The next day comes and another couple finds themselves heading to one of their places of work. They wing through the air, making an odd sight if any were to look up. A yellow mare with purple mane and a rather alluring maid outfit, flying next to a goldenrod changeling drone, his long wings brushing against hers as she nears him every other stroke just to make contact.
He smirks at her as he spins in mid-air, never losing his pace and never leaving his spot next to her. "You really like trying to tease me, don't you?"
Silk Tease giggles as she makes a quick sideways loop around him. "I'd hardly consider this teasing, but if you want to think of it that way... tease by nature, tease by name after all." She winks.
He hums thoughtfully, tapping his chin with a hoof. "Point taken, though I consider brushing our wings together counts as teasing. As does this." Before she can respond, a sudden gust of wind flares up, brushing along the mare's belly.
She shivers in place, her eyes narrowed and a playful smile on her face. "Naughty drone, trying to lift my dress and get me all riled up before work. Are you just trying to get me to think about you all day?"
"Actually, I was trying to tickle you." He shrugs, chuckling quietly. "The caress was a happy accident."
"I'll say it was." She tilts herself sot the she ends up underneath him, upside-down. She gives him a quick peck on the lips before speaking. "I appreciate it regardless, hun."
He grins, pulling her into a deeper kiss, momentarily forgetting to flap his wings. They end up falling, landing on a cloud patch beneath them. He breaks their embrace, glancing around in unveiled surprise. "Wow. That was lucky."
"Sure was." She wraps her wings around him and nuzzles him happily. "Though I'm sure you wouldn't let anything happen to little old me, right?" She bats her eyelashes at him playfully.
"No need for the gaze." He returns the nuzzle, sitting up afterwards. "You know I'd save you. I was about to make an air cushion, but this cloud made it a little redundant."
"Yes, it's shame we don't have more time to fully enjoy it... I guess I'll just have to wait until we get back to the cloud that is our home." She sits up and messes with her outfit. "At least clouds don't leave grass or dirt stains."
He glances over the edge of the cloud, noticing a certain building nearby. "I think we're almost there." He glances over at her, smirking slightly. "Would you like to walk the rest of the way?"
"I sure would." She spreads her wings as she walks to the edge of the cloud before looking back at him with a slight shake of her covered hips. "Coming?"
The drone smiles, walking forward and gently kissing her. "Yes." He leaps off the cloud, gliding down to the ground below, apparently unaffected by her teasing action.
This, of course, only makes her smile more at the challenge. She glides down as well, alighting gently on the ground beside him, fluttering her wings a moment before folding them against her sides.
He looks around as they walk, reading the signs they pass by. "Interesting. It seems as though that one mare with the candy shop is now selling something called suckers."
"Hmm?" She looks at said sign to see that Bon Bon's candy shop is now selling something similar to a lollipop, except instead of a disk on a stick, it's a sphere on a stick. "The things they put on sticks these days... I would have thought she would have gone for a less blunt name though."
"Sometimes names are hard to come up with." He shrugs, shaking his head. "I'd like to try one, though. Maybe I can ask Gel for a loan..." He mutters the last sentence, not wanting the mare next to him to hear.
Unfortunately for him though, she's gotten used to how quiet he is sometimes, and thus hears him perfectly. "Exactly why would you need a loan? It's candy, it's probably three for a bit or something."
"Oh, no reason." He glances away, visibly nervous. "I just don't have any on me, and I don't want to bother you with something so trivial."
She sighs. "Hun, I swear sometimes... Look, here." She flicks him a bit from her saddlebags. "See? Problem solved. What happened to your bits anyway? I thought you had a little bit from those ponies that ask for your colored clouds."
"Oh, I spent them." He chuckles, heading over to the store. "You know me, I'm an impulse buyer. Be right back!" He rushes inside, not allowing room for any response.
Her tail flicks as she mutters to herself. "Like a foal in a candy store... with a secret."
He exits a minute later, one in his mouth and another floating next to him in his magic. He pops the former out, grinning widely. "She gave me two of them! I dunno if it was two-for-one or not, but these are quite big." He holds the dry one up, which is about the size of a golf ball. "Want one?"
"Umm, ok." She takes the sucker with a wing and looks at it curiously before popping it into her mouth. "Mmm..." She shifts it to one side of her mouth so she can talk. "That's good candy."
