Title:           Nurse Redheart and Anon
Author:          Anonymous
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/uUujdGKP
First Edit:      Monday 16th of May 2016 10:29:21 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Monday 16th of May 2016 10:29:21 PM CDT

>Another abnormally long work shift.
>Seriously, ponies need to stop being so careless in this town.
>Or it needs to stop growing.
>Or you need to get another job.
>You dryly laugh at the last bit.
>As if.
>You've gone too far into this career to just let it go, and you're too old to be accepted anywhere else.
>And you're really not even that old.
>Though, you sure feel old.
>Whether it's because of the constant struggle of having to wake up at irregular hours that suck all the energy out of you, or the maturity needed and learned through seeing countless ponies die under your watch, you're not sure.
>Or maybe you just feel... left out, from the rest of the mares your age.
>While others are out and about, enjoying life, their career, or their new relationship, your idea of a good time is not having to push on or shock somepony's chest at the first few hours of the morning.
>Hay, you can't even have a "normal" conversation with anypony, without bringing up the frustration of having a patient throw up on you the day you decide to use an expensive body wash.
>Or the fact that the one and only hospital in this town is horribly understaffed and underpaid.
>-Minus the doctors, of course.
"Always the stupid doctors..."
>You close your eyes and sigh while you walk.
>If you weren't currently walking, you'd definitely be rubbing your temples right now.
>Of course your special talent had to be one-upped by young, narcissistic stallions who think they know everything-
"-OOF!"
>Your eyes snap open, and suddenly you're on the ground, looking up at the sky.
>"Shit, SHIIIT, sorry!"
>A large figure looms over and picks you up from the ground, before quickly dusting off your back.
>You instantly recognize him as Ponyville's weirdest resident, Anon.
>Weird, in the sense that nopony knew what in Tartarus he was.
>Though he calls himself a "hueman".
>You notice that trademark suit he never seems to change out of, and the very anxious look plastered on his face.
 
>"Just, uuuh, come by my shop tomorrow at one or some shit, I'll give you free flowers or something!"
>He hoofs over a small piece of paper with some kind of chicken scratch writing on it, then bolts towards the direction of Twilight's castle.
>Well, that was... something.
>You scan the paper and decipher the hieroglyphs as the name of that new flower place that opened up a few weeks ago.
>Huh, you didn't know he owned that place.
>Not like you'd bother to find out.
>Or care, really.
>But, now you seem to have lunch covered for tomorrow.
>You silently shrug and continue on towards home.
>Though at this point, you're sure the hospital is more of a home, given all the time you've spent in it.
>And on the way, you see plenty of couples passing by.
>Or maybe you just notice them more than other ponies.
>Not that you're wanting to really be in a relationship, but it just reinforces the isolated feeling you just finished focused on.
>Though, you've always imagined having a wonderful stallion to have as your own, as any mare has.
>A strong, funny, smart guy who's also caring and compassionate, attentive to every word you say.
>But, such things are only found in the books you read to the foals.
>That, or you're not the perfect kind of mare to fit right in with that.
>Not many stallions would enjoy your sometimes crude humor, or your mild case of heartlessness.
>And certainly not your morning moods.
>But, you guess the dream is still there.
>Everypony wishes upon a star at least once in their life.
>You look up from your thoughts and lazily walk into your house without a second thought.
>It's relatively clean, on account of you never spending much time here.
>You're not even here enough for the furniture to gather dust.
>Shuffling past the hallway, you open up your bedroom door and lazily flop on your bed.
>The second you cover up, you find yourself quickly drifting away, watching your fan blades silently rotating on the ceiling.
 
>Your eyes slowly creak open.
>A loud, obnoxious groan escapes you.
>One of these days, you just want to wake up with the best mood ever, no coffee needed.
>Obviously, this day couldn't be that one.
>You keep your eyes squinted to allow less light into them, and slowly sit on your bed.
>Giving yourself a moment to stretch your hooves, you still don't feel much better.
>The clock on your wall reads four in the morning.
>You didn't even need the alarm clock, this time.
>Like your body already accepts its horribly early wake up time.
>-But, if your alarm clock didn't wake you up, that means-
>It starts ringing and blaring in the loudest way possible, jolting you awake.
>You quickly spring into action and click the top of it, mostly just wanting to break it right here, right now.
>But you know it's just doing its job.
>Maybe it even hates mornings as much as you do.
>You never know.
>You crack a very faint smile at the thought and ooze out of bed.
>You choose to sleep on the comforter with a blanket, instead of under it, so you thankfully don't need to worry about making the bed.
>Though you wouldn't be bothered to do it either way.
>Slouching around the house, you start a pot of coffee to brew while you hop in your shower.
>The shower seems to be the one and only place where you can truly gather your thoughts in the morning.
>Not to mention that the water works wonders on your aching muscles.
>The other nurses always recommend the spa as a nice place to relax in, and always tell you how much a massage helps once in a while.
>But you still don't see yourself going there anytime soon.
>However relaxing it may be, you're paying ponies to touch you for hours, which not only sounds weird, but is also pretty expensive, as well as being a big waste of time you don't even have.
 
