//------------------------------// // Dance // Story: And You Said Yes // by Vivid Syntax //------------------------------// Fashion Plate smacked his lips and scraped his tongue on his teeth. “I’m tempted to dump it out, but I worry what it might do to the local wildlife.” “It’s just grape juice when you get down to it.” Rivet downed his glass, then nodded at his husband. “I’ll finish it off for you.” Fashion Plate shook his head and smiled. “You fucking lush. I appreciate the conservation effort, but why waste your time drinking subpar wine?” “Because it reminds me of you,” Rivet mumbled without looking back at Fashion Plate. He recorked the bottle and stuck it back into the picnic basket. “And I don’t…” His head hung low. Fashion Plate relaxed at the shoulders. “You don’t want to let go, sweetie. I get it.” He dumped his wine glass into the grass. “But don’t hold on so tight that you hurt yourself.” Rivet’s throat tightened and relaxed. It did it again. He blinked four times in quick succession. Fashion Plate reached a hoof and touched his husband’s. “You have plenty of good to hang onto.” He looked out at the valley below. The deer had moved on, but a pair of ducks sat on the glassy surface of a small pool of water. “The kids will make time for you, and you can visit me as much as you need. I’ll always be here.” “It’ll be different,” Rivet whimpered, looking at the ducks. “I want it to be the same.” “Things change, love. That’s what we signed up for.” He giggled. “Tartarus, if we always stuck to our plans, we would have done that cliché honeymoon in Neighagra Falls instead, and we never would have found this place.” He scooted closer. “We found it because we wanted to explore together.” “Together,” Rivet repeated.  “Oh, don’t start,” Fashion Plate gently scolded. He kissed away a tear. “We’re together now, aren’t we?” “Sorry.” Rivet sniffed. “I shouldn’t be like this. I wanted to come here to remind you of the happy times.” Fashion Plate smiled. “Oh, you adorable, dramatic puppy!” He moved even closer, their sides pressed together, and he gave Rivet a peck on the cheek. “These are the happy times. I get to spend it with you, sweetie. You’re doing everything right, and this is exactly what I wanted.” Rivet shook out his mane. He looked up and tried to force a smile, but it quickly collapsed. Everything felt tight, but he was afraid of what would happen if he let that tension go. But he felt his body unwind after Fashion Plate’s hoof found his back, right between his shoulder blades, and he applied firm but gentle pressure. Rivet sighed. “Thanks, love.” “Just returning the favor. Remember our wedding day?” ========= It was the most beautiful day of our lives. Our friends and family were all gathering, the late summer flowers were in bloom, and the warm, muggy air at the Canterlot Gardens made everything smell like perfume. The good kind! Not the trashy, synthetic nonsense they hock at the malls these days. Everything was serene and picturesque. And I was still panicking so hard that my mane nearly fell out. That’d be a real shame.  A tragedy! I paid thirty bits and sat in a chair for two hours for my wedding mane style! I was dashing around the reception hall. It was a grand ballroom with windows as tall as our house, and it overlooked a sea of greens and blues and yellows. Thousands of flowers, a testament to our blossoming love, grew around the reflecting pool where we would be married. Waitstaff were setting out the gold and sapphire chargers, but a few of them had scratched in shipping, and we were afraid of running short. The wedding cake was late, and the band’s violinist had gotten sick, and their replacement was dashing over from Ponyville, but they would only have fifteen minutes to spare, and that was if the train was on time. My wedding party was doing their best to rein me in, but every time one of them tried to step in, I barked at them for not doing something exactly the way I wanted. I rushed over to straighten out a charger. “No, no, no! Alternating colors on the family tables only! The others are blocked by table, and tables five and eight are the only ones with a mix!” The venue’s wedding planner, Diamond Light, was an absolute saint for dealing with me. She happily walked up with her clipboard. Her smile was annoyingly unshakable. “We’ll fix it right away, Mr. Fashion Plate. But don’t worry: we’re just setting out everything to ensure we have the proper inventory. We’ll arrange everything according to your grid, just like you asked.” I cursed myself for the last-minute touches of makeup I’d added that morning, because I could feel it streaking around my eyes. “Any word on the cake? Ugh!” I pranced in place. “If it’s not here by the time Rivet and I have our First Look pictures, then everypony will be able to tell I was distracted. Photo Finish is a master, but she’s not a miracle worker!” A pink blur waved at me from the entrance. “Hey, Plate? Rivet needs you real quick.” “Trellis!” I abandoned Diamond Light and dashed over to the doorway. