chapter 7 - Gigglesketches
She was an idol of newfound confidence, radiating an air of boldness and determination which sent birds singing and caused ponies to turn heads while colliding with lampposts. This scene wasn't an uncommon occurrence caused by the owner of Carousel Boutique. In Ponyville, being the small town that it is, most were familiar with the sight of the recently placated unicorn leaving the spa, sparkling like a diamond in a ray of sunlight, or gleaming like a polished sapphire, or glowing like a cut moonstone, depending on the selection and brand of beauty products of course.
But her looks weren't of her concern at the moment. Rarity wasn't even sure if she could use her pristine looks and alluring image to assist in her upcoming confrontation with her changeling squatter. She slowed on her trek back to her home slash business domicile as she considered what little she knew about changelings.
Even if he is a stallion, or at least a male, I’m not sure if my ladylike charm could really help me keep an upper hand.
Did changelings even find ponies attractive? Well, they should at least have a working idea of what looks good and what doesn't, otherwise they wouldn't be very good at impersonations for stealing love. Or do changelings come up with their own pony persona? I mean, there are benefits to stealing identities versus coming up with them, but what would cause a changeling to pick one method over the other? Is it a social issue? Political?
Now I'm starting to sound like Twilight. I should just focus on keeping this encounter professional. Whether or not he finds me attractive or vice versa should be of no concern to me right now.
I mean if changelings in general would find a pony attractive or the other way around.
Because as a pony with rational and upstanding tastes, I can say with utmost certainty that I do not find that tall, dark, and mysterious squatter to be..
Well, I'll just admit he is a tad exotic..
Rarity took a moment to shake her head and clear it of her unwelcome thoughts, then resumed her normal walking pace with a renewed look of confidence and a slight pat on the bottom of her largest hair curls to keep her appearance in check.
But that is not important, what IS important is that Mr Rouser might be a bit put off at a slight change in arrangement. He might possibly be terrified because of our.. initial conversations, and I wouldn’t want him to suddenly erm, ‘bite the hand that feeds him’ so to speak.
Rarity’s right hand unconsciously traveled upwards, where her muzzle gingerly nibbled on her knuckle. Luckily for the prim unicorn, nopony was around to suddenly pop up ask her what she was thinking about. Pinkie Pie briefly considered doing so, but she was too busy stuffing a red herring into a sports bra.
The white unicorn arrived at her home, brought her right hand to twist the entrance door’s handle and entered with the jingle of the bell hung by the door. Her resolve held strong, but she was more worried of the conviction of her unusual tenant.
----
After finishing a light lunch, Rarity Belle grabbed her neighponese tea set and a bag of one of her more expensive teas from her kitchen cupboards.
Earlier she verified that Rabble Rouser, her changeling squatter and mannequin impersonator, was positioned in her showroom. She had also done a quick once around on the second level of her home, changing her outfit, cleaning and arranging things, and of course reigning in the mess of her guest room that was often occupied by her younger sister Sweetie Belle. Well it wasn't much of a mess this time, earning a tender smile from the snow white unicorn over her sibling’s improved cleaning habits.
But now Rarity carried a tray of homemade snickerdoodles with a steaming teapot and two teacups on saucers. The fashionista now wore a light purple v-neck and had traded out the vest and acid wash jeans for a purple ruffled skirt and a silver band on each of her wrists. She made her way into her showroom, her perfectly pedicured hooves creating echoing taps throughout the otherwise silent boutique. Only a slight glance towards the mannequin disguised changeling revealed her intentions.
The resolute mare quietly placed the tray on a low coffee table towards the middle of the showroom with a soft clink sound. Keeping her skirt straight with her hands, she seated herself on one of the 2 couches surrounding the petite table and turned towards the specific mannequin to observe it’s current state.
The poseable mannequin in question was standing next to 2 other dummy mares near the southern wall, a few meters to the right while entering the boutique. The female mannequins were dressed in what Rarity called “Modern Student Chic”, composed of dark colored plaid skirts of purple and red, white short sleeved dress shirts, bodices to shape the torso, and solid colored cravats around the neck. The stallion mannequin model wore black dress pants, dark blue t-shirt, black felt jacket, and presumably grey boxer briefs underneath.
