A Business Opportunity

[Flim Flim-Flam]

Who knew that the business of being a salespony could be so rough? After doing some repairs on one of the many contraptions that the brothers had, Flim had noticed that there was a few rips inside some of his vests. Also, some of the straw in his straw hat was a little flayed, so they could probably use a few fixing ups as well. Sure, they had some sowing machines and stuff on hand, but they didn’t actually know how to do that sort of thing; they just knew how to sell them. However, that was no problem at all as this town apparently had a well-regarded boutique. This, when Flim started thinking about it, was a golden opportunity to get some more business going. After all, a single pony running an entire store? Why there probably had to be some kind of machine or gizmo that she may need. At the very least, he could give her his card…

This was why he was now about to knock on the door of the Caroseul Boutique with a couple of slightly torn vest and his straw hat, and a business card in his vest pocket. On his way here he had to ask for some directions, and got some rather interesting information about the pony who resided in here. First off, he got a name; Rarity. Knowing a customer’s name always made things easier, and made everyone feel comfortable as long as he used it in a charming and friendly manner. Second, and he could also tell just be looking at the boutique, she had a taste for the finer things in life like diamonds and other gems. An up and coming fashion designer with a taste for things of the higher class? That was an easy enough pony to make a sale to.

However, he would have to hold off on that for now. First he wanted to get his stuff fixed, or at least get the order in. Then he could offer up his services as a salespony. With the store open, he walked right in, a smile right on his face.

”Is there anybody here this morning? It’s from my understanding there’s an absolutely positively fabulous fashion designer here and I was hoping to get some garments repaired by her…”

[♦ rarity ♦]

Today was inventory day. It found Rarity and Opalescence in the back of the shop, making note of everything they had in stock--which really meant that Rarity, in her stylish glasses, had a book and a quill following along behind her, taking down notes as she said things out loud. Opal was just following her, because Rarity liked company on inventory day, but the cat was not really as helpful as something that could have seen over the first shelf would have been.

It had been slow for the past few days. The only real customer that had come in was that black alicorn pony and she had been less than enthusiastic. She'd had some repairs and hems to do, but that was just busywork and didn't compare at all to actual designing and creating and fitting clothes to a pony. She would have, at that point, settled for one of her friends coming in and allowing her to make them over, even though she'd done it thousands of times.

She thought she heard a knock at the door, but since it was silly to knock on the door of a shop, she assumed it was nothing and so continued writing down all of her ribbon. Soon, however, she heard the unmistakable chime of the door opening and she froze, perking her ears up to listen. If she could identify it as the hoofclops of her friends, she would just call to them to let her finish--possibly enlist their help--but she didn't think it sounded like any of them. It certainly wasn't any of the Pegasi.

The second she heard an unfamiliar voice, however, she was out of the backroom as fast as her hooves could carry her, Opal on her tail. She skidded to a halt in front of the pony and fluffed up her mane, flashing a charming grin. "Welcome to Carousel Boutique! I'm Rarity, at your service." She bowed.

It would have been better if it was a female, since that was the best clothing to design, but this stallion would have to do. After all, she was a charmer and she would just charm her way into letting her design him something new.

"Repairs?" she repeated, trying not to droop. "Oh, my, those old things? You would really do better with a brand new vest." She was so tired of repairs.

[Flim Flim-Flam]

He could tell right away this Rarity wasn’t some fool; she knew how to play the charm game from the looks of her face when she skidded in front of him. That would make things a bit harder for him, but he was up for a game of wits right now. The ones who thought themselves charmers were always the most fun to mess with cause they never saw it coming when they got outcharmed. So it was time for the games to begin.

”A new vest you say? Well, that might in fact be the best idea I’ve heard all day madame. These vests are a little on the old side of things, and when one just moved into town one needs to looks his best, am I right?”

He really didn’t have any plans on getting a complete makeover, but having a few new color schemed vests might be nice just to have around. This was, more importantly, an investment on his part. Play along with her want of making him a new set of clothes for the time being, get her all enthused and have her trust, and then go around and start using that to his own advantage. He also had a sense she could be very susceptible to flattery, as long he pulled it off right and didn’t make it too obvious.