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be getting Rivet ready! What does he need? Ugh, maybe I can send Hotshot over?” I shook my head out. “Does he need me specifically? He knows it’s bad luck to see or hear each other before the First Look. Is it–” Trellis shoved her hoof in my mouth. Like I said, not subtle. I can see why you’re such good friends. But she stared me down, and I remembered to breathe after a few seconds. She took a deep breath, smiled, took her hoof from my face, and then fished some notecards out of her pocket. “Rivet says to just trust him. Turn around and face the window.” Every sinew in my body told me to run to the tables and get back to micromanaging, but I did what I was told. I could hardly see, because I was still so worried about the cake and the violinist. Trellis shuffled through her cards behind me, then cleared her throat and spoke. “Okay, so I’ve got some messages here from Rivet. Here we go: Hey there, Sparkles. First off, I’m wearing a blindfold and ear plugs, because I know you care about tradition.” My eyes opened wide, and I fought the urge to turn around. “Second, I asked Trellis to bring me here, because I know that you’re worried about all the little details being just perfect.” My hooves felt like they were made of lead. You had me pegged. “Third, I know that no matter what, today is going to be perfect, even if some of the details aren’t exactly what we thought we wanted. It will be perfect, because we’re starting our lives together.” Trellis took a few steps back, and then I heard you: the unmistakable sound of those big, flat hooves on the carpeted floor. I could feel the air change, grow warmer, and even though I didn’t look back, I knew you were standing behind me on my left side. Trellis must have shoved you a bit, because you took a half-step closer. And then you touched me. It took a little searching, but you found a spot on my back, right between my shoulder blades. You applied gentle, forceful pressure, like I was a cat afraid of the fireworks. All my worries were still there, needling me at the edge of my perception, but feeling you with me made them slowly melt away. Trellis continued. “I want you to know it, too. Look outside. If there are ponies there, flip to– oh, crap! Sorry! Wasn’t supposed to read that.” I snickered, and I felt you tense up the way you do whenever you stifle a laugh. To your credit, I didn’t hear your voice. Trellis mumbled a few other apologies, but she quickly found the right card. “Look outside, Sparkles. What do you see?” I did as I was instructed. The giant, glass windows overlooked a beautiful garden and set of water features. Outside, your parents were schmoozing with my cousin. They were smiling, and it looked like they were joking about how silly they felt in such fancy suits. My mother approached with her husband in tow, and she hugged both of your parents. She said something, and your father puffed up and wiped away a tear of pride. It was a greeting. That’s all it was, and yet, it was a beautiful moment, glorious in its simplicity and honesty. And you knew it would be, because you always knew what mattered. Even though Trellis was speaking, I could hear your voice in hers. “Everyone is here for us, Sparkles. They all see what we’ve known for so long now: we love each other, and we’re meant to be together. Times will be hard…” At that moment, you hugged my barrel. “But even if we’re separated, know that I’m here with you, right behind you, watching and cheering you on the whole way. And I always will be.” My makeup had definitely streaked, because tears were rolling down my cheeks. “Dammit…” I wiped my face with a tissue from my pocket.  Trellis spoke softly. “Take all the time you need. Rivet said there’s no rush.” I let you linger, hugged tightly around my barrel. I could feel the silk blindfold against my neck as you rested your head on my shoulder. Your warm face, your strong forelegs… I looked around at the reception hall. You were right: it was perfect, because this day was ours. I reached back and, without looking, tapped the side of your face. I had to clear my throat, but I told Trellis, “Please tell him I love him more than anything. This was exactly what I needed. And… oh!” I blinked away a few more tears. “I’m going out to be with our family until it’s time for the photos.” Trellis stepped up in front of me. “I think he’ll like that. C’mon, big guy.”  Slowly, she guided you away, and you let go. You didn’t need to linger, because you knew I would be okay, and you were right. I left Diamond Light to finish the setup and spent time with the wedding party and all our friends. I greeted them and was finally a decent host. And I laughed, Rivet. I laughed and smiled so much, because you’d pulled me out of such a dark place. And when Photo Finish corralled me to the Perennial Garden, I was ready.  