible life partner.
That was totally Spitfire's plan, but yet she was still sitting here, not doing anything with that plan. Mainly because she had to admit that the plan, even with being upfront, was a bit skeevy. She didn't intend to do anything untoward, but even just exploiting a young mare for a date was less than respectable. Rainbow Dash was fairly young and obviously didn't have the best self-control but Spitfire was a respectable...
Spitfires musings were interrupted by a steaming mug being slipped under her muzzle. She blinked as the pungent drink wafted up at her. She looked up to see a pretty young blue-coated mare grinning at her. While Spitfire was still processing this event the other mare spoke. "Heya! You looked upset, so I gotcha some hot chocolate!"
Spitfire stared, dumbfounded at the pony before her. Even as the blue mare took a sip of her own hot chocolate and slid into the chair across from Spitfire. While Spitfire wasn't in her commander jacket she usually exuded an aura of... Not hostility, but... Order. Other ponies respected that and usually kept their distance. This one just cut right through that and not only bought her hot chocolate but was sitting with her, uninvited. So her brain kicked into defense mode, it was so out of the ordinary. "I don't do hot chocolate." Though she started strong, Spitfire pulled back slightly as the mare gave her the cutest little pout...
"Aww, are you allergic? Poor thing! Should I get you a donut or something?" The mares bright smile was back as she waited for the answer.
Spitfire wasn't a stranger to kindness, of course, but this... Little piece of sunshine that had sat down at her table was something else entirely. After a few moments Spitfire supposed that one time wouldn't hurt, not like there were any Wonderbolts around to see. She raised the mug slowly to her lips and took a long sip. Spitfire didn't hate chocolate, it was just hot chocolate wasn't a commander drink. "There. It's not that I can't, or don't like it. It's just not my style really."
The other mare giggled and shook her head. "Oh, now don't be silly! Hot chocolate is everyone's style! It's delicious." She nodded sagely and continued her ridiculously large smile.
Spitfire was still trying to process the fact that this unicorn didn't seem to have any compunctions about talking to her like they were old friends. Then again, the other mare, uninvited, bought her hot chocolate, and sat down at her table when the even the staff hadn't worked up the courage to come over and ask her order. Spitfire shook her head after a few moments of thinking. "I'm Spitfire, by the way, commander of the Wonderbolts." Straightening up slightly she was sure that the other pony would at least recognize her importance.
The blue mare didn't seem to understand the gravity Spitfire was trying to put off. Instead, she clapped her hooves together. "Ooh! That's fancy! My friend has a friend in the Wonderbolts!" She took another sip of her hot chocolate before answering Spitfire's unstated question. "I'm Minuette." She then started to bob her head absently like she was listening to music Spitfire couldn't hear.
Spitfire looked around, half expecting to find a band or something playing music that everyone but her could hear. But no, it was just Minuette having fun. Spitfire wondered absently if Minuette would have been impossible to scare off the mare if she was in her normal jacket and sunglasses. On the other hoof, this did present an interesting mare that had plopped herself right into Spitfire's lap, metaphorically at least. And Minuette was a very pretty mare. Dual colored mane, well kept obviously, about the same age as Rainbow Dash. Though their age difference wasn't enough to be a scandal or anything it would certainly raise some eyebrows... Spitfire chuckled to herself at that thought, perhaps she was giving herself too much credit. This entire plan was so petty she should know a few years off her own maturity credit.
"Ooh, what's so funny?" Minuette was grinning again, and watching Spitfire, eagerly awaiting the funny joke that she too could share in.
Spitfire shook her head a bit. "Just thinking to myself that I'm not acting my age is all."
"Well fooey on acting your age, that's no fun!" Minuette took an especially big sip of her own hot chocolate to leave herself with a hot chocolate mustache. "Acting our ages is so boring! We should just have fun!"
Spitfire chuckled again, this time at Minuette. "Well at your age that's a lot easier to get away with. We have a few more expectations put on us as we get older."
Minuette stuck her tongue out, illustrating Spitfire's point. At least so Spitfire thought, Minuette didn't seem to agree. "Nonsense! You can have fun at any age! I mean just look at Princess Celestia!" She's a thousand and she still makes funny pancakes!"
Spitfire blinked in astonishment. "Wait, she does what?"
Minuette giggled and nodded. "Oh yeah! My friend Twilight told me! Princess Celestia makes pancakes with funny faces on them!" Minuette bounced a bit in her own excitement.