>You take the pin out of your mane and let it unfurl, cursing yourself for not taking it out before you slept yesterday.
>And chances are, that means your cap is still on the bed.
>To think, there was a time you were proud to wear it.
>Took more care of it than a mother would her own foal.
>And now, it's just another reminder of how you felt, and still feel, from yesterday.
>You sigh and turn on the faucet, shrinking to the back of the tub for the water to warm up.
>Once it's just the right temperature, you step in and sigh, letting the water wash over your admittedly pudgy figure.
>You move around a lot, sure, but nine times out of ten, a quick stop at the Hay Burger is all you can fit into your short lunch breaks, instead of some expertly made healthy meal.
>That, or you miss your lunch break and can't help but pig out after your shift.
>But there are definitely mares better looking than you are out here.
>The thought settles as a soft sigh escapes you.
>Sometimes you wish Cutie Marks weren't a thing.
>You wished you could just, pick your own jobs, go and do whatever you want, instead of having a single job for the rest of your life.
>If you ever were to quit, you'd just be a nurse somewhere else.
>Your eyes trail over to the shower bit, and you gaze at your own reflection in the metal.
>Currently the youngest nurse in the hospital, but by far the worst looking one.
>You wonder if you could get a senior discount somewhere.
>A small, sad smile crosses your face.
>You wonder what Mom would think if she saw you like this.
>Another sigh escapes you.
>It's not like you don't still feel a bit of joy in your job- a bit of excitement, but you can't help but feel that being a nurse has… changed you, somehow.
 
>Made you unable to be, or even act like everypony else.
>You definitely got some quirks from that place, that's for sure-
>A loud beep from outside the shower jolts you awake.
>That's the coffee.
>That means you've already been in the shower for an HOUR.
>You scramble to quickly wash and shampoo everything, then rinse yourself out.
>After quickly drying, you hop out of your bathroom, still a bit wet and run over to the mirror in your bedroom.
>Your mane is a complete mess, hanging past your withers and flowing everywhere lazily.
>You spring into action and start to bun everything up, keeping an eye of that ray of light beaming through you window.
>You quickly start to drift.
>How many other mares have to wake up at four in the morning to start their day?
>You can't even enjoy the shower without having to worry about spending too much time and being late.
>You wish you could sleep in.
>Or wake up to somepony else in your bed, at the very least.
>There was a certain year where Mr. Cuddles just didn't cut it for you anymore.
>…Which was, well, last year.
>The poor bear lost too much stuffing from being crushed almost every night.
>You look over to your closet, where you know he still lies.
>It makes you feel kind of bad.
>-For an inanimate object.
>Your focus then turns to the calendar hanging on the closet door.
>You pause.
>…It's your day off.
>Your hooves fall, letting your mane flow back down to your sides.
>You groan and slowly shuffle to your bed, then throwing the blanket over yourself and shutting your eyes in vain.
>You doubt you can go to sleep now.
>You've already been up too lon-
 
>
>Your eyes flutter open.
>You pause for a moment.
>You actually feel… kind of relaxed.
>Certainly something you haven't felt in far too long.
>You slowly turn to your right and look at the clock.
>It's twelve.
>A part of you wants to just stay in bed, lie around and waste the day away, but the other, more persuasive half says to go out and do something.
>Frequently on your days off, you find yourself relaxing and doing mostly nothing, then curse yourself for not using your time to do something more exciting and worthwhile.
>Though, you usually end up doing nothing, anyways.
>Your eyes trail over to the clock again.
>Well, you CAN get free flowers in about twenty minutes, so there's something at least.
>An excuse to go outside for a little bit.
>And free food, which is the biggest plus.
>The thought settles in your mind, and you gently press on your flank with a hoof.
>Thinking about free food is why you're so squishy in the first place…
>You get up from your bed and walk in front of the mirror.
>You still look bad, but at least you feel slightly better.
>You tie your mane up into a lazy doubled up ponytail and walk back into the kitchen.
>The first thing you see and recognize is the coffee you left out for about seven hours, sitting in its pot
>It's probably tremendously cold by now.
>…Coffee can't get bad, can it?
>Well, you could always just brew some more.
>Not that big of a deal.
>You leave the coffee be and head on outside of your home, towards the flower shop that is thankfully close by to your own home.
>Sleeping for a whole day makes you hungry, and you're pretty sure you haven't gone to the store for groceries in a long while.
 
