The inside of my fridge is.. To put it lightly, a horrifically disgusting mess.
The second I open the door my sense of smell is violently violated by the awful stench of a large amount of rotting food and disgusting fridge smell, I'm glad I dragged a puke bucket into the kitchen because Rarity immediately starts retching. I don't blame her one bit, the stench is making me rethink about my life choices that led up to this moment.
I would find it funny normally, but I am in the same situation she is in and the smell is making me want to die. I gag a couple times and open the fridge even more. The smell only intensifies and I give up, I shut the door suddenly and go over to the now slightly green Rarity who's still hovering over the bucket.
I tap her shoulder and point to my living room, I really didn't want to open my mouth and risk tasting the rancid air. Thank Celestia she got the hint and powerwalked to the living room, once we both were certain we could open our mouths safely, I piped up. "I think we need to go get some masks."
"I agree darling, that was.. One of the worst things I have ever had the displeasure to smell."
"Are you going to be okay? You look a little sick."
Rarity nodded, "I'll be okay. You wouldn't happen to have masks and gloves we could use, would you?"
"Nope. I wasn't planning on letting my food rot that much. I'm sorry to impose Rarity, but could you drive me to the store so I could get the things we need to not die of the stench the second I open the door?"
"Of course, and you're not imposing at all! I offered to help you and I don't intend to not follow through."
I nod, I really appreciate Rarity right now although I don't know if I should let her know that for the time being. "Thank you Rarity. I 'spose we should get to it now, huh?"
"I suppose we should, my car's out front, follow me."
I hum and follow her outside, making sure I've got my money and keys, and that I lock my apartment up before I follow her any further.
Her car is incredibly nice, it's a presumably really expensive Audi. I compliment her on it and she says that it was a gift from her parents for her sweet sixteen.
"Is there any store you'd prefer or would the nearest one work?"
"Ah, I uh.. I got banned from the Smartway closest to us, long story, so I don't think we have a choice but to go to the one on fifty-sixth street." I say sheepishly.
I got banned from the store just after I came through the portal. A blush forms on my cheeks when I remember the incident, I didn't know that bits aren't an acceptable currency in this world and I got frustrated when the cashier wouldn't accept mine so I ran with the groceries in my basket.
I somehow managed to get away, but the next time I attempted to enter the store I got yelled at and told to leave and never come back.
She hums and gets into the vehicle, waiting for me to do the same. I get into the passenger's seat and sigh, I pull the seatbelt across my chest and hear that satisfying click as I lock it into place. "Cleaning that fuc- damned fridge is going to suck."
"Indeed it will, but it's necessary to keep you in good health."
The engine starts and the radio turns on, it's tuned to the classical station and I recognize the piece instantly. It's one of my favorites. "Dance of the Knights!"
"That's what it's called? The station usually tells the listeners what other songs are called but never tells us what this one is. I'll have to look it up later, I've been trying to find this song online for so long now."
I grin at her, "Mhm! When I was little princess Celestia used to take me to various classical concerts and this was played often. Prokofiev's and Tchaicoltsky's compositions were crowd favorites."
"Tchaicoltsky?"
"Sorry, Tchaikovsky. I never catch myself on that one, I'm still so used to the pony pun versions of everything and everyone. I've been here what, maybe three or four years and I still struggle to remember the 'correct' names."
She chuckles and keeps her eyes on the road, "You never did tell us about Equestria, and I'm curious. Are there Equine versions of the countries in this world?"
I nod even though she can't see my head movement, "Yes, but some countries either don't exist or are named completely differently and I can't make the connection to any country here. It's pretty strange."
I hear her hum, she doesn't respond other than that though and we spend the rest of the ride to the store in comfortable silence. Once we get to the location we needed to be at and pull into the parking lot I pipe up, "So gloves, masks, and anything else we need?"
".. Maybe peppermint oil if they have it?"
"Ah yeah. It'd be a good idea to have some to dab a little under our noses so the smell can't easily get to us." I unbuckle my seatbelt and she does the same, we get out of the car and start walking towards the entrance, it occurs to me that I haven't thanked Rarity for not giving up on me yet. "Hey Rares?"
"Hm?"
"Thank you. For not giving up on me yet, I mean."
She stops walking and grabs my arm to stop me as well, I turn around to face her. "I'm never going to give up on you."
Since I don't really want to start getting emotional in public- I probably should've told her this in the car- I smile and nod, "Thank you."
Rarity lets go of my arm and we continue, we get into the store and oh fuck me, of course we see things that we want that we don't need and our trip to the store to get just a few small items ends up with a total of one hundred fifteen dollars spent and bags full of things we don't need.
I don't say anything until we're back in her car, "Well, that definitely could've gone better. Curse them for putting all the enticing shit- Jeez, sorry- crap at eye level."
"Definitely, but isn't that usually how it goes? Go in for a small number of items and come out with much more than you'd intended?"
"Oh totally. It always happens to me, I'm a really bad impulse shopper to be honest."
"Darling, if you think you're bad you should see me whenever there's a sale with even the slightest discount. I've likely wasted thousands by now because of it."
I laugh and buckle up, "I believe you Rarity."
She laughs with me and starts the car after buckling herself in. I hum an old lullaby princess Celestia used to sing to me when I was younger as we pull out of the parking lot, I do feel safe with Rarity and I love it when she's around, but I still have the thoughts in the back of my head screaming that she's using me.
I know it's not true, but they're still there and I don't think they're going to go away for a long long time, if ever.
The ride back is quick and nothing interesting happens, we put the groceries on the counter near the fridge and we get to work. We both don a mask and gloves and I prepare several garbage bags.
She opens the fridge door and sweet motherfucking Celestia the smell is absolutely horrid.
I know this is going to suck ass, and judging by the look in my friend's eyes.. So does she.