He nods, smiling warmly. "That's to be expected. She is one of the best, after all." He pops his own back into his mouth, starting off down the street. "This way, right?"
She nods as she continues holding the candy in one cheek. "Yep, sure you don't want to keep me company during my shift?"
"I'd love to, but I do have to try and get my own business of the ground." He glances at her, uncertainty flashing across his face. "You understand, right?"
"Of course, dear." She nuzzles him. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't just walking around town bored until you could come see me."
"Hey, I may be silly, but I know better than to waste time." He chuckles softly, draping a wing over her back. "Besides, I know how much you enjoy our little 'dates' at your workplace."
"True, having the keys makes for easy after-hours get-togethers... and private booths make it all the more fun." She bumps him lightly with her hips.
For the first time in their walk, he blushes. "True. I have no idea how they didn't walk in on us, last time."
"Simple." She lean against him as her voice turns sultry. "I told them not to."
He stops in his tracks, giving her an incredulous look. "I'm not sure whether to be surprised or impressed."
"Feel free to be both. I'm the kind of mare to appreciate either." She giggles before nuzzling him.
Suddenly, a voice calls out to them from across the street. "How dare you! and in public too!"
The drone turns to the source, staring at the orange mare in confusion. "May I help you, Miss...?"
"I was not speaking to you." The unicorn turns to the pegasus mare. "Shame on you, trading down to this... thing... when you had a perfectly good stallion not a month ago!"
Silk is too stunned at the accusation and insult to her husband to speak at first.
Flick tilts his head to one side, frowning slightly. "Trading down? A month ago?" He sighs, shaking his head. "I guess you're one of those anti-changeling activists, huh?"
She actually turns to him. "I am one of the ponies trying to keep our kind safe from yours, yes. And I will not have you stealing mares from perfectly good stallions."
He frowns deeply, unamused. "Who, exactly, did I steal her from?"
"That nice brown pegasus stallion of course, she's been with him for a while now, and I will not tolerate home-wreckers!" She stops a hoof to illustrate her point.
Silk snaps out of her stupor and narrows her eyes. "The only stallion I've been with is my husband." She pulls Flick close to her. "And that stallion you saw was this stallion, just disguised so we wouldn't be bothered by ponies like you."
"Like me? What about ponies like you? Harboring changelings in secret, then acting proud when you're found out, you might be worse than that couple who parade it around openly! At least you would be if they hadn't..." She shivers. "Made that little thing of theirs..."
A quiet breeze picks up, blowing through the street around the three of them. Flick steps forward, no longer annoyed but disgusted by the unicorn in front of him. "You better watch your words, Miss. Someone might take them the wrong way and lash out at you." He scowls at her, a low growl escaping his lips. "Savvy?"
The mare narrows her eyes at him. "I am not afraid of you or your kind, insect."
Silk steps forward, her nose less than an inch from the mare's. "Then be afraid of me. Because if you insult my husband, my friends, or their child, you and I will have a problem." Her wings spread aggressively. "And I don't care who you are. I take care of my problems. Got it?"
As the mare takes a step back, the pegasus turns quickly, giving her a face full of wing. The yellow mare quickly walks off, not offering another word as she walks away.
The goldenrod drone whistles, smirking playfully at her. "That was amusing. Chewing out a mare while wearing a maid's outfit." He chuckles, shaking his head.
A voice calls from behind them. "You think you can do that and just walk away?"
Flick starts, turning around to see the orange mare once more. He groans, facehoofing. "I believe this is called harassment, Miss."
"This is called a public service!" She marches toward them, only to have a rainbow blur thump down into the dirt between her and them.
A brash voice calls out to her. "Back off lady!" The dust clears and the familiar form of the local weather captain is revealed. "You're gonna leave my friends alone," she stomps a hoof, "now!"
Hearth takes a step back as an unseen wind flows through her prismatic mane, her reputation for rash action and harsh temper well known throughout the small town. Looking at Rainbow's aggressive and protective stance, Hearth decides that a strategic retreat is in order, and leaves without another word.
The drone sighs in relief, watching the mare leave to make sure she actually left them alone. He speaks to the pegasus in front of him distractedly. "Thanks, Miss Dash."
"Hey, no problem." She notices the drone adjust his wings and the wind going through her mane die out. "So that was you huh? Cool effect."
