Painting
Applejack painted a final stroke, then set the brush down, wiped the sweat off her brow, and stepped back to admire her work. She grinned widely. Perfect. She leaned in close and looked at an angle, confirming what she already knew: as nice and smooth as the unblemished skin of an apple.
She glanced over at the sound of hooves approaching, and saw Rarity coming in, carrying a fancy tea set on a silver platter in her magic. Applejack chuckled. “Tea's a bit warm for a time like this, isn't it?”
“Not quite,” Rarity said with a small smile as she began serving their drinks. “It's a cool mint julep. I would have put it in other glasses, but these were all I had.” She levitated a cup over.
Applejack chuckled as she took it. She took a sip and her ears pricked up. “Now that's nice and sweet,” she said, quickly taking another sip.
“Why, thank you,” Rarity said, pleased that her offering had been received. “It's an old family recipe.”
“Most of our old family recipes have been copied and written with so many variations that nopony knows whose is the original,” Applejack mused. “Makes family reunions fun because then it's a guessing game to see who brought what.” She cracked a smile and shook her head as another memory came to mind. “But everypony knows what great aunt Honeysuckle brought. Last time I tried something she made, I took a big bite and couldn't taste right for a week.”
“Too much honey?” Rarity guessed.
Applejack pulled a face. “Salt, actually. Lost her glasses and was too proud to ask for help.”
Rarity chuckled sympathetically. “Sweetie Belle has done that once or twice,” she said. “Her sugar cookies were only good for magical target practice.”
“I'm guessing she tried that, too?”
“She certainly did. Only one window pane casualty, thankfully.”
Applejack cracked a smile.
“But enough about ponies who aren't here to defend themselves. How was the work?”
Applejack jerked her head towards the wall she'd just finished painting. “Not bad. Not bad at all. You know, now that I think about it, the paint underneath didn't look too shabby.” A devious smile flitted across her lips. “If'n I didn't know any better, I'd say you just brought me over to watch me work.”
Rarity chuckled with just a hint of nervousness. “Now, really, Applejack,” she said, taking a sip of her own cup. “That would be a bit crass, wouldn't it?”
“Oh, I dunno,” Applejack said slyly. “We do it all the time on the farm. Sometimes it's just too much for just us, so we get us a couple of young farmhooves, out in the field, young, virile stallions…”
Rarity nearly slammed her cup down. “That's-” She blushed slightly. “I mean…”
Applejack chuckled and took another sip. “I'm just joshing you, you know,” she said. “No extra stallions on the farm.”
Rarity exhaled and made a valiant attempt to hide her relief behind her teacup.
“We do get the occasional mare, though. Lots of pretty fillies around here, ready to work hard.”
Rarity choked on her drink.
Applejack laughed, but not unkindly. “It's just too easy to get a rise outta you, Rares, you know that?”
Rarity's ears burned pink as she hid behind her teacup. “So I've heard,” she mumbled.
Applejack decided to take mercy on her and changed the subject. “Fall lineup going well?”
“Oh, yes,” Rarity said, brightening. She set her teacup down, now back in full fashion mode. “As it turns out, my little fashion hunch proved spot on. My new designs are all the rage in Canterlot! You would not believe who's been seen wearing them! Oh, it's been just wonderful…”
* * *
No matter how much they enjoyed their conversations, the day waited for nopony. Celestia began to lower the sun, and Applejack cast a nervous glance outside.
Rarity caught her looking. “Is it time?” she asked.
Applejack nodded dolefully. “Yep. Got a few more things left to do back home 'afore it gets too dark.”
Rarity nodded regretfully as she gathered their cups. “I suppose I did go a little overboard. I didn't mean to talk your ear off.”
“I enjoyed it,” Applejack insisted. “Really.”
Rarity smiled. “I'm glad.”
There was another moment of silence, and then, with a polite tip of her hat, Applejack turned to leave.
Before she crossed through the door, though, she paused, and looked back over her shoulder. “Oh, and, uh, by the way, the paint on your back fence is looking a little worn. Just in case you were wondering.”
Rarity cracked a smile. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. If'n you're open to it, I could definitely stop by and give it a new coat this weekend. Or next. Just let me know.”
“Then I suppose I'll be seeing you again soon,” Rarity said.
“I suppose you're right,” Applejack said, tipping her hat. “See ya!” And with that, she turned around and headed back to the orchard, her tail bobbing merrily as she trotted away.
Rarity watched her leave with a wry smile on her face. Most of her interactions with Applejack went similarly, and she found that she had yet to determine if she were the courter or the courtee.
Still, she mused as she watched Applejack's hindquarters sway with her gentle gait, that wasn't so bad, was it?
Next prompt: Gaffe