//------------------------------// // Dinner // Story: Dash Tries to Win Your Heart // by Flutterpriest //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash shrugs as the two of you walk through the streets of Ponyville. "I dunno. I feel... kinda like treating myself. So, I mean. Not fancy, but not... you know. Hayburger." "That sounds fine to me," you say, bringing your hand to your chin in an overly dramatic thinking gesture. "So then... Somewhere that's sit down... How about pasta?" Rainbow smiles and waves a hoof. "You're pushing my buttons, Anon. Pasta goes viciously against my Wonderbolt diet." You raise your hands as if you've offended her. "Alright, alright," you say defensively. "Somewhere that you can also get healthy food. I get it." Rainbow shakes her head. "No, I think pasta is going to be perfect. Lead the way," she says. You watch the sky grows an orange-yellow hue as the sun making its way toward the horizon. Your feet lead the way to a small restaurant near the town square: 'Osteria da Giovanni'. You had no idea what it actually meant, but it sounded cool and authentic. Although, you wouldn't really know the difference between 'authentic' pony pasta cuisine and 'unauthentic' pony pasta cuisine. The point is that the place makes a great Alfredo, which is exactly what you want. "How's this?" you ask as the two of you approach the front. "Oh cool! I like this place. I haven't been here in awhile. Sounds perfect to me," she says. "Alright, it's settled then," you say, reaching for the door handle. Opening the door, you hold it open as Dash trots inside and you follow in after her. A server mare stands at a wooden podium, making notes on a small diagram of the restaurant. She raises her gaze to meet you two and smiles. "Table for two?" she asks happily. You raise your finger to say something, but Rainbow cuts you off. "Yep, that's right," she says. "Right this way," the waitress says happily. She takes two menus and leads the two of you toward your table. Your eyes glance around at the other patrons and tables. They seem to eye you and Dash and faintly smile. Gosh. They're probably thinking you and Dash are a couple. Moreover, it would make sense. Table for two. A nice little restaurant. You seemed to forget that they like to light candles at each table, and this is suddenly beginning to feel like a way more romantic spot than you‘d anticipated. It's probably fine though. Rainbow and you are at a level of friendship where you can go to places like this and not make it weird. This is fine. The waitress brings you to a remote, two seat table in back of the restaurant. The table sits close to a window where the setting sun has a clear view and provides some natural light to the table. She sets down the two menus and says she'll return with some water. You and Dash take your seats and you continue to look around. "Man, this place is a lot nicer than I remembered." Rainbow smiled to herself, also examining the place. "Yeah, but I like it. It's peaceful. It seems like a nice place to relax." Silence falls between the two of you as you dip into the menus. You find what you want within seconds. Good ol' fettuccini Alfredo. You can't beat the classics, and if a restaurant can't make the classics, well, that says something. "What are you thinking about getting?" you ask Dash. "Hrm," she says. "I'm not sure yet. Maybe spaghetti. But, I'm thinking... uh, maybe starting with some wine?" You raise your eyes to Dash's as focuses back down to her menu. "Wine? Really?" you ask. "I always took you for more beer and cider." "What's wrong with wine?" she asks. "When you're somewhere nicer, you get wine. And, I've had wine all the time at fancy Wonderbolt get togethers. Sure, it's some of that cheap box stuff, but-" "And you have a taste in wine?" you ask, putting down your menu. "The many layers of Rainbow Dash continue to fall away. Whatever will we learn next?" She casts you a dirty look as the server returns with two glasses of water. "Is there anything else I can get you two?" she asks. "Soda, tea, wine?" "I think we'll take a bottle of red wine, please," Dash says. The server nods with a smile. "Of course. What would you like? Cab Sauve? Merlot? Chianti?" Rainbow stutters, then looks to you. "Uh, the one that's red," she says. "Whatever goes best with pasta," you smile at the waitress. She smiles and nods to you. "Cab Sauve it is. I'll be right back." And, with that, the waitress trots away, leaving the two of you alone again. Rainbow looks out the window, her expression scrunched. "Hey, I never said I was a wine expert," Rainbow says. "You're more of an expert than I am. You seemed to know what she was talking about. I couldn't even pronounce half of those." "Well, we'll have to see what we get from the lottery, huh?" The waitress soon comes back with two glasses and places them in front of you. She presents both of you the bottle's label and waits. You look to Rainbow, who seems equally unsure of how to respond. "Yes, this is a bottle of wine," you say. The waitress shakes her head and uncorks the bottle. She pours a small amount into the glass in front of you. "How will this do?" she asks. You take a sip of the wine, and suddenly realize you have no idea how to taste wine. Out of panic, you swish the wine through your teeth. "Mmm," you say towards the waitress after you swallow. "This wine tastes a lot like grapes. Grapes with alcohol. I think it'll be fine." She shakes her head, and then pours both of your glasses about a third full before she trots away. "Well, that was weird," you say to Rainbow. She smiles and shakes her head. "Don't ever try to become high class, Anon. You'll cause riots in the streets." "The fabric of society as we know it would become unhinged," you add, furthering the self-depreciating joke. Rainbow downs her glass of wine and pours herself more. "So, uhm. Anon?" she says. "Yeah, Rainbow?" "We've had a pretty awesome day today, right?" "I think so. I always love to hang out with you," you say, picking back up your menu. "Hrm. I was thinking of getting the Alfredo, but now this Lasagna looks good too." "I just," Rainbow continues. "I wanted to make sure that we had an awesome day today, because a lot's happened lately. And, usually bad things come in threes, so that means something else rough is on the way. So-" "Oh Dash, you know that's just superstition, right?" you say. "You worry too much. Oh! Maybe I should get the ravioli..." "Anon, you aren't listening to me," she says, her temper rising in her tone. "Alright," you say, setting down your menu. "What's up? I'm all ears." Rainbow sighs to herself and looks down to her plate. "We need to talk."