3rd Stitch: Party Preparations

[sailorgenerous]

[The video opens to show Rarity in a fancy sundress - those that know her know this is simple "stepping out" attire. She flashes a bright smile at the communicator.]

Hello, everypony! As most of you know, there is a party coming up soon. It just so happens that party attire is one of my specialties. If anypony needs something to wear to the party, I would be more than happy to design and fashion a one-of-a-kind ensemble for you. That goes for Spirits as well. [The camera moves to show Spike in a green bow tie and top hat, looking just as happy as can be.]

Feel free to stop by the boutique anytime.

Comments

[guerriera]

[ Carolina's communicator lies on the far left of her desk, on but mostly unattended. While she has been listening absently to any new broadcasts, the ex-Freelancer has been tuning out any voices or news that isn't related to events aboard the Mother of Invention.

Dax, however, has not. He watches with interest as Rarity speaks - she has very pretty hair! - and then lets out a soft hiss of appreciation for Spike's ensemble.

HE wants a fancy ensemble, too!

The line clicks ON and SENDING with a few nose pushes, and his tail curls back to point the tip at his head enthusiastically. ]

[sailorgenerous]

[At this point, Rarity should have expected communications to be initiated by Spirits - they'd proven time and time again that they were smart enough to turn on the communicators, after all.]

Oh! Did you want a hat?

[Spike bounces forward and squeaks at Dax. Hey, he hasn't seen you before! Hi!]

[guerriera]

[ There's some enthusiastic headbobbing in answer to Rarity's question, the hebby repp tipping his head to one side when Spike addresses him.

I'm Dax! Who're you?

It is rude to ignore the pony and only address the pricklemane, however, and the dream eater is quick to look back to the lovely unicorn. He taps at the spike on his own head, making faint rrrring noises. That won't be a problem for hats, would it? He does so want a fancy hat. ]

[sailorgenerous]

[Oh! Oh, he's Spike, and this is his person! His person made all this awesome stuff and she makes the coolest hats!]

[Well, that was an enthusiastic response if she's ever seen one. A hat it is. She takes a moment to interpret the Hebby Repp's next concern.]

We could certainly work around the spike - it would need to be a hat with a lot of room. Maybe a top hat.

[guerriera]

[It's very nice to meet you! the Hebby Repp can't help but be enthusiastic too. Those hats look amaaaazing. The fact Rarity seems to understand his concern is very exciting too, and he makes lots of happy noises.

So many, in fact, that it finally got his Person's attention.]

[Muffled] ...Dax. What are you doing?

[ Armor, sea blue-green, shifts into view; no visible face, save a helmet, though it seems to tilt with displeasure when she notices the comm device is active. Dax chirps excitedly at his Person. She's going to make me a hat, can I have an ensemble, please please pleasepleaseplease!

Dax is gently shoved to one side, and then - and only then - does Carolina notice that..it's a pony. Urk. She's not cold, but her words are carefully polite. ]

I apologise for him. Was he bothering you?

action

[statisticallyterrible]

[By this point, Chell's gotten... well, perhaps not used to being a dress-up model, but she's come to accept it. Rarity needed practice on the human form, anyway, and as impractical as the dresses usually felt, it was the least Chell could do to help and wear them, briefly.

The idea of actually going out in public in one of the flowy things, though, dragged far past her comfort zone, and she'd thought she'd effectively conveyed the thought to the unicorn she would not be bothering with any of it.]

[sailorgenerous]

[Rarity has long since learned to read Chell, at least for the most part. She's gotten pretty good at interpreting gestures and expressions, at least, and she's certainly seen this one before. Somepony's not happy, and she thinks she may know why.]

It doesn't have to be a very fancy dress. Or, you could wear pants, if you like.

[statisticallyterrible]

[Chell gives her host a weary look and heaves a sigh. Less than the issue of the clothes themselves, the core problem is the party itself. It's all well and good for other people, but she can't see the point of her attendance. She shakes her head.]

[sailorgenerous]

[Well that argument certainly isn't going to fly.]