”I have to say Rarity, I can tell by your boutique you are quite the successful fashion pony. I bet your designs find themselves being worn by the elite of Canterlot, if I do say so myself.” he added as he ‘perused’ the outfits, giving a sideways smile as he glanced at her at that last comment.

[♦ rarity ♦]

Obviously it was the best idea he'd heard all day--Rarity always had the best ideas, especially when it came to clothes. Of course, now that she'd gotten him to agree to a new vest, she knew that was not enough. It was sad to think that a pony could limit themselves so much in fashion as to only wear vests. This stallion needed Rarity to explain things to him.

She looked at Opal and did a series of complicated gestures to indicate that the cat should retreive her book and quill. Once her cat had left, Rarity trotted over to the stallion, head high, swinging her flank as she walked.

"Oh, yes," she said, watching him look at her clothes. Though it may have annoyed someponies, Rarity enjoyed watching them admire the things she'd done. This way, she had a front row seat to their reactions. "I have been commissioned to do some important designs, but I wouldn't say the Elite of Canterlot." She laughed, a musical chuckle, and fluffed her mane. "Although, with a new cape and hat as well as a vest, you could certainly look like the elite of Canterlot."

[Flim Flim-Flam]

”I knew you had to have some sort of connection with the Canterlot elite; I’ve picked out goods all over Equestria for customers in Canterlot and my eyes have yet to fail me so far on the highest quality goods they want.”

Now she was upping her own offer, trying to get a new cape, hat and vest for him. So far the two of them seemed tied in their little game, with him just moving a little slower in getting to his point as her. She was way too obvious in her approach, though to a pony not inside the game as him it seemed perfectly fine. Still, he had to give her credit for playing the game in the first place; she was good, but he had just the little feeling he was a bit better. Still though, he wasn’t going to give up the hat; it had some sentimental value to him.

”That’s mighty nice of you to offer that, but my hat has some sentimental value to me that I’m just not ready to give up. However, a jacket or cape of some sort to go with this vest might be mighty fine, and a walking cane could be an interesting accessory too.”

There he went, offering some input of his own, bantering with the customer. Now it was time to start and try and bring it in. He started faking surprise as he ‘just remembered’ something very important.

”My golly, I just realized something, I forget to introduce myself. The name is Flim, salespony nonpareil. My brother Flam and I just recently moved into Ponyville. If you’re interested, here is our card. We business ponies have to stick together now after all, and I’m sure we have some products that you might be interested in.”

After ‘digging” for the card in his vest pocket as if he had “forgotten” it in the first place, he handed it over to Rarity to take. He was still easing into an actual sale, but at the very least he now established opening contact with her (and even wrapped it up into a “new in town” spiel; who rejects the new person in town saying hello?).

”Anyway, with that matter settled, what do I need to do to get you to get me in some new clothes?”

And finish off with making the whole pitch seem like a nonchalant introduction, he simply moves on and waits for another opening. He was like a well-trained predator, waiting for the right opportunity to strike again…maybe he was taking this a bit too seriously? Nah…

[♦ rarity ♦]

Rarity laughed, though she had sort of stopped listening to what the stallion was saying. After all, she was now on the warpath to get him some new clothes and there was really nothing he could do about it now. She wasn't nearly as concerned with sales as this pony was. Though it was important, obviously, to keep her shop alive, she was much more enthusiastic about the actual design and makeover of this stallion than she was about taking his money from him.

"Hmm. I've never made a walking stick before, but I'm certain that I could design one that would absolutely go with your new vest and cape." She eyed his hat. She felt almost personally offended by its presence and general ugliness, but she couldn't say this to a customer. If only she knew him better, she would easily be able to tell him that he was making the biggest mistake of his life by wearing it.

"No one says you have to get rid of your hat, darling," she crooned, making her voice the cajoling purr she used to convince creatures like Spike and the more dumb of Pegasi to do what she wanted. "But sometimes, you just need a change of pace." She looked to a top shelf where she had an array of fedoras and hovered a black one down.

"Just try this one on for size, mm?" She pranced over to him and switched his hat, setting his old, fraying one on another shelf and then herding him over to the triple sided mirror.