He shrugs, smiling warmly. "Glad you thought so. I felt like I needed to do something to emphasize how awesome you looked."
She laughs. "I don't suppose you're in the market to do that for me full time?"
"I think I'd run out of magic after half a day." He chuckles, waving a hoof nonchalantly. "Besides, I think Silk, here, might get jealous if I spent more time around around another mare than her."
The mare in question busies herself with her wings with a nonchalant face. "Just a bit..."
Rainbow just laughs again. "Yeah, I guess you're right, awesome as that may be, too many rumors would start because of it." She looks over her shoulder at where Hearth had disappeared. "She bother you a lot?"
"Actually, this would be the first time." He scratches the side of his head as he thinks a bit. "I think she's been bothering Rhino and Gel, though. I heard a few rumors, and she did mention them in an off-hoofed manner." He frowns, remembering the words that came afterwards. "And she also insulted little Ruby..."
"Ruby... Ruby..." Dash tilts her head to the side a moment before it comes to her. "Oh yeah, that's their filly that Twilight was going on about." Her eyes widen. "Wait... she's was insulting a newborn?! That little... Grr!" She paws the ground angrily for a moment before calming herself with a few rapid breaths. "There are some lines that shouldn't be crossed, not matter how you feel about someponies, er changelings."
He shrugs once more. "I don't mind if someone insults me. I only react when friends and family are being assaulted." He pauses before holding up a hoof. "Or my art, but that's just a quirk of mine."
RD nods. "Yeah... I get it. I still don't why she bothers you guys though, I mean, you're the cool changelings."
"I don't know." He sighs, shaking his head. "I can only imagine that she had a run-in with my kind, before. One that left a negative impression." He glances down the street, noticing a face disappear behind a corner. "Or she simply is a xenophobe."
"Maybe... I'll be honest, since I was in the middle of the Canterlot thing, I'm a bit wary around changelings too, not you guys though, you're cool!" She quickly explains. "But it's just, you know, I actually know who you guys are, the other changelings that have moved here... don't take this the wrong way, but all of them look the same to me! I barely see them around town, and when I do, I can never tell them apart so I have no idea if it's a different one, or the same one. Kind of annoying actually, makes it hard to trust them..."
Flick laughs, shaking his head. "Trust me, I have the same problem, sometimes. Thankfully, some of them have decided to adopt names and accessories to tell themselves apart. Psychic links aren't something ponies are used to, after all, and you probably can't sense the signature of their magic auras, either."
RD blinks at his last sentence. "Umm... what?"
"Yea, we have unique magical 'hoofprints', as I like to call them." He shrugs. "I don't know if pegasi can sense those, though."
"No no, I get that, or well, Twilight sort of forced it into my head one day... but i meant that first part. The link thing." She waves her hoof in a way to show she wasn't sure what word he used.
"Oh." He tilts his head to one side. "Well, back before the incident in town square - you know the one - we were a species of espionage. We used a mental link to keep in contact to prevent ourselves from being exposed." He glances off to the side. "Gel figured out that we could form links with ponies in that way, as well."
"Huh... ok... and you said you all did that, so I guess it's not weird for you..." Her mane falls in front of her eyes a moment and seeing it makes her shake her head. "Anyway, believe it or not, I didn't just happen to come across you two." She points to the drone. "I was actually looking for you."
"Oh good." Silk mutters to Flick. "Last time she was looking for me, she tried to rope me into emergency weather duty."
He bumps his wife's side before motioning for the weather mare to continue.
"Yeah... so..." Rainbow rubs the back of her head with a hoof, unsure of how to say this. "You do custom ordered clouds, right? The colored ones?"
He quirks an eyebrow at this. "You know this. You ran into four of them a year ago, remember?"
"Right right," she looks around, "But umm, you've only done them for events so far. Do you do more... permanent ones?"
"I could, in theory." He rolls a hoof, gesturing to her. "I take it you want one for such a purpose?"
"More like six... I was, you know, making some adjustments to my house... t-to make it more awesome, of course!" She laughs nervously.
Flick simply smiles warmly at her. "You don't have to be embarrassed. I make art of almost anything for customers." His expression becomes deadpan. "I will not make someone's 'personal' art. Seriously, somepony had asked me for that..."
"Huh?" She tilts her head, her embarrassment for asking somepony to help her with her house put on hold by her confusion. "Personal art?"