But of course you'll come! I'm sure you'll be missed if you don't. And parties are a very good way to make friends and have fun, especially Pinkie Pie parties. I'm sure you'll like it if you just give it a try. You liked the bubble bath, remember?

[statisticallyterrible]

[One eyebrow goes up. Be missed? She barely even knows anyone. More likely, she'll simply end up taking up space.

Looking away, she gives a half shrug. She won't claim she hadn't enjoyed the bubble bath, no, but that also hadn't filled her with a queasy disease of public interaction.]

action!!

[spaceracist]

[Uh-oh. Emile knows that tone. Kat used to use that tone. That was the "we are going to have social interaction and you are going to attend and you are going to behave" tone.

...On the surface, a little purple-and-white unicorn doesn't look very much like a seven-foot-tall Spartan Lieutenant Commander with a robot arm, but then, Emile was starting to get used to Rarity's little insistences.]

I get to wear my armor, right?

[Come on it's clean and everything now!]

[sailorgenerous]

[Rarity was very, very good at getting her point across, especially when it came to social expectations and manners. At least she hadn't broken out the whining yet, which was as much for the benefit of Spike's sensitive ears as it was for Emile.]

[She does, however, think he's a bit misguided on this one. Emile, sweetie, no.]

Ah- I'm afraid not. I know you like it, [She still hadn't been able to break him of the habit of sleeping in it.] but it is a bit intimidating for a casual party. I can make you something new to wear, if you like.

[spaceracist]

Counts as a uniform for ceremonies and shit.

[Okay, it's a long shot and he knows it. But he's gotta try. If nothing else, he can use the party to meet some of these others in person, maybe start getting a solid plan for how to take out this invisible enemy.]

[sailorgenerous]

[It's a valiant effort that's ultimately for naught - alright, it's a last-ditch effort that never had a chance to begin with. He'll need to do better than that.]

It's not a ceremony, it's a street party. You certainly won't need a uniform for that. Now, Twilight Town is just cool enough for long sleeves. Do you prefer button-up or pullover?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Edge takes a very long minute to consider his reply to this. On the one hand, between the friendly Spirits and that other weird talking creature that looked like this one, he's sort of accepted that not everything that his world would call a monster is necessarily hostile or even, well, monsterish.]

[On the other hand, what is going on here it's wearing clothes also it sounds like a perfectly normal girl.]

Uh... hey, you do work for humans?

[sailorgenerous]

I have designed for humans before, yes. Were you looking for something new to wear?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Out of his element out of his element.]

I'm not sure about being too revolutionary here, this is traditional combat garb! But, um, I guess I could use a new cape...

[sailorgenerous]

Certainly. Come by whenever you like and I'll get started.

[colorbymemory]

There's a difference between clothes you wear for a party and normal clothes?

[That's a new idea to Namine. Not that she has the faintest idea about parties, anyway.]

[sailorgenerous]

[Oh goodness aren't you adorable]

There can be. Some ponies - people - like to dress up for special occasion, and a party is a perfect opportunity to show off a new look.

[colorbymemory]

[Hmmm...is Namine the sort of person that wants new clothes for a party? She's already got a few different outfits.]

I've already got a few things, though. Maybe I should wear one of those...

[No need to be greedy.]

[sailorgenerous]

[Well Rarity is certainly the type of pony who'd love to make her new outfits for the party, for what that's worth.]

If that's what you'd like to do, then certainly - though it is nice to have a brand-new look for a party.

[Come on, she knows that look. Deep down, Namine wants a new dress, doesn't she.]

[punsofiron]

[Geez how many ponies are there around here?]

This is the first time I'd heard anything about a party.

[sailorgenerous]

[About four, give or take seeing double when Pinkie Pie is in the vicinity.]

Oh! Well, Bolin did announce it a while ago. Give me just a moment, and I'll pull it up for you. [After a moment or two, she does link Liz to Bolin's network post on the subject.] Aha! There we go. It should be soon - you simply must attend.

[Rarity has no idea who you are, but obviously you should come to this party. That's just how she works.]

[punsofiron]

[Liz watches the video, then comes back on with Rarity.] Eh, why not. I've got nothing better to do.