Rarity wasn’t going to actually check on that last one.
The “Student” mannequins were set to look as if they were just chatting. However, the juxtaposition of the fully poseable stallion mannequin gave the impression that the others were gossiping about him, questioning the mysterious stranger and inadvertently sowing stories of fear and mistrust. The poseable mannequin’s arms were crossed, head tilted slightly downward and shoulders hunched forward. A sight of disappointment and frustration, one that did not fail to go over the white seamstress’s head.
She sighed through her nose, a very obvious look of concern crossing her face, her brow tilted up in worry and her eyes focused on the scene across the room. Her horn lit slightly, and the sound of doors locking and blinds closing echoing through the large showroom. Rarity started speaking.
“I’m not going to force you to change this arrangement we have Mr Rouser, but if we can be civil I would like to discuss it.”
The white unicorn stared towards the poseable mannequin for a moment before looking towards the coffee table and taking the movements to pour herself some tea.
“I’ve secured my home, you are safe to converse with no danger of revealing your identity.”
There were no other reaction from anywhere in the room. Rarity took this moment to bring her teacup and saucer to bear, taking a sip of her tea, closing her eyes and savoring the taste.
As she opened her eyes, she took note of a barely perceptible humming sound, suddenly finding herself watching her mannequin now changeling acquaintance Rabble Rouser hovering to a seat on the couch across from her. The fashionista smiled slightly behind her teacup, proud that her choice of outfit matched the insectoid stallion’s beetle like colorations.
Her smile quickly turned into a professional gaze as she faced the malcontented look of Rabble’s own gaze. Was he checking her out? No, he was sizing her up, preparing to hold his own in what he considered was a battle of words. The buglike stallion took the first shot.
“You have a problem with me.” He spoke in a quiet, steady tone.
Without breaking face, Rarity replied, “No, I have a problem with our arrangement.”
“You don’t want to work with me, you want me to leave?”
“No, I-”
“I’m sure you know I have the upper hand here, I know enough about you to marr you permanently.”
Rabble stared straight at Rarity with a look of conviction. The unicorn mare’s features softened slightly, but she did not seem offended or put off by the changeling’s threat. However, a few thoughts later, her eyes shifted downward, a look of defeat crossing her features.
Either that or she was looking at the teapot.
“If you knew that much about me, then you should know that I do not take kindly to threats, but that I am perceptive enough to understand why you are making them.”
The purple maned fashionista took a small sip from her teacup to keep the steadiness to her voice.
“Can I offer you some tea? Or some snickerdoodles? It’s my mother’s recipe. She calls them something else but the result is the same.”
The changeling’s blue pupil-less eyes narrowed and his muzzle tipped up slightly. He crossed his arms but knew well enough that Rarity was fairly adept at understanding social cues. Rabble himself believed he was skilled in the same matter, but the truth was that his own understanding only applied to larger groups, and not the one to one conversation he was currently engaged in. He took the moment of silence as a chance to gather his thoughts while Rarity started pouring tea into the other teacup.
I’m a changeling, a chitinous, insectoid whose population was considered threatening to ponykind due to our history. Along with the fact that Rarity is disgusted by bugs, my presence alone should be what makes her nervous. Our arrangement of me acting a mannequin changed when she discovered me, but I was able to convince her to keep to the arrangement two days ago.
She obviously has an issue with me staying here, and because she found me out there’s no way she wouldn’t leave this issue alone. I know she’s too fastidious to let anything like this be left alone.
From what was said, she implies knowing that I have no where else to go, which I hate to admit is true, but any change to our current agreement would certainly not end in my favor due to her negative impression of me.
So, I have to keep strongarming her to avoid losing this ground right? But that would only worsen my impression, thus leaving me with riskier options if things sour..
Ah, beetlejuice! Mares are too complicated!
Rabble’s thoughts were interrupted by a floating steaming teacup atop a saucer. His aggressive stance took a more neutral posture, and he took the teacup from the magical grip with both hands. Rarity could see his mind percolating from across the coffee table.
Several seconds ticked by as the changeling percolated with the steaming cup in his hands. His concentration was broken by the voice of his white opposer.