Spitfire was completely taken aback by the fact that this random stranger that had walked up to her and started this conversation knew the princesses. Then something else clicked as well. "Oh! Is your friend's friend is Rainbow Dash?"
Minnuette nodded vigorously. "Oh yeah! She's such a show-off." Minuette took a sip of her almost gone hot chocolate and licked her mustache off of her face finally. "I mean, she likes to think she's the best at everything!" Minuette giggled again at the statement.
Spitfire had to give it to Minuette. She didn't seem to have a jealous bone in her body. Most ponies got annoyed at Rainbow Dash's constant need to show off and be the best, but there wasn't a flicker of that in Minuette's statements. Just statements of fact really. Though she did see a possibility here. Spitfire wasn't so sure she should go through with her plan really, it was truly immature of her, but Rainbow Dash could be such an annoyance at times... And Minuette was the one saying that acting your age was silly. Admittedly the younger mare probably didn't mean it like this but it was only one party. Spitfire smiled a bit. "You know, Minuette, the Wonderbolts are having a party tonight. And I do have a spare invite..."
Minuette nodded along as Spitfire spoke then grinned, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? You mean you want me to go with you?"
Spitfire immediately second-guessed her plan and shook her head. "No. Well, yes but not like that really. I mean, you bought me some hot chocolate and I thought I could repay the favor."
Minuette nodded, grinning a bit less in her usual way, and more in a conspiratorial way. "I think you just want a pretty young mare on your leg for the evening!" Spitfire's eyes widened and she shook her head. She legitimately had changed her mind after asking, now it was a normal invite, she swore! At least to herself, she was opening her mouth to state such when Minuette interrupted her. "I accept."
Spitfire stared for a few moments longer before raising her hooves. "Now wait just a minute!" Minute froze with her last sip of hot chocolate halfway to her lips and raised an eyebrow at Spitfire. Rolling her eyes Spitfire shook her head gently. "It's really not like that." She frowned and wrinkled her muzzle slightly. "I mean we just met."
Minuette giggled and nodded. "Mhmm, what, do you think we should go out a few more times before we go on a date?"
Spitfire shook her head again. "No! I mean... Also, you're younger than me!" Spitfire normally was more in control of herself but she hadn't expected to have first been called out on her dubious plan, then have that plan accepted.
"So? Who cares, I'm an adult." Minuette wasn't just out of foalhood true, but Spitfire still felt a bit odd even just talking to her like this. She was the same age as the new recruits... Previous new recruits like Rainbow Dash and Cloud Chaser!
"Now just slow down there a minute Minuette!" Minuette giggled at the alliteration and Spitfire couldn't help but crack a slight smile as well. "I mean, really you can't think we're compatible..." She'd decided that reason as likely her best escape here. It wasn't like she could justify saying no to such a pretty young... Spitfire scowled at her own thoughts and looked back at Minuette. "I mean be reasonable! I'm the one who wouldn't even drink the hot chocolate and was scaring off even the wait staff. You're the kind that just walks right into the middle of that and plops herself down!"
Minuette nodded sagely, making the most of the last sip of her hot chocolate. "I am. Doesn't that make it make more sense for us to try?" Spitfire frowned and Minuette continued. "I mean, how likely are you to find another pony who can cut through your prickly outside so easily, hmmm?" Spitfire cursed quietly at the logic that made. Minuette made a show of gasping. "Though I must say that I do not approve of such language!" Though it was obvious Minuette was making a show of her offense, she wasn't completely lying.
Spitfire cringed slightly, she did have a bit of a mouth, though she tried to keep it under control outside of training. "Yeah, sorry about that." But she still shook her head. "But still..." Spitfire couldn't really come up with a good reason. She could just say no, and she was fairly certain that the other mare would let her off, but she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to. She had just been thinking about the fact she should be looking for a relationship. But she was thinking with a pony closer to her own age. Like Soarin, or that Sassy Saddles. Not hook up with some young mare the same age as her subordinates! Ok, that had been the idea for showing off, but not for serious plans.
Minuette grinned and got up, motioning out of the cafe with her hoof. "Well, shall we go then?"
Spitfire was tempted to simply so no but then she gave a small shrug. She wasn't really the initiator anymore so she supposed it was ok. "The party's not until tonight."
Minuette nodded and grinned. "I know! But we need to find matching dresses!" She cantered ahead, setting a good pace as Spitfire followed behind her.