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// 43 - A Treat for the Senses 
// Story: Perchance to Dream 
// by David Silver 
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And so there we were, at Coyote's Grill and Saloon. It seemed our trip was destined to enjoy some Western aesthetic, and I was alright with that. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, the kind you get from roasting meat, and the meat itself. The waitstaff all looked like they could wander onto a period-piece show without causing a stir, and we had a nice spot by the window.

Kevin was looking comfortable, and I was with him, but Starlight looked just a smidge nervous. "How do you do it?" she asked, cocking a brow.

He shrugged. "Do what, eat an animal?"

"Not that." She rolled a hand. "I've done that before,  but a whole place where that's the point, where you can smell it... It's... strange, like being next to a murder in progress. I mean, sure, intellectually I know they're not going to hurt me, or anyone I know, or even anyone I'd recognize properly as a 'person'..."

I reached across the table and put a hand on hers. "You're a vegan trying meat for about the first time. I've read that can be an awkward time. If you don't like it, don't hesitate to say so. We're not here to force you."

Offering a way out seemed to relax her. "Thanks, but I'll make it." She winked suddenly. "Imagine Twilight's horror if I just let this go past without getting a full report?"

"Hello there," came the voice of our waitress as she slid up to the table. "Welcome to Coyote's Grill, where we have all kinds of meat, but no road runners, sorry."

Kevin snapped his fingers. "Shoot, my dreams, destroyed."

Starlight didn't grasp the sarcasm. "Are you out of them?"

The waitress laughed softly. "There ain't any road runner farms around that I know of, so we're just plain out of luck. Nice hair, missy. I really dig the colors."

"Oh, well, thank you." Starlight was blushing a bit and smiling at the compliment. "This is my first time at any place like this, so I'm really not sure what to get."

"You can't go wrong with the Texas-Certified Ribeye! It's big enough to satisfy a horse and tastier than most anything else."

Starlight blinked softly. "That sounds... nice, sure, I'll try that?"

"How would you like it prepared?"

I cut in there, putting out a hand. "Well done." I didn't want to take any chances with her magically altered pony guts. "I'll have one of those too, and let's get a big order of fries and a salad for the table."

Kevin raised a finger. "Who am I to go against the crowd?"

"Alrighty, one Ribeye for the lot of ya, all well done?" Kevin made a lowering gesture. "Medium well for the gentleman. Anything to drink?"

I kept it simple. "A water's fine."

"Sprite," piped Kevin with a smile.

Starlight wasn't so sure. "What are the options?"

The waitress snagged the menu and flipped easily to the drink section. "We got all kinds of things to wetcher whistle."

Starlight peered at the selection and I could see she was falling quickly into choice paralysis. I raised a finger. "She'll have a Sprite too."

"Alrighty then. I'll have the appetizers and drinks out first, just a moment." She took our menus and wandered off.

"That's one of the sodas, right? Which kind?"

Kevin made a wriggly motion, likely trying to imitate bubbles. "Clear, lemon-limey. I like it."

"Sounds nice. You two didn't have to get what I'm getting, you know. I'm sure you have your own favorites already."

Kevin waved it off. "Nah, one of the better slices of meat, and there's something nice about sharing something, even if it's just a choice of plate."

I smiled at that. "That's a really sweet way of thinking about it. He's right." My eyes returned to Starlight. "We're sharing something, together. I feel like we've grown closer, as friends."

Kevin looked suddenly dodgy.

Starlight surprised me by noticing, and even acting on it. "What's wrong?"

Kevin threaded his fingers on the table. "Nothing. We settled this before, and I won't be 'that' guy."

I had a pretty good idea where he was headed. "You know it's the right thing."

"Y-- Do I?" He leaned back in his seat. "Look. I'm one hundred percent going by your word. You don't want something, I don't want to push it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it, right? We're getting along just fine."

Starlight glanced between the two of us. "Did I miss something?"

I could spin an awkward deflection... Or hope Starlight was an adult. I decided on the latter. "We were dating for a short while. It was fun."

Starlight cocked a brow. "Didn't work out?"

Kevin sighed. "Not the way you think. We got tossed across the country and now she's my landlady and she's trying to avoid awkward conversations later."

Starlight got a grin suddenly. "Looks like the awkward conversation found you anyway." Her eyes went to me. "Look at you."

"Me?" I started. "What?"

She lifted a fork to point it at me. "Getting involved with ponies, breaking the heart of your own stallions here. You are quite the player, aren't you?"

I felt heat rising in my cheeks. "It's not like that! I'm not even--"

"Should I inform Princess Celestia?" Starlight leaned forward. "All the rumors are quite thick around that. Have you two... you know...?"

Kevin colored. "You've been with Celestia?!" He went awkwardly silent, realizing he'd just raised his voice. Fortunately, not many people were paying him much mind.

I held up my hands. "I would answer that, but honestly, it's neither of your business."

Starlight leaned back. "Perhaps not, my student, but I don't see a lot of other reasons for you to spurn him." She hiked a thumb at Kevin. "You two get along well enough. If you're not saving yourself for Celestia, and I'm not entirely certain how that works with you, what are you doing?"

"Here we are." The waitress was back and set out drinks for us and a big bowl of fries for the table and an equally large bowl of mixed greens with some jars of dressing to go with. "Let me know if you need anything at all!"

We thanked her and Starlight snagged a fry. "This I know." She got to chewing with a pleased expression.

I wasn't quite as much in the mood with the conversation we were just in the middle of. "Look, Kevin, this could turn out--"

"Yes, it could." He took a few fries himself. "A lot of things could go wrong. But if you don't even try, what's the point? I'll be cool if we take the shoot and it goes off-course, that's life, right? But just never taking it, it's like we already missed without trying."

"Now you sound like an inspirational poster." I let out a little breath as I finally gave in to peer pressure, taking a fry myself. Not bad.

He quirked a smile. "That doesn't make me automatically wrong. We can go as slow as you want, or even stop, your call. Hell, I know who wears the pants in this relationship."

Starlight cocked a brow. "What does fas-- That's a figure of speech, isn't it? Are pants the traditional garment of leaders?"

My dour mood was shattered by our alien visitor. I laughed even as I answered. "That's about right, yes." Heck, I was wearing pants that day. Jeans to be specific. "Starlight, have you been in a relationship before?"

She colored faintly. "Once... But I hardly think it counts."

Kevin looked intrigued. "Why not?"

"It was... during my low period..." She served herself some salad and scattered some vinaigrette over it. "While I owned the town, I was the most eligible mare there. I had a few offers... I took one. It was... It was fine, for a while. We didn't have that much to bond on, and I let it go."

I spied something and frowned a touch. "He was too far below you."

Starlight flinched. "I hadn't thought of it like that, but maybe that was part of it? I wasn't in a good place at the time. There wasn't room in my heart for friendship, let alone true love. I hear he's got a new marefriend now. I hope it works out well for him."

Kevin put a hand on the table. "Don't throw that at me. We're not direct reports or anything. I do marketing, you're legal. Unless we literally get the same job at the same place, someone's going to make more than the other. That's just how that works."

I cracked a smile at him. "And in this white picket dream of yours, would you be the one that stayed home and watched the children?"

Kevin looked stunned, stung even. "Woah, that's skipping ahead a little there."

Starlight looked between us. "Have you two...?"

I shook my head. "We haven't more than kissed, Starlight, not that this is your business." I spied the waitress returning, burdened with food, and smiled. "And it looks like lunch is officially served."