//------------------------------//
// The Furniture Shop 
// Story: Flame and Desire 
// by Masterweaver 
//------------------------------//

	"Hey kid."

The colt froze in midair, which messed up his landing. "Oh! Uh, h-hello."

Fireflare smiled, leaning against a nearby wardrobe. "You know that bed's for display right?"

"I... don't you want customers to test it?"

The pegasus brought a hoof up to her chin. "Yes. Are you buying?"

"What? No! I don't have the mo....." The unicorn trailed off. "...am I in trouble?"

"Are you alone?"

"Mommy and daddy are over looking at desks. I... don't want to get in the way." He kicked at the mattress awkwardly. "This is fun, and... I'm sorry."

Fireflare shook her head, glancing around. "Kid, you're not in trouble. Here..." She reached into her pocket, pulling out a pack of colorbits. "I'll give you these. Just make sure to make the bed when you're done, kay?"

"Really? Oh! Yes ma'am! I'll do that ma'am!"

The red mare snorted. "Ma'am is for old ponies, soldiers, teachers, and tight-lipped mares who wouldn't know a good time if Pinkie Pie herself dropped by. You can just call me miss Flare."

"Alright, ma--er, miss Flare." The colt went back to bouncing.

Fireflare shook her head and trotted off, keeping an eye on the current batch of 'customers'. The likelihood of them buying anything increased with repeated visits, but in her experience there were only two types of purchasers: first timers looking for something they needed, or those ponies that would spend four visits browsing before coming in a fifth time to get something they wanted. Still, it paid to keep an eye on the crowd, since there were always exceptions.

Like the one walking through the door, for instance. Fireflare flapped once and glided over a chaise lounge, smiling broadly at the white unicorn. "My most humble greetings, o lady, and a warm welcome to a returning champion."

"Oh, tish tosh." The mare flipped her violet mane. "We both know I don't stand on such ceremony outside working hours."

"So you're not here to purchase items for those who need it?" Fireflare asked with a sly grin. "I might just have to throw you out."

"Legally speaking, I am the advisor to one princess Twilight Sparkle. Being the Element of Generosity is a title and a duty, not a job."

"Good to know. Well, welcome back Rares." Fireflare waved a hoof, leading her down the aisles. "What are you looking to give away today?"

"Well, there's a family in Baltimare who lost their home. They need whole set... oh, and the commune in Manehattan I met last week needs three more couches. Cheesecake says hello, by the way."

The pegasus smiled. "Heh, crazy gal. Is Twilight still pestering her?"

"Yes." Rarity rolled her eyes. "Honestly, I wish that unicorn would just give Twilight a chance."

Fireflare shook her head. "Cheese... she's had bad relations with nobility. Even if she trusts Twilight, she can't trust those under her, that's why she's keeping her business privately owned."

The white unicorn sighed. "Yes, I can understand that.... honestly, I thought that joining the upper echelons of society would make for a more... accessible pony to those in need. Are we really that intimidating?"

"You personally? No. The rich sychophants that trod over those with less wealth unless you are very directly glaring at them? Yeah, pretty much."

"Oh. Them." Rarity flipped her mane disdainfully. "I suppose that I can see your point. Ah, this couch looks good."

Fireflare pulled a small notepad from her vest pocket, grasping the pencil in her feathers and writing down the product number. "So, three of these for the commune?"

"Mmm, I believe that would be accurate. Oh, how are things at your place?"

"Oh, same old same old. The kids are doing alright, Wishing Star is doing awesome, I'm okay..." Fireflare shrugged, gesturing down the aisle. "Nothing too much to report. The children's bedroom stuff is over here."

"Well, that's good to hear." The two ponies trotted down the furniture-lined path, glancing around at the goods available. "Is little Moonshine still harboring his crush on our lovely princess of the night?"

"Oh, he's pretending he's too old for that sort of thing." Fireflare rolled her eyes with a smile. "Because, obviously, crushing on the princess is just something for little colts, not big ponies like him."

Rarity tittered in amusement. "Oh my, is it really? Color me surprised!"

"It was news for me too!" Fireflare shrugged, glancing over the beds in front of her. "Okay, so how many beds did that family need to replace?"

"They have two fillies and three colts, one of them is almost a stallion though." Rarity walked through the displayed furniture, tapping her hoof vaguely. "Hmmm. This one, this one.... not this one... I'm terribly sorry, I must seem ever so picky!"

"Professional courtesy requires that I deny that statement." Fireflare carefully schooled her face into an emotionless expression.

The ivory unicorn returned her look with a lidded eyed stare of her own. "So kind of you to be so courteous."

"I try my best, ma'am."

The two continued their miniature glare-off for a few moments.

Rarity's lips twitched.

Fireflare let out a small snort.

Then the dam burst, and both mares were laughing out loud, one in a high-class giggle and the other in unbound guffaws.

"HahahahaHAHAhahahahaha!"

"Hmmhmmheehmm..."

"Hahaha... hah... heh. But seriously, Rares." Fireflare shrugged. "You can be picky, but for you it's more about quality then looks so I don't mind. Take as long as you need."

"Hmmm. Well, thank you miss Flare." Rarity gave her an ironic little curtsy. "I shall endeavor to be as... discerning as always."

Fireflare smiled, glancing at her notepad. "Wouldn't expect anything else."