>You find yourself in front of the flower shop quicker than you expected to be.
>And there outside, is Anonymous, watering some flowers in his suit.
>You'll never understand what he enjoys about suits so much.
>But, you don't understand a lot of things about him, honestly.
>As if he has eyes in the back of his head, he spins around and looks directly at you.
>"Oh, hey, it's you!"
>He sets the watering can down and walks over to you.
>He's almost twice your size.
>Yet he looks completely harmless.
>"So, uh, sorry again for yesterday. I know ramming into you and just running off like that wasn't a very nice thing to do, but I was too frightened thinking about what Twilight would do to me, at the moment."
>With an embarrassed look on his face, he rubs the back of his neck with a... claw thing.
>"But instead of flowers, I think it's necessary for me to repay you further. Maybe with dinner, or lunch, perhaps?"
>You pause and wait for his words to process.
>...Is he asking you out?
"Are you asking me about a date?"
>His pupils shrink and his face seems to get a tinge redder.
>"No, no, not at all! I-I mean, you're a cute mare and all, but-"
>-Did he just call you cute?
>He freezes and sighs.
>"-Okay, sorry, I don't do well with shit like this."
>He takes a deep breath.
>"This wouldn't be a date. I simply rammed into you, and I feel bad for doing so, and a lunch or dinner sounds nice because I'm starving right now, and can easily bring you along."
>You slowly nod.
>Well, you just want your free food already.
 
>"I actually heard that there was some fancy-ish place with great food nearby, and I was going to try it myself, if you'd like to join."
>Lunch at a restaurant?
>It's been a while since you've been to any place other than the Hay Burger.
>You're kind of a sucker for those milkshakes, every now and then.
>You simply nod in approval.
>It really isn't in your nature to be taking free lunch from somepony like this, but you suppose there's a special circumstance here, mostly because Anon isn't a pony.
>And you feel less... separated, because of it.
>Truly a feeling you can't express in words all that well.
>But change is good.
>He smiles and nods, before starting to put everything he had in front of his shop away.
>The flowers he has growing here actually look pretty good, you notice.
>Definitely something you wouldn't mind snacking on- especially those daisies.
>They're your favorite.
>Tasty, but also very plentiful, unlike the stupid fancy flowers from the Everfree and the Badlands that every posh pony in Canterlot loves.
>It's a wonder how ponies are even able to find those plants without getting seriously hurt, or worse.
>And the petals don't even taste that good, in your opinion.
>"Ready to go?"
>You snap at attention and instinctively nod.
>He simply smiles.
>"Well alrighty, the place is pretty close too, so it shouldn't take long."
>Anon pauses, and takes to just looking at you for a moment.
>"And if you don't mind me saying, I think you actually look much better with your mane down...ish."
 
>Did he just compliment you?
>Did you get your mane complimented?
>It's been too long since anypony has done that, really.
>Most of the time you're being paged back and forth or just being yelled at by angry patients.
>It's good to feel... somewhat normal, for a change.
>"Whelp, we're here!"
>You instinctively look up and notice that it's a diner- a little better looking than most diners, but still a diner.
>You were expecting a much longer walk.
>"Yeah, the owner of this place always buys flowers from me to cook up and stuff. I've been wanting to go for a while, try the place out."
>He walks over to the door and opens it for you with a big grin on his face.
>Then he pretends to tip an invisible hat on his head.
>"M'lady."
>You can't remember the last time somepony held open a door for you, either.
>Such a small gesture, but an alien feeling for you.
>But change is good.
>A small smile crosses your face, and you walk inside.
>The second you do, you wish you would have at least fixed your mane a bit more.
>You probably look like some kind of sick pony with how much is wrong with it.
>Anon follows inside, and a waitress pony with a white buttoned up shirt comes through.
>"Oh, Anon! What brings you here, huh?"
>"Ah, just figured it was about time I see what you've got cooking in here."
>She grins.
>"Well, you won't be disappointed, Anon! Now, right this way!"
>You both follow her over to some small booth by the window, where she places two menus down.
>"So then, I'd like to tell you that we actually have a couple's special for Hearts and Hooves Day coming up soon, if you both are interested!"
>Hearts and Hooves?
>Shoot, you forgot that was coming up soon.
>Not that you really care much, but that-
>-Wait, COUPLE's special?
>BOTH?
"I-"
>"-No Junebug, we're not a couple. I'm simply repaying her for an accident."
>She frowns a little, then flashes a sly smile.
>"That's a shame. I think you'd both look cute together-"
>"-I'LL take a Hay Cola, please!"
 
