//------------------------------// // Keep Calm and Drink Tea // Story: The Mannequin of Carousel Boutique // by Emeralddragon2 //------------------------------// chapter 8 - Keep Calm and Drink Tea “Oh! I’m dreadfully sorry! I didn’t mean to frighten you!” The white mare of Carousel Boutique had resituated herself next to her changeling tenant on the divan opposite from her original position. She had her right hand over her mouth in guilt and the other politely on her left leg. Her original motivation of locomotion stemmed from her assumption that her presence tended to have a calming effect on the opposite gender. She could easily spot Rabble’s agitation and her sympathetic proclivities had taken action without a second thought. Her hand met it’s partner in her lap, leaving a pouting expression of guilt on the humbled unicorn. “Is.. Is this alright?” She spoke, referring to her new seated position next to the changeling Rabble. The insectoid changeling had a thin lipped, wide eyed expression of poker faced bafflement. The kind you get when trying to hold your breath or restraining one’s self from saying something not quite clever. Which he hoped wasn’t the case for his next statement, spoken quietly but without any tremor. “That depends on what you meant by ‘Beneficial Partnership’.” Rarity’s expression went from timid to slight befuddlement, complete with a perfectly plucked eyebrow raised ever so slowly.. Rabble’s facade was strict pokerface, while maintaining the thin lipped state from before. “Why,” Rarity started, “Offering each other things that the other could possibly want or need, since I can provide many goods you'd like in exchange for maybe some information?” The white unicorn nervously gestured in the air with her right hand while she continued speaking, her eyes wandering amidst the showroom as she spoke. “T-to be completely honest, I’m quite curious about you and your kind, your history and the like..” She was about to chew her nails in the hopes that her modest inquiries wouldn’t fall flat, but restrained herself and placed the tip of her index finger on the bottom of her pouting lips instead. Her eyes made contact with Rabble once again while her muzzle was pointed a downward in a show of meekness. The changeling’s expression was still blank, but Rarity felt the sense of unease that was once prevalent was now gone, awkwardness replaced with geniality. She decided to confirm her assumptions when the insectoid stallion leaned forward to grab a ‘snickerdoodle’ without dropping his attention from the endearing mare. He started munching the sugary treat, his face pointed towards his unicorn acquaintance. His demeanor was difficult to pierce, Rarity presumed that the bug like stallion was acting this way out of habit. She had seen that he was certainly capable of expressing himself and his emotions, but she didn't want to be so intrusive as to confirm his emotional catalysts. In a bit of social reversal, Rarity realized Rabble was waiting for her to continue the conversation. A need to fill the silent emptiness to keep her mind off of the exotic male’s sharp gaze. Her right hand went to twirling a lock of her curly mane, her left balled and pushed into the valley of the dress in between her legs. Her confidence was waning, her breathing was fast, and she desperately hoped that her dark, well dressed guest would agree to this consensus. The mare’s thoughts were slowly working against her. Rarity why can’t you keep face! This was suppose to be easy! Just don’t think about having to undress him later if he decides to say ‘No’. The white unicorn could taste her pearly lipstick as she tried to keep from biting her lip. "S-Sooooo? I-is this agreeable?" Rarity said, hearing what she dreaded was a tone of trepidation in her shaky voice. Rabble slowly chewed the last remnants of the scrumptious cookie in his mouth, then swallowed inaudibly. “Ok.” Somepony blinked. It might’ve been the unicorn Rarity, or it might’ve been the changeling Rabble. Either way, the unicorn’s eyes sparkled in relief and her hands clapped together in excitement as she spoke. “Really!? Oh there is so much we have to do! First let us get you settled in the guest room, I’m sure being a mannequin 24/7 must be exhausting! Or do you only stay disguised during the day? If you can disguise yourself as a mannequin, what else can you change into? *GASP* I just have so many questions to ask! I don’t even know where to begi-” The ecstatic unicorn’s spiel was silenced by a soft touch of the changeling’s smooth fingers onto her lips. He interjected, “But first, promise me that my secret will never get out.” Rarity pulled back from Rabble’s fingers and placed her right hand upon her chest with an indignant look of shock. “Wha? Moi?? Letting another pony’s secret slip from my lips?? I would never dream of doing such an undignified affront to anypony’s reputation!” The prissy unicorn turned her nose up haughtily. “I am one of Ponyville’s premiere up and coming fashion designers, As a dignified lady and professional business mare, you can always trust me to keep my lips sealed on any and all private information. Rarity is no gossip! Hmph!” ---- At the Ponyville Spa, where Aloe and Lotus are giving each other facials The pink coated Aloe was applying a facial mask using a disposable wooden spatula to her blue colored sister Lotus reclining in a spa chair. “Lotus,” Aloe said. “Vat does ‘chitinous’ mean?” “I think it means, vhen somepony is looking good in a chirt.” Lotus replied. “Oh, dat makes sense.” said Aloe as she placed cucumber slices over her sister’s eyes. “Aloe, is dis a new facial cleanser? It feels different.” The pink spa pony looked behind her, noting the container of facial cleanser, the cream cheese bagel she was eating, and the tub of cream cheese next to it. She carefully responded, “Err.. Yes! It vas the new one from err.. Switzerland!” Lotus murmured in approval and sank back into the spa chair to get comfortable. Aloe licked the spatula then resumed applying the ‘facial cleanser’. ---- Back in the showroom of Carousel Boutique Rabble nodded to Rarity’s personal speech on her trustworthiness, mostly convinced his identity would be secure. Thinking too much on this however, would only serve to worry him so he closed his eyes and took another measured sip of his tea. The black shelled changeling was actually quite content with this change in agreement, almost laughing at himself for fearing the possible misfortunes his pretty proprietess could propose. He ‘knew’ Rarity well enough, at least from observation, and though there was the possibility that any of their confrontations could have made a turn for the worse, he was excited at this unexpected opportunity of civil interaction with the fabled Element of Generosity. A slight bouncing motion traveling through the couch implied the insectoid stallion that he wasn’t the only one excited. He opened his left eye to a very jubilant white furred mare. It seemed she couldn’t sit still, her hands clasped in front of her muzzle, her form bobbing up and down on the springy cushion her firm rear was bouncing on. Rabble made sure to shift his webby tail to keep it from being caught up in the enthusiasm and had to quickly turn his head up from where his eyes were looking once Rarity started speaking again. “I can’t wait to get started! This must be how Twilight feels whenever she gets a new book!” Rarity suddenly turned muzzle to muzzle with the more sedate changeling, glittering smile and sparkling eyes a tad closer than expected, not to mention a dainty hand suddenly on his shoulder. “Ok Mr Rouser! First I want your actual body measurements! Stay put while I get my measuring tape!” The excited white fashionista quickly stood up and skipped to her workroom while rubbing her hands together. Rabble’s eyes followed her swinging tail until she was out of sight. Calmly, he attempted to take another sip of his tea, but frowned when he realized his cup was empty. Rarity’s voice suddenly came through the doorway. “Uhm.. Mr Rouser.. Are you not wearing the uhh.. full set of attire I provided you earlier?” Rabble smiled, and quietly poured himself another cup of the Saddle Arabian blend. ---- “And that’s why the mannequins are sometimes in different positions overnight.” Sweetie smiled at the conclusion of her story and turned to her teacher Miss Cheerilee seated at her desk. The educator had a bit of a confused expression. She said, “Sweetie, the creative writing topic was ‘Changing’, Not ‘Changelings’.” “Oh.” Sweetie replied. The End