Madam Lumine's Song
Her hooves practically glided over the smooth floor as she walked in. Her eyes were smothering as the light blue highlight of makeup brought out the shimmering sapphires held within them. Her tail bounced lightly as she sauntered past tables, her black slip - cut dress flowing along behind her. She was the epitome of beauty - if there was a creator to this world, his masterpiece was this single, white furred goddess.
Rarity sighed happily as she sat at her usual table. It was late, she knew. It always was when she found herself here. She rose her hoof to call for the waiter, taking in her surroundings as she did.
Not much had changed about the bar. The seats were still a soft and welcoming velvet, all in red. The tables were a dark brown, reminding her of the darkest, sweetest chocolate she had ever eaten; she could almost smell it as she shut her eyes. She sank back into the booth as she always did at the start of the evening, sighing in relaxation.
“Hello, I shall be y-” Rarity opened her eyes and smiled as the stallion in front of her stopped mid sentence. He gasped, smiling brightly. “Why, Madam Luminescence!”
“Hello, Darling.”
“W-why, it’s been so long since you’ve been to Lower Level, Madam Luminescence! What can I get for you this evening?”
Rarity chuckled. “Please, you may call me Lumine, and I would simply adore a glass of red wine. Do you have, by chance, any Pinot Noir?”
The stallion’s eyes widened. “Are you positive, Madam? That particular variety is very strong.”
She laughed, enjoying the freshness of the man’s view on her drinking habits. “I believe I will manage, sir. Might I ask your name? No doubt I will wish to call you it before the night’s end.”
“I’m Patience, Madam. Silver Patience.”
“Well, Silver, it is very nice to meet you. Now, perhaps I could have that wine now?”
“Coming right up, Madam Lumine.” The stallion trotted away. Rarity watched him go with a gentle, comfortable smile. She sighed softly, shutting her eyes. She had been longing for this night for months now. She had set aside as much time on her schedule as she could, and while she knew she would regret staying up quite this late, she knew she would remember it fondly.
She took the spare time to think about that busy schedule. She had numerous orders coming up. Some for some Canterlot elite, no doubt. Yet, as her eyelids steadily shifted down and she relaxed under the dim fire lights, Rarity found she couldn’t remember half of those orders. Even more surprisingly, she honestly couldn’t work up the worry to care. She would remember them soon enough, she was sure.
Silver smiled as he trotted over, a bottle of wine and a glass hovering in his magical aura. “You seem to be relaxing, Miss Lumine. Here is the Pinot you requested.”
She sat up straighter, sighing contently. “Oh, thank you, darling. It’s been so long since I’ve had a good drink.” He began to pour. She watched as the crimson liquid filled the glass, smiling as the wine retained that almost rust like tint. It was a beautiful color; the color of passion.
She took the glass as he finished into her magic, sipping it lightly. The smell created the flavor for her before she first could taste it. Like roses and black cherries. She took a deep breath, savoring the scent; the crispness in the taste of both the scents simply enhanced the experience. She practically purred as she set the glass down again. “Superb…”
“I’m glad the selection is to your liking, Madam Lumine.”
Rarity laughed, smiling brightly. “The selection is always to my liking here, Patience. Have you ever tried any?”
“Me?” Silver smiled rather sheepishly. “I’m afraid I haven’t the money. I just can’t afford something like this.”
“Then please, take a sip yourself. Don’t be shy.” She tapped her chin. “Why, you should get a glass of your own. Enjoy a treat, on me.”
Silver nodded. “I would love to, Madam, but I am working now. I doubt my employer would approve of me getting buzzed on the job.”
Rarity sighed softly, idly swishing the wine in circles in the glass. “What a shame.”
“Is there anything else I can get for you this evening?”
“Well, there is one thing… I was rather hoping… well…” She was at a loss for words suddenly. She nodded lightly to the jazz band on stage, eyes on the open mic.
