Flurry walked up to that booth, watching DJ and his two friends talking and laughing. She weaved around tables and staff, growing closer and closer. As she did, she studied DJ, drinking in everything.
He had removed his eyepatch, which was now loosely stuffed into the pocket of his jacket. Unlike nearly all the other times she had seen him, he wore a pleasant smile, laughing and talking without a care in the world. He looked more at peace than she had seen him at any point they had known each other.
Then he noticed her. The eye contact was accidental; he was raising his head from laughing at something one of his friends said, and ended up gazing right at her. He stiffened, smile blanching slightly at the sight of her. As she finally reached their booth, he had composed himself, a look of resigned realization on his face.
"Let me guess", he said. "Depressi's idea."
"Yeah", Flurry said.
DJ muttered something she couldn't quite make out, before turning to his friends. "Guys, this is Flurry Heart, one of the Equestrians I hung out with over there. Flurry, this is Silus and Brick Spackle."
"Pleasure", Silus said, offering a hoof to her. Flurry shook it, doing the same with the one Spackle offered her.
"Right. Mind if I join you?", she asked.
Spackle said, "Sure. Why not?"
Silus scooted over, allowing Flurry to squeeze in next to him. "So. Singing, huh?"
"It was originally our Therapists idea. Singing, at least", Silus said.
Spackle added, "We got pretty good at it. Figured it'd be a way we could make a bit of Script and get better at these kinds of things, so we set up that little trio."
"Wait", Flurry asked. "Your Therapist?"
"Yeah; Doc Cantilius", DJ said. "We're a part of the same general therapy group. We have specific shrinks, but the Doc helps us with coping techniques and communication and the like."
"And before you ask; DJ is the only one with RAM. We've all got our own conditions", Silus said.
"Oh?", Flurry said.
Brick Spackle said, "Yeah. I've got Nyctophobia, for instance."
"Nycto-what?", Flurry asked.
"He's cripplingly terrified of the dark", DJ said. "And Silus has Insomnia; he can't really get enough sleep to feel rested."
Flurry looked at the two of them, who were smiling and had entered into their own conversation about a gig. "How are you so... casual about this?", she asked DJ.
"It's just a fact of life for us", DJ said. "It's a major part of life, but there's nothing we can really do about it. The only thing we can do is just press on and try to live as normally as possible."
"No point in making a big deal about it", Silus cut in. "We're not insane, so it's just as much of a factor for us as you being Princess or DJ being half-blind."
Their conversation was interrupted by a waitress coming up to them, a small pad held in her hooves. "Are you ready to order?"
"I'll take the Flatbread and Stew", Silus said.
Brick said, "Jusselle, please."
"Fried Lobster", DJ said, passing their menus to the waitress.
"And you?", the Waitress asked Flurry.
Flurry quickly scanned the menu, scanning for anything she might like. Finally, she found a small section near the back, pointing to one of the names. "Seared Glis, please."
The waitress shot her a confused look, before shrugging and jotting down the order. After she took Flurry's menu, she told them, "Your food will be ready shortly."
As she left, all of them looked at Flurry. "What?"
"You... do know what Glis is, right?", DJ asked.
"No?", Flurry said. "What?"
"It's... uh, it's-", DJ began, only to be cut off by a light smack by Silus.
"Dormice", Brick said in halting equish.
Flurry froze at the realization. She had heard about this creature before; apparently, it was a delicacy among Pryhans, and had been for a long time. "Oh... Ok."
Silus and Brick Spackle looked at one another, then back at Flurry. "That's it? No overt reaction?", Silus asked.
"I've already tried this massive underwater bug that Depressi's marefriend cooked for lunch", Flurry said. "I think I can handle a rat."
"Right", Spackle said, giving DJ a sidelong glance. "Well, I gotta use the bathroom. Silus?"
Silus nodded, getting out of the booth. Brick slid out past him, standing up. As Silus went to slide back into his seat, however, he was grabbed by Spackle, who almost dragged him away, leaving Flurry and DJ alone.
The two of them said nothing for a good few minutes. They were mainly focused on their drinks, taking the occasional sip. They would occasionally steal a glance at the other, before averting their gaze back to the interior of their cups or the floor. Even the noise coming from the musicians on stage wasn't enough to avoid the awkward silence that permeated the booth.
Finally, Flurry groaned in frustration, "Ok, that's it. How have you been?"
"Fine", DJ said. "I had to attend a few more secessions with my Shrink, and had a bit of a reprimand by my mother. But, nothing too major happened. You?"
"Fine", Flurry replied. "Typical school stuff, for the most part. You didn't miss too much."
That same silence returned, this time broken by DJ. "Look, about the RAM thing, I-"
"I honestly couldn't care less", Flurry said. "I'm more upset you didn't tell me when you were leaving."
"Didn't want to make it harder than it was", DJ said.
"So I can't handle myself? I'm just a 'wittle Pwincess' who needs to be protected?", Flurry asked, the obvious sarcasm making DJ chuckle.
"No", DJ said wistfully.
Flurry nodded. "There. Now we can just hash things out. Just... talk."
"I'd like that", DJ said, sharing her smile.