Spitfire followed Minuette to a large store and frowned a moment. It seemed familiar but she couldn't put her hoof on why until she got close enough to see the dresses in the windows. Minuette was taking her to Canterlot Carousel. She rolled her eyes slightly but chuckled. "You know, you can go shopping without me if you want a new dress." Spitfire had gotten her hooves under her again since Minuette had blindsided her earlier with her insight, and enthusiastic acceptance.
Minuette nodded happily. "Oh, I know, but I want to match yours!"
Spitfire blinked and tilted her head for a moment before shaking it. "I'll be in my uniform tonight, Minuette." She chuckled, this was just more evidence that this wasn't really a great idea as they didn't know each other. But then again she shouldn't expect Minuette to know that as they had just met. Spitfire mentally scowled at herself, annoyed she was busy trying to justify why she should say yes again!
Minuette pouted a bit and Spitfire couldn't stop herself from wanting to do what Minuette asked. She was used to every whine, every finagle, everything from recruits. She just couldn't stop herself from admitting the unicorn was just so cute when she pouted like that! And it helped that she was an attractive young mare as well. She shook her head and stared at Minuette, hardening her resolve against the unicorn. "That's not optional."
Minuette giggled and shrugged."Well okay then! I'll just have to find something that matches your Wonderbolts outfit then! Maybe a deeper blue, obviously. Closer to my mane than my coat..." Minuette turned and resumed her pace towards the boutique. Spitfire followed after, impressed by how unflappable Miunuette was. Certainly an admirable quality, she probably would've made a fine Wonderbolt, if she was, you know, a pegasus. Spitfire rolled her eyes at herself as she followed Minuette into the store, she was doing it again.
Minuette instantly oohed and ahhed as she looked around at all the dresses. Spitfire didn't do much dressing up herself, but she had to agree, the dresses here certainly were pretty. And no two of them were the same which really impressed her. She had thought these places were like mass-produced fashion. As Spitfire looked to the side she saw that Minuette was already gone, scooting over to a long flowing dress. Though it wasn't blue, it was a deep orange and... Spitfire groaned as Minuette motioned her over. Walking over Spitfire shook her head. "I told you I need to wear my..."
Minuette waved the objection away. "Yeah, yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't try them on! Or maybe get one for some other time!" She bounced on her hooves in excitement.
Spitfire blew out a bit of air and grimaced. "I'm not so much a dress-up pony though Minuette. I mean... Dresses are expensive and not very practical..."She waved a hoof as she ran out of words. She felt a bit odd, really. Normally she was loud, but she couldn't very well yell at Minuette, she wasn't one of her recruits... Spitfire straightened up slightly, nodding to herself, she could certainly firmly put her hoof down though. "I am not trying on a dress, Minuette."
Minuette shrugged and walked towards the blue ones. "Aww, that's too bad, I bet you'd be really pretty." She hopped over to a more calm deep ocean blue dress, without too many frills, and started to look it over.
Spitfire had to smile as she followed. She'd been expecting a fight. The Wonderbolts were full of strong personalities that often sparked off each other. Getting anything done was an ordeal. She was quite happy with someone who just took her at her word. At least, mostly, there was that entire thing earlier about whether it was a date, but even Spitfire had to admit she had been wishy-washy there. She made a mental note that Minuette responded far better to firmness than wishy-washy. Well, at least she didn't try to argue against firmness would be a better way to put it. Minuette seemed to respond 'well' to... Just about everything. She smiled at the other pony as they moved around the shop, Minuette pouring over the dresses. "You seem to be having fun."
Minuette nodded excitedly as she surveyed a dress that obviously wasn't to her taste, but still seemed to enjoy poking at to watch the puffs bounce back. "Oh yes. These are so pretty!" She cantered around the puffy mess, giggling. "Even I think this one is ridiculous." Spitfire nodded in agreement as Minuette took a break from her walking on a nearby couch. She scooted over to provide room for Spitfire as well. But Spitfire decided the choice to remain to stand seemed like a prudent one. After a moment Minuette oozed down to lounge on the entirety of the couch. "Tell me more about this party?"
Spitfire nodded, well at least they were now onto a subject she could actually contribute to, rather than murmuring encouraging sounding sounds as Minuette chattered about dresses. Though was rather cute chattering. "Well it's to celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the Wonderbolts. So nothing big or anything, but it's a yearly party. I think everyone else just uses it as an excuse to have cider and cake. I'd just skip it myself. Waste of resources."
To Spitfire's surprise, Minuette was nodding in serious agreement. "You're totally right." But Spitfire's amazement was ruined by the next sentence. "You can have cake any time You don't need an excuse to have it. Like donuts, they're yummy! Don't overdo it obviously, but have some when you want, it's not like it'll kill you."
Spitfire couldn't stop herself from chuckling. She didn't know Minuette well but she should have known better than to expect the hyper, irrepressibly happy pony to actually be agreeing with her that a party wasn't needed. She shook her head. "Not what I meant, but that's neither here nor there, it's happening. And Rainbow Dash was going on and on about her new Marefreind an..." Spitfire grimaced as she realized she was still talking out loud and Minuette grinned mischievously at her.