"A painting of them reclining on a couch." He sighs, rubbing the side of his head. "I have no idea what that mare was thinking..."
"Yeah... don't want to know." She shakes her head again. "Anyway, when are you available to do these for me, and is it gonna cost more for permanent, I can afford it either way, I just want to know ahead of time."
"Well, first, I'd need to buy the necessary supplies for permanence." He perks up at the change of topic. "I could do it today, and it would only cost a bit or two more for each cloud."
"Awesome. Meet me at my house when you're ready. It's the one with the rainbow falls. You can't miss it." Rainbow launches herself into the sky in a graceful backwards arc before flipping over and zipping away.
As she clears the dust from the takeoff with one wing, Silk muses out loud. "Well, I guess I know what you'll be doing today."
"Yes, you do." He smirks at her, playfully bumping her side. "Good way to get some more bits, too. See you when I come by for dinner?"
"I'd better get a goodbye kiss first~." She leans against him and flutters her eyelashes again.
"No need to ask me twice." He chuckles, pulling her close and kissing her gently.
Her wings ruffle, resisting the urge to flutter as they often do when he kisses her. She's slightly breathless as they part. "Now that, should keep me going until dinner." She takes a step forward and nuzzles him meaningfully. "I'll be sure to light some candles."
He smiles warmly, happily nuzzling her back. "You always know how to make those moments special."
"True." She turns and slowly walks away with a sway in her hips. "But the fact that I wear this half the time does give me an advantage."
"That it does." He laughs softly, turning to head off as well. I look forward to taking it off, tonight.
Naughty drone...
***
Meanwhile, on the edge of town, a grey mare kicks the door closed behind her as she brings in a box almost the size of her. She doesn't appear to be very hindered by the burden as she trotts into her living room and stacks onto a pile of other boxes of various sizes. She nods once with a smile at the pile before running a hoof through her long charcoal mane and straightening her signature pink bowtie. "I think that should do it. I don't know how my music sheets always end up being the last thing I bring in but the first thing I unpack..." She turns to the purple nymph on the other side of the room currently occupied with her own metal boxes. "Got everything?"
She nods, smiling warmly as one of the boxes beside her opens up, revealing a staff inserted diagonally. Without missing a beat, she reaches out and catches it with her hoof before it hits the ground. I believe so. Your cello is in the bedroom, by the way. I felt it wouldn't do for it to be damaged while unpacking.
"Thank you for that. There's a reason I don't like anypony other than you or I touching my cello." She looks around at the mostly empty room only occupied by the two females and the pile of boxes. "I'm not sure if it feels like home yet... or maybe that's just me being used to traveling so much..."
Hey. The nymph walks over, gingerly placing a foreleg around the mare. Don't worry about it. In a few days, this place will be familiar and welcoming. She glances around, pulling a box over and opening it up. That said, I think we should- She stops, staring down into the container. She pulls out a thin book, her heart aching at the implications. ...Octavia...is this...
The cellist gently takes the small book, running a hoof over the blank spot where a picture would go before setting it back in the box. "They did say... telling you that you can't have something... only makes you want it more..." Her gaze is soft as she looks at the book again before sighing and turning away.
Her changeling puts a hoof on her chin, turning her head to look at her. But we can have it. We just have to be patient. She closes the box and puts it in a corner, bringing a different one closer. Come on, let's unpack. Maybe we can find something fun to do along the way.
"I'd like that." She looks at the rest of the boxes. "It's so much more than a few suitcases... but at least I don't have to repack them in a few days." She ducks her head into the box and rustles around a bit before coming up with a small photograph of the two of them in a silver frame. "It's the picture box! Is this doesn't make this place feel homey, I don't know what will."
The nymph taps her chin, thinking a bit. How about a practice room? Or maybe something along those lines?
As Octavia places the photo on the mantle and goes back into the box for the next one, she comments from within it. "It would be quite useful, none of the rooms here had quite the perfect acoustics I wanted." She comes up with a smaller picture of a yellow filly in a white stetson and sets it in the middle of a shelf on the wall.
The silent changeling walks over to it, smiling playfully. Well, if it isn't young Fiddlesticks. I haven't seen her in a long time. She looks meaningfully at the mare behind her. I miss her, you know.
The mare smiles knowingly as she bumps her hips against Luster's. "Didn't she just take you to her family reunion not too long ago? How could you miss her already?"