“It’s the blend from Saddle Arabia, I was able to procure some from a few acquaintances of the diplomats that were visiting awhile back.”
Rabble glanced at the steaming liquid then back at Rarity.
“I promise it will help you relax.”
The changeling looked a bit unsure. His white counterpart sighed and rolled her eyes.
“And I promise that it isn’t drugged. Honestly, you should know that I wouldn’t stoop that low.”
After a moment of deliberation, the black insectoid took a polite, measured sip, lifting the cup by the handle with a pinky claw extended. A moment later, his shoulders lowered and he lowered the teacup onto the saucer and put his grip on the china into a more relaxed position on his lap with his eyes towards the coffee table. Even though he wasn’t directly looking at the pony across from him, his concern about the situation was apparent.
Rarity gently started speaking again, her tone caring and soft.
“The problem I have with our arrangement, is that I don’t want to treat another being as a thing..”
The changeling didn’t move, but it seemed he was looking back at Rarity now. His eyes having no pupils made it hard to tell, and his muzzle was still pointed at the coffee table, but the delicate mare was confident she had his attention.
"I would also like to apologize again for my, rough treatment, from our first encounter,”
From across the coffee table, Rabble hadn’t moved. Rarity wasn’t even sure if he was still breathing, or if he had even blinked during the entire conversation.
She took in a breath to continue, but was stopped when the changeling uttered something so quietly that she couldn't hear him.
"Can you please repeat that? Mr Rouser?" Rarity said while leaning forward expectantly. He turned his head to connect his gaze to hers. The gesture caught the white pony off guard mentally, but she managed to hold back the urge to flinch and kept her expression unchanged.
"I'm.. I'm sorry, for threatening you.." Rabble spoke, his usual speaking voice soft and quiet, but clear and concise throughout the echoing showroom. The mare across from him smiled sympathetically, with only a slight shift of her head as if she thought he would continue.
Awkward silence. The changeling wasn’t quite sure what to say next but was compelled to fill the emptiness, even if it was to keep his attention off of the piercing stare of the captivating mare across from him.
“And for.. For tricking you.”
“You had little choice in that matter, you don’t need to apologize for that.” Rarity replied compassionately, her body language scooting her closer to the edge of her seat while leaning forward, eyes never breaking contact from her slightly fazed acquaintance.
From possibly a life of military espionage training, a cultural stigma, or an inherent racial trait, Rabble Rouser had an adept ability to keep his expressions under complete control, at least when he was under pressure to. But due to either the soothing Saddle Arabian tea, the extremely charming wiles of the fabulous Rarity Belle, or the effective lack of social contact for almost a year, Rabble had a lapse in concentration and allowed his emotions to show through.
It was a mix of solace and surprise, made from the sympathy offered by the generous mare in front of him, and an unintentional view of the same style.
Rarity sensed she finally had the upper hoof in the social struggle and took the chance to press her advantage. The prim unicorn crossed her supple legs under her long ruffled dress while her wrists lay limp on her propped knee, her teacup levitated onto the surface of the coffee table.
"You see," Rarity continued, "I believe that it might be possible to arrange a, a more peaceful census between us, or if you are willing, a beneficial partnership of sorts."
The changeling still held the shocked look from before, but quickly coughed into a first and closed his blue eyes in thought. Rarity briefly wished his bright blue eyes had more detail, or at least some more identifiable clue as to where he was looking. She feared to break eye contact in order to be polite but let her eyes catch a quick glance at the changeling’s insectoid wings while he was busy thinking. Her breathing through her snout quickened as her view traced the muscles on his shoulders and neck.
A quick sip from her teacup hid her observations, the neighponese china levitated in a blue aura. In moments like this, Rarity did not trust her hands to keep her thoughts hidden.
Seconds later, the changeling opened his eyes and spoke his mind.
"Beneficial? I'm not quite sure what.."
Rabble turned his head to the right, leaning forward while placing his elbows on his knees. Anxiety plain on his pointed face. His quiet voice resumed.
"Sorry I.. This is one of the most normal conversations I've had in such a long time I just.."
Speaking of normal, any normal pony might’ve flinched at suddenly finding a gorgeous mare like Rarity sitting next to them. Rabble let out the manliest of squeaks instead.