"Oooooooh, so that's why you were checking out all the mares passing by!" Spitfire groaned and facehoofed as Minuette continued. "I have to say you have impeccable taste to single me out like that!"
Spitfire opened one eye and looked at Minuette. "You know you were the one that really went after coming tonight. I just kind of floated the idea out there."
Minuette nodded happily as she relaxed on the couch. "Well of course. I mean I couldn't leave our brave Wonderbolt commander without a pretty mare to impress all her work friends could I???" She snickered and licked her lips. "Besides, you're no slouch in the looks department yourself."
Spitfire shook her head, chuckling gently. "Well thanks, but really, I'm a bit too old for you, you know."
Minuette waved a hoof. "Please, it's not like I'm a kid I'm the one who started this, so if anything I'm the one who's too young for you, not you being too old for me."
Spitfire frowned in confusion. "What does that change?"
"Everything. It changes you from a creepy older mare going after some young blood to me, the young love-struck mare going after a venerable experienced older mare."
Spitfire snorted. "Hey! I"m not that much older than you!"
Minuette raised an eyebrow. "Really? I couldn't tell with how you're acting like I'm trying to put the moves on Princess Celestia right now."
Spitfire shook her head ruefully. "Fire, point taken. I am overstating it a bit. But you're understating it too!"
Minuette grinned and got up off the couch, apparently ready to do more dress shopping. "Of course I am! Because it helps me get what I want, doesn't it?"
Spitfire laughed in spite of herself. "And you openly admit that, amazing. You're a devious young mare aren't you?"
Minuette giggled and shook her head. "No, if I was devious I wouldn't have told you would I have?" Spitfire had to nod, granting that point. And Minuette simply took the victory without gloating, perusing the dresses more. "You're sure you don't really have an opinion on which one's the prettiest?"
Spitfire shook her head gently. "No, like I said I'm not much of a dress girl. I'm sure you'd look cute in whatever you wore really."
Minuette took another ten minutes of scouting around but eventually decided on her favorite and brought it over to the counter. Spitfire didn't have a strong opinion on it but she had to admit that the dress was pretty. She glanced at Minuette, holding a hoof up as she thought of something. "Wait a minute, Minuette?" Minuette giggled again and Spitfire rolled her eyes. Apparently, the blue pony liked that private jokes of hers. The fact that her name sounded like a word wasn't in any way unusual, but Spitfire supposed it was good that the mare could be so amused by something so simple. "Uh, you sure you want to buy a dress just for one party?"
Minuette raised an eyebrow at that. "Who says it's only for one night? Are you not going to wear your uniform in the future?"
Spitfire furrowed her brow for a moment. She must have misunderstood, as the question had an obvious answer but... "Yes...?"
Minuette nodded at the confirmation. "Good, then I'll be able to wear it again."
It took Spitfire a moment to process the reasoning behind the statement before her eyes widened in shock. "Now hold up there!" She was getting her stride back now that she'd adjusted to the unicorns personality. She'd set Minuette straight on a fair number of things. "I said the intent was just to show off tonight! A serious relationship would come later."
Minuette nodded completely seriously. "Of course."
All the steam Spitfire had built up blew away when Minuette again caught her completely off guard. "Oh. So you mean..."
Minuette nodded, interrupting her companion. "Right-o! Tonight is just about showing off your pretty young marefriend!" Spitfire started to nod, but then Minuette finished her thought. "Then tomorrow or a few days from now we start a real relationship."
Spitfire gently shook her head with a groan. Spitfire was sorely tempted to go drill sergeant on the younger mare to make sure that Minuette understood... but Spitfire just sighed after a moment and shook her head. She couldn't yell at her pretty mare... The mare. Only mare, no qualifiers. "Yes, but I didn't mean with you."
Minuette grinned happily nodding again. "I know."
If Spitfire hadn't just been through a nearly identical misunderstanding a minute ago she'd be relieved. But now she didn't trust that her interpretation of reality was the same as Minuette's. "You know... But...?"
Minuette giggled and batted her eyes at Spitfire in a practiced way. It was not so much alluring, it was more in an endearing 'I want to protect this adorable mare' way. "It doesn't mean after an evening with me you won't change your mind!"
Spitfire chuckled and couldn't resist smiling at the mare's boundless optimism and confidence. "I'm going to regret this aren't I?"
Minuette's smile shifted slightly, from finagling to genuine and age giggled. "Only in one way!" She hopped up and started to pace down the street, forcing Spitfire to trot a little to catch up.
"Oh? How's that?" Spitfire knew how she was going to regret bringing Minuette, but how the unicorn perceived reality would no doubt lead to a very interesting answer.
Minuette grinned as she glanced over her shoulder. "That you didn't lock down this cute mare earlier."
Spitfire snorted, not in a rude way, in an amused one. "Fine, fine. But we need to start heading to the HQ. We both will need time to change." Minuette nodded and turned to follow Spitfire instead of her wandering.