She gives her a flat stare. Because of her eyes. She smiles softly, not even pretending to joke around. I like her for who she is, just as she likes me for who I am. You know that.
Octavia looks to the ground before slowly easing her eyes up to meet the nymph's. "I suppose fair is fair... Though I wonder if changelings ever feel this way... living so long in a disguise that they sometimes forget it is one..."
She shrugs, reaching into the box once more. It comes with the territory, for inexperienced soldiers. She pulls out a different picture, smiling softly at it. Look at that. It's our wedding photo. She nudges the mare's side, chuckling silently. Now, who is that lovely yellow mare in the white dress, again?
"Hey, I offered for us both to wear dresses, but you said you'd prefer the tux." The grey pony gives Luster a quick peck on the cheek. "Not that you didn't look dashing of course."
Thank you for the compliment. She smirks slightly, bumping her side with her own. You didn't answer my question, though. She places it right next to the picture of the filly, nodding satisfactorily.
Octavia rolls her eyes. "Fine fin Miss Not-So-Subtle." She fiddles with her bowtie a moment before it loosens. As the accessory comes off, her entire form seems to shimmer a moment before her grey coat is replaced with yellow, her dark mane becomes blue, and her purple eyes turn into a lovely sapphire. The transformed mare smiles as her bowtie. "Best bits I ever spent, and far easier than the dyes and contacts I had to deal with before."
Luster shrugs nonchalantly. I worked with what I had. She smiles, leaning forward and gently kissing her. I'm glad you have it, though. Those Canterlot elite are still fickle about who they let play music for them, after all.
The mare kisses back before voicing her agreement. "Yes, it's amazing. You wear a stetson and scarf in public once in that town and then nopony takes you seriously anymore. Although... I guess that actually isn't a problem here..." Her eyes slowly widen. "I could actually walk around like this..."
The nymph grins, nodding once. Precisely. Especially with some of your family here, too.
"True..." Fiddlesticks pulls a flat wooden box out and opens it, setting the pink bowtie in the cloth-lined interior. "I have actually become quiet fond of bowties over the years though. I wonder how 'Fiddlesticks would look in one..." Her eyes fall on Luster. "Or, on that note..." She takes a yellow bowtie out of the box with her mouth and approaches the changeling meaningfully.
She blinks, tilting her head in confusion. What do you plan to do with that?
"Just seeing something..." With a quick bit of mouthwork, with a little assistance from a hoof when needed, the yellow bowtie is soon snuggly around the changeling's neck, standing out against her dark purple chitin. The mare takes a step back to admire the view, a smile easily spreading across her face.
Luster looks at her, shifting on her hooves awkwardly. Do I look alright? I've never seen what a tie looks like on myself...
A small snort comes from Fiddlesticks. "That explains why you didn't wear anything like that with your tux... but you look very nice, dear. It's a little splash of different color on you." She goes to take it off. "I just wanted to see how it looked, and I was not disappointed."
She holds up a hoof, sheepishly smiling. Could I possibly wear it a bit longer? I actually kinda like it.
The musical pony smiles slyly. "I thought you might. Maybe later 'll wear my purple one, and we'll match."
I'd like that. She nods before she brings a shiny, metal violin over. After carefully tuning it, she gives her wife a playful wink and begins to play.
Behind her, the metal boxes begin to warp and shift, flowing up into the air above them. As the nymph moves out of the room, she clicks her hooves along the floor, providing a percussion of sorts to her makeshift melody.
The yellow mare smiles as her wife leaves. "Such a contrast to my own still style is always a pleasure to watch." One hoof reflexively reaches for the special pink bowtie in the wooden case before she catches herself. The lid clicks as she shuts it. "Still going to have to get used to this..." She rubs her bare neck with a hoof. "Still, we worked hard for this opportunity... I might as well enjoy all the benefits." She begins unpacking with a new spring in her step.
After a bit of work, the living room now actually looks like a room in a home instead of a warehouse. Fiddlesticks nods to herself as she brushes a bit of dust from her coat. With a quick turn, she heads towards the back door to see how her significant other is doing with the extra room.
At the exact same moment, Luster dances around the metal floor of the half-way complete room. With every note she plays, a new design or a new pillar appears, and she cycles through them as she performs, trying to get everything just right.