She did not appreciate being pitched to while she was trying to do her own spiel, but Rarity was never the pony to look irked. She smiled at the stallion, trilling with laughter, and accepted his business card, sticking it in the back of her book. She doubted that she would ever purchase any of his wares, considering she could get anything she ever needed from any of her friends, but she didn't want to be rude.

"It is lovely to meet you, Mister Flim." Introductions aside, now it was time to get serious. "I think that I've got just the thing for you, if you'll just hold still!" A tape measure flew over and started measuring him everywhere--head, length, girth, waist.

[Flim Flim-Flam]

”I thank you for the understanding about the hat. My brother and I have always enjoyed doing some dance and singing routines and the hat plays a vital role in that.”

Still, at that moment apparently she decided to force him to at least try on some other hats. This pony was good at her job at the very least. Also, his brother and him had a certain look going for them and he couldn’t go about changing all that without at least his consideration in all that (plus, he liked his looks). That aside, he went along and tried on the fedora. He could possibly see it working, but whatever he did he’d have to coordinate with his brother to ensure they had matching uniforms for their sales. Casual wear might be fine though.

”Well I do say that it would like fine on me, but any kind of business outfit I must coordinate with my brother as we work together so I’ll have to decline on that for the time being till he can have a look at your designs as well.”

At this point it was obvious to Flim that Rarity really loved her work as she was getting right to getting his body measurements for whatever outfit she wanted to design for him. He followed along, staying still as she went about measuring everything. While just waiting around, he decided to start plying for a little more information in a friendly manner (he noticed by the way she put his card in her book she wasn’t warmed up to him just yet).

”If you don’t mind if I inquire, but do you make all your clothing on your own or do you have any sort of assistants to help you out around here? I’m sure it’s a busy life to run a business, design clothing, and having to make the clothes yourself.”

[♦ rarity ♦]

Rarity did not understand about the hat, because she couldn't possibly understand why anypony would want to be emotionally attached to something so hideous. Or, for that matter, why anypony would decide to make their work uniform so unnattractive.

When the tape measure stopped, Rarity and her book and quill moved toward Flim. She needed to study him for more than just his measurements if she wanted to get his new outfit exactly right.

"Oh no, dear," she said, shaking her head, mane bouncing as she did. "I wasn't even thinking about work clothes. My designs are the new style of every day wear. You'll be the next trendy thing if you wear an outfit designed by Rarity." She tossed her mane. "I am sure that your brother will make the right decision when you ask him." She winked.

She started to circle around him, making notes in her book as she did. He was decent enough looking, though a little bony, and she thought that she had just the fabric to liven up his coat and make him stand out. She was mentally running through her fabric catalogue when he spoke.

"Hmm? Ooh, no, darling, I have Opal over here. She's a very big help." She gestured to the cat, who was now sitting on her pillow, napping.

[Flim Flim-Flam]

”Don’t worry madame, I’m sure my brother and I will love whatever you design as long as you remember to keep it simple and practical. For salesponies like us, even casual wear can become work wear if the opportunity arrives.”

Yes, it was all about opportunity and being able to take it when it arrived. He was starting to get the feeling this girl’s tastes were possibly a little too fine in term of clothing and designs, but he’d give her the benefit of the doubt and wait to see the designs before making a final decision. No matter what though, he wasn’t going to be leaving this store purchasing something. Think over it first, discuss with his brother, and then possibly buy something.

As for the question about the assistants, he was not surprised to find out that she had none other than the cat that was currently napping over in the corner. By now he figured this girl wouldn’t be that interested in buying any of their automated goods; business was small enough she didn’t have a real need for it. But maybe if they helped to create some of that need…

”Why I’m sure that she’s an excellent assistant around the shop,” he replied with a smile, although he was having to hide some falsifying tone (really, that didn’t look like much of an assistant).

”However, do you have anyone that helps with some of the finer points, like advertising or promotions? I’m sure selling one or two dresses outside of this town is okay, but you could probably be doing a lot better with the right promoters. “

And now it was time to play things up a little bit.

”I’ll tell you what, I like you, you got some spunk sister. The moment I’ve walked in this door you’ve been trying to charm a whole new outfit on me, and that’s the kind of business savy the Flim-Flam brothers have to respect. We have some connections all over Equestria, and if we like the designs you make for us, we can start putting the word out, help your sales out a bit. After that, eh, we’ll see how it goes.”