You looked just as stunning as the day we met. That clean, black suit fit you perfectly, and the subtle square pattern of the fabric wove together like bricks on the sturdiest building in the city. And you still had your stubble. You insisted on keeping it, just so you could feel a little more like yourself.  You smiled at me, Rivet, and even then, before our vows, I knew I’d never have to worry about being alone again. ======= Fashion Plate and Rivet leaned on each other, looking over the bright valley. They breathed perfectly in time with one another. Rivet wrapped a foreleg around Fashion Plate and squeezed. “It was a beautiful ceremony.” Fashion Plate grinned wide. “Expertly executed! Down to the finest detail!” Rivet cocked an eye at his husband. “Except the napkins that were the wrong color.” “A joyous surprise!” Fashion Plate responded, throwing a hoof into the air. “The silver complimented the palette, anyway.” “Ha! One surprise of many. Were they all joyous?” “Every single one!” “Even when my cousin bit yours during the bouquet toss?” “Day one attitude, love.” He tapped Rivet on the nose. “I shouldn’t have to remind you.” Rivet sighed lovingly. “Yeah. A great day, and a great reminder. The whole thing was special.” Fashion Plate laughed. “Especially our first dance. Your aunt was absolutely scandalized to see two stallions dancing so closely together.” He rocked his head to the side. “Think you still remember the steps?” Rivet frowned slightly. “I do, but…” He shook his head and smiled. “Heh. I was going to ask if you were up for it, but I know better by now.” “Good husband,” Fashion Plate said, scratching Rivet’s chin. “Because I feel a burst of energy coming on. I don’t know how many I have left, and I really, really want to spend this one dancing with you.” Rivet stood up slowly, first with his hind legs, then his fore, and he helped his husband onto his own. “Then may I have this dance?” “You can have them all.” They embraced and took their positions, each with their right hoof on their partner’s shoulder and with their foreheads pressed together.  Fashion Plate whispered, “One, two, three…” And they danced. Rivet hummed the melody of their wedding song, Unbridled Harmony, while he led. Fashion Plate followed as Rivet stepped forward, to the right, back, left, and forward, turning just a few degrees each rotation. Fashion Plate softly hummed, “Bum-bah-dah, bum-bah-dah…” when their old bodies lost track of the beat, and each time they swayed, their partner was there to catch or guide them. Their steps were sometimes out of sync, or a short pain in the hip caused them to flinch, but they stayed together, and they twirled and twirled to their slow, lovely song. Into the second verse, they finally pulled their heads back and stared, hypnotized, into each other’s eyes. They reflected each other in that moment, an infinite cycle of love flowing between them. And Fashion Plate’s eyes went wide as he suddenly shouted, “Record scratch!” A wry smile curled on Rivet’s face, and he responded in a big, bassy voice, “I like!” “Big!” “Plots and that is the truth!” Rivet grabbed Fashion Plate’s hooves and spun him around, dipping him as the blue unicorn sang, “You other stallions find it uncouth!” Fashion Plate quickly spun out of the dip and shoved his ass high in the air. Rivet took his hooves and made a voguing motion all around it. “But when a colt trots in with a grabbable waist and juicy plot in your face–” He practically leapt onto Fashion Plate’s back and mock-mounted him with a single thrust as they both shouted, “You get hard!” They spun, thrusted, and shook through their increasingly lewd routine. Rivet posed on his hind legs, one forehoof on his face and one on his hips, with his butt facing Fashion Plate. “Gotta get that plot, yo’!” “And take a pho-to!” Fashion Plate snapped a picture of Rivet’s ridiculous pose with his camera. They side-shuffled towards each other, their tails thrashing and their legs shaking to maximize the jiggle of their butts. Rivet shouted, “Shake it!” “Shake it!” “Shake it!” “Shake it!” “And act on those nasty thoughts! Stallion got plot!” He turned around and greedily rubbed Fashion Plate’s butt, showing it off like an infomercial. “Stallion!” “Got!” “Plot!” He reeled back with a hoof and made a show of slapping Fashion Plate’s butt, though he only touched it lightly as he made “Whoop-pish!” sound with his mouth. Fashion Plate craned his neck back. “Oh, you can not finish with a weak little tap like that! Spank me like you mean it, hunk!” Rivet’s eyes widened, but he still wore a wicked smile. “You sure? I don’t want to–” “Harder, bitch!” “WHOOP-PISH!” He smacked his husband’s ass hard enough to make the saggy skin jiggle. “O-oh!” Fashion Plate gasped. “Sorry! Sparkles, are you–” He was interrupted by Fashion Plate pivoting around and grabbing him by both sides of his face. “Kiss me, you incredible beast!” Rivet’s mind reeled in a way it hadn’t for years. He gave in to his instincts, which Fashion Plate was all too gleeful to stoke. And despite the creakiness of their bones and the limitations of their bodies, they bonded again, just like they had on their wedding night.