Silver smiled brightly. “I’ve heard tales that you used to sing.”
“Not for a long time, Patience. Not for a very very long time.” Rarity laughed lightly, drinking more of her wine. “I may have dabbled recently, but only to show my sister her own singing talents.”
“Well, maybe it’s time to take to the stage again. Everything’s all set up; all you have to do is sing.”
Rarity looked at the microphone longingly. It had been so long since she had let loose and fallen to her secret passion. Would she really be able to?
Of course she would. She was Rarity, after all. “Then step aside, Silver. Hopefully, you’ll hear a treat.” She stood, smiling as she sauntered past him. Patience leaned against the edge of the booth, watching her go.
Rarity took a deep breath as she stepped up the stairs to the stage. Her hooves started to tremble, but she steeled herself. Simply having a few waiters and bar guests shouldn’t make her so scared. Stage fright was never something that truly bothered her, but it did tend to sneak up on her.
She stepped up to the microphone and tapped it once with her hoof to check if it was on. There was a sudden ring of feedback, making everypony glance at the stage. She smiled sheepishly before glancing at the band. “Do you remember the old song? The one I sang after a long day at work?”
The oldest of the band members, the one on the cello, nodded with a smile. “I could never forget it, Lum.”
Rarity laughed. “Then go on.”
The cellist nodded to the pianist, and the song began. Rarity gulped, turning back to the main part of the bar. The lights suddenly seemed bright enough to blind. Had her throat gone dry? She wasn’t sure she even remembered all the lyrics.
She glanced at Patience, who still sat, smiling as he watched her. At least that stranger wants to hear. She took a deep breath, and began.
Why so down tonight?
As soon as she sang it, she knew it was perfect. She kept along with the rhythm, swaying as the music took hold of her again. It was what she had always hummed for Sweetie if she had a nightmare. It was more than a simply lullaby, however - it was all Rarity needed.
It promised rest. Relaxation. After a stressful day, a bad sale, a tired, insomnia filled night… this song promised better days to come. A day when sales were good. A day when nothing worried her, with nothing to fret over. A day, maybe, when she met a stallion for her.
She laughed a bit as she sang, her voice wavering in time with the bouncing of the cymbals. The song simply filled her with joy, hope; she was happy. As the instrumentals joined in, she spun in circles, swaying from side to side. The audience disappeared, and she was simply dancing as she once had. She was on the stages she had once dreamed of standing on, dreamed of singing on. She rose to her hind hooves, spinning and grabbing the mic as the vocals came again.
With a light heart and lighter hooves, she sang into the microphone, her smile dazzling in the dim lights of the Lower Level. Silver watched, feeling the lightness of her, feeling her happiness. Rarity giggled as she finished, particularly at his reaction. The members of the small crowd clapped their hooves against the floor, whistling. “T-thank you,” she said, clearing her throat and falling back to her hooves. With a sheepish smile, she moved to leave the stage.
“Encore!”
She stopped as more ponies took up the chant. “R-really?... Well…” She glanced at the band.
The cellist laughed. “We’ve got all night.”
Rarity nodded, smiling. “Alright then… Give me a beat.”
*~*~*~
Rarity sighed in relief as she locked the door behind her. It had to be at least 3 am. She had certainly meant to be home before this. Tomorrow would be hell for her, she knew - with so many orders, she would be working her hooves to the bone.
Still, as she leaned against the door, she felt herself grinning. She felt young again. A night like that brought back all the comfort and relaxation her stress free youth once had.
She yawned as she made her way back upstairs. She went into her room and rolled the black dress off her barrel, humming as she did. She levitated the dress and hung it up, smiling as she looked it over.
This was the dress. The dress she wore when she went to that place, every time. The dress she wore anytime she sang, not for a group, but solely for herself. That was the dress she wore to be selfish, to sing for her, and not for anypony else.
This was the little black dress Rarity owned.
Every mare needed a little black dress.