[♦ rarity ♦]

"Oh, I understand that, darling." She supposed she did, at least. Being a clothing designer, whatever she wore was an indication of her style, tastes, and skill, so every outfit had to be planned with the intention of selling similar ones.

Rarity was not the sort of pony who had coworkers. She liked to depend on herself and only herself, unless there was some bitchwork required, in which case she was fine with having something, like Spike or Opalescence, do some lifting and dragging. When it came to real work, however, it was Rarity and Rarity alone. Flim was charming--and she instinctively fluffed her mane when he started complimenting her--but there was no way she was going to accept his offer.

"Well, I have been featured by Hoity Toity as well as had my designs photographed by Photo Finish," she said. She didn't want to completely deny his offer, however, since free advertising was, of course, always a plus when it came to running a business. "But I'm sure that if they saw you in my designs, they would come flocking." She chuckled, battling her eyelashes.

[Flim Flim-Flam]

Well, he could at least tell his compliments were starting to get to her as she seemed to be reacting to them with her own brand of charm. One didn’t become a world-famous travelling salespony falling for every pretty girl who looked at you with a wink and a grin, however. The urge to make a sale was, for him, greater than the urge to be a dumbstruck colt. Although, he could at least give some admiring for her apparently more widely known work than he thought. He knew just enough about fashion to know those were some big names, although since he still hadn’t heard of her till he moved to Ponyville was a sign she just wasn’t big yet. Good way to work in a compliment to her as well as taking it back by undermining it.

”Well I do say that’s impressive Miss Rarity, but aren’t you just the least bit worried those might have just been a flash-in-the-pan, one-hit wonder incidents? I mean of course your talent shouldn’t be such a thing, but you know how the attention span of a pony can be. To get to the top and stay on top, one needs a good agent.”

Still, he could tell by the way things were going he wasn’t going to sell anything to her today, so all he could do was put his hoof in the door and hope once thinking it over she’d be more willing.

”But of course I have a feeling I’ve been stressing my welcome, so I’m just going to leave my offer on the table and let you have some time to think it over. Such important decisions should not be made on the fly after all.”

And now that he was going to back down for the time being, he might as well enjoy the rest of the time he was going to be here.

”So then, speaking of your designs, what do you have in mind so far Miss Rarity?”

[♦ rarity ♦]

Rarity wasn't sure how to take his backhanded compliments. On the one hand, there was a grain of truth to them—once one managed to get on top, as she had, it was much more difficult to remain as such. On the other hand, however, Rarity had faith in her designs as at least the best in Ponyville and every time somepony else had seen them, they had been enamored—so she did, at least, have that going for her.

"My dear Mister Flim," she said, fluffing her mane again. “A lady never worries.” She chuckled as though enjoying a private joke before trotting over to her fabric area. She didn’t keep all of her materials in the main room, but she liked to keep some to make it look inviting and show that she really did make everything in-store. She also liked to keep some samples out for display.

As Flim talked, various things started floating toward him—differently cut vests, swatches of various fabrics, some ribbon. Once a dome of Things was hovering over him, Rarity herself trotted over, murmuring many “hmms” and “oohs!” The things started floating around, pressing themselves against Flim and toward each other, stretching and moving in various ways.

“If you could just hold still, dear, I need to test some—ooh, yes, that’s perfect!” A vest that was similarly cut to Flim’s own was next to a swatch of iridescent navy material. “Yes, now for the trim…” Anything that wasn’t ribbon flew away and reorganized itself on the shelves, except for the swatch of fabric. “Silver? No…”

[Flim Flim-Flam]

OOC: Beh, short post just to transition to Rarity having fun with the clothes XD

Well the girl had moxy, he had to give her that. All of his talk and trying to worry her about her future in the fashion industry and she was still relaxed as ever. If he was going to make a sale with this pony, he was going to have to think bigger and better, and probably drag Flam into it. That meant, however, there was nothing else he could do now but sit back and enjoy the show as she started to use her magic to begin the fitting for the clothing. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to be available for much at this stage; he knew himself once someone got lost in their passion the rest of the world just kind of flitted away…