"Oh my, what happened to your door, Lyra?"
"I played a bit of indoor bowling," Lyra replied nonchalantly. She looked at the patched door and sighed. She would have to get Big Mac or some other piece of eye-candy... er, hardware stallion to replace it. "Let that be a lesson to you, never play bowling inside."
"Uh, Lyra, all bowling takes place inside."
"And it's a very poor design choice, as you can plainly see," Lyra defended her position quite adamantly. "Now, are we going to keep on discussing impractical design structures, or are we going to get down to business, Rarity?"
"Fine, fine," the white mare reluctantly replied. "As you may have figured out, I'm here to discuss human fashion, same as always."
Lyra nodded. Rarity was a good friend. But, they had come to the agreement years ago that Rarity would only ask about human fashion on Thursdays with an appointment. It was some extra money, and not a bad way to spend a an hour or so. Plus she wasn't weighed down with ten thousand trendy questions on a regular basis.
Rarity only pouted for three days.
Lyra walked over to her bookshelf and studied it a moment. "I suppose you're looking to reverse engineer some spring fashions, right?"
"Er, summer actually," Rarity said with a broad grin. "I have a reasonable tip(1) that it's going to be an extra hot season this year. I want to get an early start on my swimsuit lineup."
Lyra pushed the book she had originally selected back into place and grabbed another. "That's fine. Although, I'm not sure bikinis are well suited for ponies."
Not surprisingly, Rarity knew what Lyra was referring to. "Oh, nonsense, darling. They are actually quite popular. Although, thanks to our anatomy differences from humans they don't need to be made into two pieces. That is, unless a customer has a special request."
Lyra shrugged. "Eh, okay. Never felt the need to wear a swimsuit myself though."
"Well, not everypony enjoys getting sea water and silt all up and over their nether regions," Rarity giggled. She giggled even harder when a light bulb seemed to come on in Lyra's head. Being a business mare, she was not letting this one slip. "I mean, you never know when an inquisitive fish may come along... or you swim across a particularly mineral rich section of the water and get everything all crusty. Why I remember one time my aunt..."
"Okay, I'll buy one or two," Lyra conceded as she passed Rarity the book. "Got a catalog?"
She did.
Lyra opened it as Rarity began browsing the book. Rarity probably did have a copy of the same book at home, but this way she could ask Lyra questions as well. Rarity stopped browsing when it became clear that Lyra had no idea what to look for.
"Got anything in red?"
Rarity gasped in horror. "Red? Darling... that's not your color."
Lyra tilted her head to the side. "But, it's my favorite color."
"Maybe up here," Rarity said tapped the mint mare's head. "But I'm afraid that your body disagrees. No. It just wouldn't do. You need something less bright."
"White?" Lyra suggested.
Rarity facehooved and groaned. "It appears that I've got work to do." She quickly set about examining and measuring(2) Lyra's backside, much to the mare's consternation. "Oh stop fidgeting darling, I am nothing less than a professional. Which is why I'm going to tell you to change your conditioner, dear, your poor tail feels like sandpaper."
"Couldn't find my brand the other week, so I had to settle for another that I had been assured was just as good," Lyra explained. She cringed when Rarity growled.
"'Just as good', my plaid pajamas," she hissed. "If this was the state of your tail before you switched brands than I must say I am very disappointed in you, Lyra."
Lyra sighed and slumped her shoulders. "Then what do you suggest?"
"A spa treatment, first," Rarity said as she ran her hoof through the rough hairs with a grimace. "While you're there, ask them what they use. They will either tell you where you can get more or sell it to you themselves. Much of it is imported, so the latter may be your only hope."
"I wondered why Lotus was so insistent on treating my mane and tail Monday night," Lyra thought back.
"You turned her down, didn't you," Rarity frowned. Lyra nodded. "Lyra, you're amongst the wealthier members of our fair town. It's not like you couldn't afford a few simple luxuries."
"I don't need my money to do what I can do myself," Lyra huffed as Rarity finished her measurements.
Rarity sighed. "It's admirable that you don't let your money control you. But, being afraid of it is hardly any better."
Lyra looked at the floor and shuffled her hooves. "I'm not afraid of it."
Rarity patted her withers and gave her a gentle smile. "Okay, Lyra, okay. Now, would you like to come in Saturday for a fitting? After your appointment with the Cakes of course."
Lyra looked up at her. "How do you know about that?"
Rarity gave her a look and rolled her eye. "Puh-lease, Lyra, Darling. Half the mares in town know. It's obvious it has something to do with their adoption of Timmy. Though the details are a little vague."
"Doctor patient confidentiality," Lyra warned her friend before she attempted to extract any more information. Rarity got the message and tipped her head respectfully.
"I wasn't exactly expecting it to be so well known," Lyra said as made a move to pick up the swimsuit catalog. Rarity snatched it away before she could make a bigger mockery of fashion.
Rarity tucked it away in a her saddlebags. "Well, Lyra. As the humans say. The fastest ways to spread information are: telegram, telephone, or tell a woman." She snickered politely. "We girls are a wealth of tasty information. You really should join the local Bridge Club, Lyra. You'd start to pick up a few delicious tidbits here and there as well."
"I'll think about," Lyra responded with a shrug and smile. "And, yes. I would love to come in to be fitted for a swimsuit this weekend."
"Yes," Rarity cheered, clapping her hooves together. "This will give me an opportunity to try out any new concepts I learn today on a live model."
"Glad to be helping," Lyra said aloud, although she was thinking more on the lines of Guinea pig.
(1) Let's just say she has connections in high and lofty castles.
(2) Yes, she carries a measuring tape with her everywhere.