Red's First Date

You sure you don't want to go back?" teased Lupine. "It seemed like you two were really forming a deep, passionate connection."

Red's face was brighter than usual with his blushing. Being mounted and kissed by a waiter was embarrassing enough, but she didn't have to laugh about it. It was humiliating, and it wasn't even his fault. He just wanted to move on. Luckily, Terra had given him some extra cash just in case things went poorly, so he had some wiggle room. That, and since he'd run out of the café, she'd cancelled their orders and brought him the refund, so that was nice of her.

"I was thinking somewhere a little bit nicer," he said, opening the door to Das Shicke Essen, not another coffee house, but an actual restaurant, with more than just scones for food. "I was hoping we could forget that unfortunate stumbling and just start the night over. Please?"

"Alright," she chuckled. "No more talk of what happened." As she walked past him, she whispered, "But I won't forget it. It was fun."

Sighing and realizing it was the best outcome he would receive, Red followed her in and the hostess showed them to a table for two. With the menus dispersed, she left to bring them ice water.

"So, was this part of your plan from the beginning?" she asked, looking over the menu. "Was coming out to a nice place like this a guarantee, or is this just a place you go to help you feel better?"

"Neither, but the latter is closer to the truth," admitted Red. "I didn't know how the coffee date was going to go. In the event of things going horribly wrong, I was considering dropping it there."

"And things went right according to you?"

"No, I... Things did go wrong, but not in the same way. Like, if you'd turned out to be a horrible racist, or decided to spout at me your extremist political views, or openly mock me. That kind of wrong."

"I see. Well, I'm not a racist, I don't care for politics, and as for mocking you, I'll stop the teasing. Your bribing me into forgetting about the event is, in a way, showing that you care what I think of you, which I think is a really sweet gesture."

Red smiled slightly. "Thanks. It means a lot. Have you thought about what you want to eat?"

"Yeah, I like the look of--"

She was cut off suddenly as a very zealous waiter slid up to their table. "Good evening, honoured guests!" he announced bombastically, shocking them both back to reality. "We have a wonderful assortment of delicious specials tonight! Schnitzels by the dozen, we have for you to eat! Sausages and local beer, it's quite the gourmet treat!"

"Well, you're just in time," smiled Red, calming down from the explosive intruduction. "We're about ready." He nodded to Lupine, as she hadn't had the chance to finish her sentence.

"I like the look of your cucumber salad," she said.

"Ah, the zestiest of choices. We bring in fresh produce as often as we can, and as it so happens, we just received a shipment of cucumbers plucked fresh this very morning!"

"Can I have the portobello burger?" asked Red. "With the hay fries extra crispy?"

"Certainly, sir!" beamed the waiter. "And for drinks?"

"Just an iced tea for me."

"Make it two."

The waiter wrote it all down on his pad of paper and nodded with a smile. "I will have those out to you with the greatest of haste!" Without a pause for another word, he took off toward the kitchens.

"Well, I've never seen a waiter act like that before," said Red. "He was so full of energy, I feel a bit drained now."

"Yeah, he's a bit much, but I'm okay with it. It's not like he's a hindrance. Maybe he just really likes his job."

Red shook his head. "I don't mean that as a condemnation, I just mean that he seems very excited and frenetic, and now that he's gone, the world seems to have slowed down. It's just a bit harrowing in how unexpected it was."

"Well, at least you're honest," she chuckled. "Are you feeling better here than you did on our first excursion?"

"Yeah." He cleared his throat. "So, uh... Do you have family in town?"

"My great aunt on my mother's side, and my first cousin, once removed. My cousin owns the shop, and since I'm close with them, they offered me a spot. They also pay for my little house, so I'm pretty much rent-free, so long as I keep the place tidy and clean. And I think that's a reasonable agreement. What about you?"

"I think so. It sounds reasonable to me."

"I meant, do you have any family in town?"

"Oh, right. Not in town, per se, but nearby. I live out in the Everfree forest with a guy who thinks he's my dad, an ornery little one, and the twins, playing the role of my angry brother and annoying sister."

Now, Gelu was seeing little wrong with the mare, and was considering letting Red finish out his night with her all on his own, without causing any more trouble. However, with that little outburst of her being his annoying sister, it was time for another jab in the ribs. Slinking off into the kitchen, she changed the order on the ticket. He would not be eating a portobello burger tonight. That ship had sailed.

Once the order was changed, she slunk back to him and resumed hiding. She'd missed the topic of conversation, but the mare sounded jovial.

"So yeah, that's how Sweet Pea found herself saddled with her reputation. Good money, though."

"Remind me not to visit her at work," chuckled Red. "That is, if things continue between us."

"I hope they do." She reached across the table and took his hand. "You seem like a nice fellow. I'd still like to see how tonight plays out, but so far, things seem to be going well. If this is the care I could come to expect from you, this would be a lovely, mutually beneficial relationship."

Red smiled. He hadn't expected this kind of response, especially this early. He was glad she was having fun. "I hope so, too.