The yellow mare, sits just inside the new room, her ears perked and her eyes wide as she observes her wife's performance. Years of musical training lets her tell the changes each bit of the architecture makes to the sound, a trait she knows Luster shares and is using herself to perfect the place. She waits in silence, until the nymph is done.
She eventually slows her tempo, the steel solidifying as she tests out the final adjustment. She beams, lowering herself back down and putting her violin off to one side. Perfect.
"I have to agree." Fiddlesticks walks to the center of the metal room, listening as her hoofsteps echoed around. "And the room turned out wonderfully too."
Luster can only stare, blushing brightly in embarrassment. Thanks. I didn't realize you were listening, though.
"You know I never miss a chance to watch and hear you play." As her tail swishes lightly to the no-longer-present tempo, she nuzzles the changeling. "It's always so breathtaking..."
She giggles, happily returning the gesture. I'm glad you think so...of course, you're great, too.
"I keep telling you we need to do a duet but we never seem to get around to it..." Fiddlestick's eyes light up with an idea. "What if we performed for just a small gathering of our friends, hmm? Wouldn't that be fun?"
Luster gestures to the empty floor of the room, smiling warmly. That was the idea. I think we can fit up to twenty in here and have enough room for a few tables, if you want.
The mare quirks an eyebrow as she replies teasingly. "Trying to be competitive with Rhino and Gel's home's hosting capabilities?"
No, just trying to stake our own share of hosting. Musical entertainment and the like. She shrugs, glancing up at a silver chandelier hanging from the ceiling. We should probably install actual lights in here, at some point.
"Very true, and maybe consider getting you some different metals or some other way to make the room more colorful." The mare looks around at the entirely chrome-colored room. "Copper maybe? Just something..."
I wouldn't say no to that. She moves over to the side, fiddling with a few pulleys and switches hidden there. I set up some simple machines to help with the curtains, when we do perform for others, and a place to put your cello when you're not using it. She gestures to the other side of the room, where a cushioned rack lays. Just some items that came to mind while fleshing the room out.
"Glad to know you were thinking of me." The cellist moves over and inspects the space for her instrument, nodding in satisfaction. She giggles after a moment as a thought occurs to her. "Does this mean you're just going to take a chunk of the wall to make your violin everytime?"
Of course not. She picks up a darker-metal box, a twinkle in her eye. I had a special one made for me. I specified it to be made of a zinc-nickel alloy, so it's resilient. The strings are still steel, though.
"Well, look at you, going custom." Fiddlesticks walks over and gently kisses the nymph on her cheek. "I'm glad to see you treating yourself. You really do need to do that more often you know, you deserve it."
You know I prefer not to do that. She opens the box, pulling out a brown-red violin with a metallic finish. I just felt this would stand out less in our performances. You know how that one reviewer took a point off because of my old one.
The mare sticks out her tongue in a decidedly not-upper class manner. "He probably would have taken a point off if it was painted black with as much of a traditionalist he was, let alone if we performed looking like we actually do."
Luster shrugs, tuning her instrument carefully. You make it sound like you know him personally. Should I be jealous?
Fiddlesticks smirks. "I make it a point to know all the popular reviewers out there. I don't change my performances for them, but if there's something small I can use to tip the scale in my favor, why not use it?"
Ah. She finishes tuning, playing a few short notes. For a moment, I thought you had him as a roommate. I'm glad I was wrong.
One eyebrow slowly raises before it's owner just laughs and shakes her head before nuzzling her partner. "You really are cute when you're acting all subtle about your jealousy."
She blushes brightly, embarrassed by the mare's words. She continues to play with her violin, surrounding it in violet magic, as she inspects the inlays and bevels of the walls, acting nonchalant. Who says I get jealous? I was just curious. She pokes a hoof at a column, hesitating slightly. Did you have any roommates, though?
The yellow mare puts a hoof to her chin. "Well... there was those few years with that DJ... She certainly made that an interesting time..."
The nymph tenses slightly, subtly biting her lip. Interesting, how?
This only makes the mare smile more as she leans her side against Luster. "Nothing too big really, just the usual clashes between the world of shades and glowsticks versus the world of bowties and uniforms. Why? What were you thinking happened?" This last question is said in a teasing tone to convey that she knows exactly what her partner was thinking, but is trying to get her to admit it.
