“A week from now?” Rarity remarked, blinking. She turned to the side, tapping her chin in thought. “Oh dear...”
“It's totally sudden. I know.” Rainbow winced slightly. “To tell you the truth, I didn't think I'd be attending something like this until the last second. I knew you and only you could whip up something... er... magical.”
“Indeed I can.” Rarity's lips curved. “And I tend to work best when under adversity, so there's absolutely no need to apologize.” She fought the urge to giggle. “We've got an entire week to make this happen! So let's get to it!”
“Okay...”
“I already have your measurements thanks to the last gown I made you. You say this is going to be a relatively informal affair?”
“Er, no, nothing glittery or super fancy.”
Rarity laughed airily. “That's what 'informal' means, darling.”
“Really?” Rainbow's muzzle twisted. “I thought that mean being 'in' formal.”
“You said it was a simple cocktail party?”
“Yeah. In the big city.”
“Ooooh! Where are you being taken to, hmmm? Fillydephia? Las Pegasus?”
“Just know that they'll be showing off a lot of art and... er... playing modern techno there.”
“Ahhhhhh... I see. A contemporaneous soiree.”
“Yeah. One of those.”
“I have the perfect image in my head right now.” Rarity smiled across the Boutique. “But, alast, I can't dream up absolutely everything on my own. You have to help me dear.”
“Ew. I do?” Rainbow grimaced. “How?”
“Well, what's his fancy, darling?”
“Huh...?”
“Hmmmm... What does your significant other like best on you?”
Rainbow bit her lip. “Uhhhhhhhhm...”
Rainbow Dash and Vinyl Scratch stood at the bar counter, grabbing their mugs before joining the rest of their friends at the table.
“All I know about Photo Finish's taste is that she wants to be dressed the loudest in the room at all times,” Vinyl said.
“Excuse me?” Rainbow squinted. “How can a dress make sound?”
Vinyl rolled her eyes beneath her shades and smirked. “I mean she wants to be the most colorful, outrageous, and flamboyant-looking in her gown. It's her way of making a statement, I guess.”
“Ew.” Rainbow shuddered. “I don't wanna do flamboyant.”
“Well, you're in luck!” Vinyl grasped her mug of cider as it was placed on the counter. “Photo won't give you so much as a glance unless you're wearing something under the radar.”
“Like... how under the radar?”
“Something simple. Something that doesn't try to draw too much attention. Something reminiscent of a blank canvas.” Vinyl took a sip, swallowed, and gestured. “Heck, almost everypony in her personal entourage wears solid colors.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Totally. And she really has a thing for monochromatic designs.”
“Mono... chromatic...?”
“Heh...” Vinyl fluffed Rainbow's bangs with her magic. “Not something you can comprehend, I know.” She cleared her throat. “I mean neutral colors, einstallion. Blacks. Whites. Grays. That sort of thing.”
Rainbow hovered alongside Rarity as they shuffled down a line of shelves with various silk fabrics.
“So... we'll be needing something—like—solid.” Rainbow gulped. “A solid color, I mean. Nothing crazy with a bunch of patterns or whatnot.”
“Oh, but of course!” Rarity grinned. “I whole-heartedly agree! That's why I made you that snow white ballgown in the first place! Your colors speak for your beauty through-and-through, darling. It would be a shame to try and make you something that would undermine that by showing off too much.”
“Uh huh...”
“Hmmm...” Rarity rubbed her chin and stared at the wrack. “But what to start you out with...”
“That white gown thingy was pretty cool. Maybe you could do a less... nnngh... fluffy version of that?”
“Oh, Rainbow, please...” Rarity waved a hoof. “A good artist never repeats herself.” She grinned, levitating several dark silks off the shelves. “This event is going to take place at night, yes?”
“Sure thing.”
“A vogue gathering under moonlight with glittering city lights in the background.” Rarity fought an inner squeal. “And in through the door walks a piece of the rainbow! Oh, I just know this is going to steal the air out of everypony's lungs!” She happily skipped across the Boutique. “We just need an elegant manestyle to complement what I have in mind!”
Rainbow's eyes bulged from where she hovered. “An elegant... hairstyle...?”
“But I don't understand, Rainbow...” Fluttershy blinked from across the cottage. “Why the sudden interest in Photo Finish?”
“It's not so much that I'm interested in her,” Rainbow said with a shrug. “A co-worker and I are... uhhh... having an argument over what that mare digs the most in manestyles.”
“Oh no! I hate arguments!”
Rainbow rolled her eyes and smiled placatingly. “It's not that kind of an argument, Fluttershy. Please, just help me out here.” She flew closer to the mare. “When you modeled for her, what did she like doing to your mane the most?”
“Well... I-I never really did like all of the fame that she attracted me,” Fluttershy said, rubbing her hooves nervously together. “And I've tried to put all of those days behind.” She gulped. “Still... erm... if I recall, she and her fashion stylists usually braided my mane in several places and gave it lift.” Her eyes twitched. “Oh! And I do remember Photo Finish having a thing for hairbands...”
“Hairbands?” Rarity winced slightly. “Rainbow, are you sure that's what he wants?”
“Heh...” Rainbow shrugged, trying not to sweat. “You know what they say. 'The quickest way to a stallion's heart is... th-through his stomach... a-and his fashion sense.'” She gulped.
“Well, most certainly, but a hairband would work on a pony with much fuller hair. Like Fluttershy, for instance.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.” Rainbow grinned plastically. “You don't say...”
“However...” Rarity trotted closely around Rainbow, staring at her bangs. “Hmmm... yes... yes... most definitely.” She smiled. “I do think I have the most splendid idea!” She levitated two straight edges between them and angled the things so that they “framed” Rainbow Dash's muzzle from where Rarity was looking. “Oh, Celestia, spare me! It'll look like a crescent moon sending a prism of light through a rainy evening!”
“Err...” Rainbow gritted her teeth. “You're remembering not to over do it, right?”
“Have some more faith in me, Rainbow Dash.” Rarity winked, then tugged the pegasus back towards the modeling room. “I am the veritable mistress of subtlety.”
Rainbow did her best not to gag.