She slides her hoof across her lips. Not saying. Glad nothing too big happened, though. She glances around before nodding and rapidly drawing her bow across the strings. The first note is accompanied with a pole erupting from the floor before the stage. The stomp afterwards, a decently-sized circle flaring from the top of it. This pattern continues five more times, leaving them with a half dozen tables. I wonder if I'll ever meet this 'DJ'. I guess only time will tell.
Fiddlesticks nods. "She's definitely odd, but you get used to her over time."
A voice calling from outside the room interrupts any further conversation. "Hello? Is somepony back here?"
Curious, Luster walks over and opens the door, smiling warmly at the white mare standing there. Greetings. Would you like to come in? She accompanies this question with a bow and a wave into the room.
Momentarily confused by the mute nymph, the unicorn hesitates a moment, but smiles at the invitation and enters. "Well, thank you dear. It's nice to see you again, though I admit you are not who I expected."
She tilts her head in confusion, raising an eyebrow. She starts to think to her, but remembers she doesn't have a mental link with her. She pulls some metal from a nearby table, forming words in the air next to her. 'May I ask who you were expecting?'
Fiddlesticks is content to watch the two converse, curious as to who this pony is that her wife apparently knows.
The pony adjusts her curled purple mane a moment before responding with a small smile. "Well, um, this may sound a bit silly, but I had heard a few rumors that some of my favorite musicians had moved into the area. Their names are Melody and Octavia, have you heard of them?"
Luster smirks slightly, nodding her head. 'You could say that. I will say this - the rumors are true.'
Her eyes light up. "Really? Do you know where they might be? Not that I don't want to catch up of course, it has been a while since I last saw you, but I do wish to..." a small blush appears on her cheeks before she forces it away,"make them feel welcome of course, yes, that's what I'm going to do."
'I see.' She covers her mouth with a hoof, trying to hide her smile. 'I could take you to Octavia, if you'd like.’
The alabaster unicorn goes back to her eager state. "Would you, darling? That would be wonderful, and it would save me some aimless walking."
'Follow me.' She puts the metal she's using back where it belongs before heading towards the stage. They stop in front of it and she picks up her steel violin, using the metal for her next few words. 'Rarity, meet Octavia.' This is joined by an arrow that points at the yellow earth pony on the stage.
The fashionista looks at the yellow mare in confusion before turning back to the nymph. "Erm, Luster dear, I believe you are mistaken. Though she does bear quite the resemblance, I am fairly certain this is not the grey-coated cellist of which I spoke."
Fiddlesticks laughs at the mare's comment. "I'm afraid you would be mistaken there."
"I beg your pardon?" Rarity looks even more confused now.
The cellist simply smiles knowingly. "Oh come now, surely a pony such as yourself knows the things some ponies do to fit in high society. Some put on nice dresses, get their manes done, a little makeup..." she gestures to herself, "maybe some go so far as to adopt a new appearance entirely."
The unicorn's mouth drops open as she hears this particular bit of information.
At her guest's lack of a response, Fiddlesticks laughs again. "Are you really going to make me break out my cello to convince you?"
The fashionista jerks in place and clears her throat to clear her mind. "Ahem, um, that will not be necessary. It's just... wow..."
'At a loss for words with Octavia in front of you?' Luster floats her specially-made violin back into its case, trying hard to not laugh, even if it would be silent.
Rarity catches herself again. "A lady is never lost for words, she is just deciding which ones to use. It's simply much to absorb. Though... if she is Octavia... does that make you..." She lets the sentence trail off as she looks at the nymph.
She nods, smiling warmly once more. 'Correct. I'm Melody.' She bows, giggling in her thoughts. 'Not what you were expecting, I take it?'
"Not quite..." The white mare looks to where Luster had put her instrument. "Though, now that I know, I'm surprised I didn't notice the similarity between your music and Melody's sooner."
'It's easy enough for ponies to assume otherwise.' She shrugs, moving up the nearby stairs. 'Though, if you wouldn't mind, could you please keep this between us? We don't want to be chased wherever we go.'
"Of course darling, though, if I may be so bold," her small blush returns, "might I ask for a favor in return?"
The cellist raises an eyebrow, unsure of what she is getting at.
'I guess that depends on the favor.' The nymph rolls her hoof at the mare. 'May we hear what it is?'
"Would you mind terribly if I asked you two..." she suddenly whips out a flat square from her saddlebags, her face burning, "to sign my copy of your record?"
Luster blinks, stepping forward and lifting up the record, smiling softly. 'I'd be happy to.' She looks around, frowning slightly. 'If I had something to write with, anyways.'
As soon as she finished her sentence, a quill and inkwell zips out of the unicorn's bags to hover next to the record sleeve.
She jumps a bit at this, staring a second before taking the quill. 'Thank you, Rarity.' She quickly writes a bit before pausing, turning to the mare next to her. Should I sign it as 'Melody' or 'Luster'?
Fiddlesticks thinks a moment. "Hmm... Melody I think, since it's the name on the record. You did register that as your alias after all, even if most don't realize that's what it is."
She nods, quickly signing as suggested. She then turns to her mare, curious. Would you like to sign it, too?
The mare nods, taking the quill in her mouth and signing the sleeve. As the quill is taken from her mouth by Rarity's magic, she spits out a small tuft of fluff and smacks her lips. "This is why I prefer pencils..."
The fashionista laughs nervously. "I'll be sure to remember that..." She stows the record back in her bags before turning back to the couple. "I guess this means Luster settling down and the famous Octavia Philharmonica ending her touring are connected?"
The indigo nymph nods, sheepishly blushing. 'Yes, that would be correct.'
Fiddlesticks takes up the tale, tossing a hoof over the nymph's shoulder and pulling her close. "We decided we wanted more out of life than constant traveling and hotels. Selling records of our music with the occasional trip to Canterlot for a live performance seemed like the perfect way to do that. It took some time to make all the changes, but..." she nuzzles Luster, "it was worth it."
The changeling blushes softly, nuzzling her as well. I'll say it was. She smirks slightly and kisses the earth pony's cheek. I'm definitely glad to have the extra spare time.
Rarity smiles as the couples exchange small gestures of affection. "Oh, aren't you two just precious?" She looks at the yellow bowtie on Luster's neck and gets a small twinkle in her eye. "You really should come by my shop sometime. I'd be thrilled to make you some sets of outfits... a nice purple for the lovely mare, and a soft yellow for her wife."
Luster turns to the unicorn, smiling warmly. 'I think that sounds wonderful. We still have a few things to do first, though.'
"Oh, of course of course." She waves a hoof. "Entirely at your leisure, I assure you. Besides, I'm working on a new style of clothing right now, and I'm almost done with the first line. Actually... I should probably get back to it, I think I received a bit more inspiration while I was here, but we really should talk again you know. Thank you for a lovely time." She dips her head before heading towards the open door.
The nymph tilts her head in confusion. The metal next to her flies through the room, stopping in the air in front of Rarity. 'What are you working on?'
Rarity looks back with a smile, calling as she walks away. "Foal's clothing, darling!" With those final words, she is gone.
Luster freezes in place, the metal falling to the floor, forgotten. Foal's clothing?
Her wife's reaction is far greater. Her ears flop down and her tail sags as thoughts rush unbidden into her mind. She takes a shuddering breath as she tries to calm herself.
Seeing her reaction, she wraps her foreleg around the mare, holding her close.
"I'm sorry..." the earth pony whispers as she takes another shuddering breath, "I know I usually don't let it get to me, but... with all this talk of settling down, then with earlier I just..." She sniffs loudly.
Her nymph tenderly nuzzles her, stroking her back with soothing motions of her hoof. It'll be okay. We're on our way to solving it. We just need another two weeks.
Fiddlesticks wipes her eyes, still trying to calm down. "I know... I know... I just still have trouble finally thinking it's real..." She looks in Luster's eyes, her own emotions shown plainly in hers. "Do you think they'll still help?"
I know them. She gently kisses her mare. She'll find a way to make it happen. She never breaks her word, after all.
The kissing helping to calm her down, the yellow pony takes a moment before she replies. "Ok... ok... you're right... Thank you... for everything." Sh grabs the nymph in a warm hug. "For absolutely everything you've done for me throughout my life."
You're welcome. Just so you know, she nuzzles her cheek before letting go, if I were given the choice, I'd do it all again. Even with the consequences. She touches a hoof to her neck, a distant look in her eyes.
The cellist looks at her wife with shining eyes before gently brushing her lips against the nymphs. She takes her hoof and begins gently leading her to the house. "Come on, I think some tea will do us both some good."
She smiles and nods, happily following her.