"Two, please."
>Junebug just smiles and nods.
>"Alrighty, then!"
>She walks off, and Anon huffs.
>"Sorry about that, Redheart... Junebug always teases me about having a marefriend when I'm with some pony."
>He crosses his arms.
>"Maybe a bit too much."
"You don't have a marefriend?"
>That's actually a bit surprising, if so.
>You know there's a lot of ponies that have savannah fever out here, so more than a few would probably want Anon.
>"Nah, not really. I mean, it'd be nice, I'm sure, but I think of myself as a bit... watered down, compared to all these other ponies."
"'Watered down'?"
>He rubs the back of his neck with a hand.
>"I guess I see myself as kinda boring, compared to these ponies. Back home, I was completely comfy with my glorious PC, and my regular monthly subscription to Netflix."
>What the hay is a PC?
>Is 'Netflicks' a magazine?
>"-Right. Well, pretty much I was fine just playing games and watching things. I'm just a really easy person to please, I guess."
>You nod.
>You remember your mom telling you that you were the complete opposite, actually.
>Said you seemed like you were 'always uncomfortable with yourself' or some ridiculous thing like that.
>Then she said something about you 'wanting so many new things, you couldn't keep track of them all'.
>...Ugh, now you're glad your parents haven't visited.
>You love Mom, but she always just, looks for things to hound you over.
>It never does well to cheer you up, that's for sure.
>"But, Junebug's always told me that I won't be 'truly happy' unless I have someone to share the feeling with."
>Aaand that's what Dad would always tell you.
>You don't feel like a regular mare anymore now.
>You feel like a pony fresh out of nursing school, listening to her parents give a lecture on being happy.
>"-But, that's just my boring life... What about yours? Do YOU have a 'special somepony'?
>Not unless being given candy in grade school means you're in a relationship.
 
>You shake your head.
"T-too busy for that."
>-The look that Anon gives you tells you he really doesn't believe you.
>But who in their right mind would just flat out say, 'well, I don't have a coltfriend because I scare and weird ponies out'?
>It doesn't help that you stuttered, either.
>You've never done a good job at lying.
>Instead of embarrassing yourself further in front of an alien stranger, you instinctively pick up your menu.
>You shouldn't even care what other ponies think of you, but it's a bit hard not to.
>And it's especially hard to ignore if they're right across from you.
>You can hear Anon picking up his menu alongside you while you scan it.
>Maybe you should've stayed home.
>Change is good, but you can't help but feel... uncomfortable, just being out here, waiting to eat instead of running around in the hospital.
>You guess you enjoy the time, but you're not even sure how to manage it anymore.
>Which is, you guess, the reason you're here anyways.
>You're losing your touch as a real pony and becoming more of a full time nurse.
>...Wonder if those older nurses feel lik-
>"-The daisy sandwich looks good, dontcha think?"
>You lower your menu.
"The what?"
>He just points at the menu.
>"There's a daisy sandwich here. It, looks nice. I mean, I'm no herbivore obviously, b-"
"-Wait, WHAT?"
>Anon isn't a herbivore?!
>That means he eats-
>"-No, I mean, I'm an omnivore, so I choose what to eat, and the flower sandwich, though weird looks-"
"-D-do you eat ponies?"
>"What, no! I'm just saying that I don't eat flowers at all, but that sandwich looks good!"
>An omnivore...
>That means he's eaten MEAT before.
>...Ooh, maybe you SHOULD have just stayed ho-
>-No, no, just stop being so judgemental, Heart.
>You're going to be a regular pony today.
>-Though, any regular pony would freak out after hearing that.
>But you're not going to.
>You're going to be the BETTER pony.
>Now, he said something about a daisy sandwich...
 
>He looks a bit flustered behind his menu.
>There's also a hint of sadness in his look.
>A very, very small hint, but something you've learned to pick up when dealing with families of patients.
>He sighs faintly, and you catch a glimpse of his teeth.
>Yeah, he's definitely got the chompers for both plants and meat.
>But for somebody that eats other creatures, he has been really nice to you, anyways.
>Hay, that's why you're HERE in the first place.
>You switch to your menu, taking a few small glances at him.
>He seems to be staring off, now.
>His eyes move slightly, but he just stares at the menu in front of him.
>It does well to make you feel kind of bad.
>He hasn't said or done a single thing that told you he's a vicious pony, and you just finished freaking out over his diet.
>When you slightly glance over your menu, you notice that he looks even more down than he did a few seconds ago.
>You glance again, and both of your eyes lock for a split second.
>"-Two Hay Colas!"
>Anon jumps a bit in his seat and awkwardly smiles.
>You turn back to your menu.
>"So then, what can I get for you both, eh?"
>He clears his throat and turns back to the menu again.
>"Alright, well, for an appetizer, we'll get some, uh... mozzarella sticks!"
>"Alrighty, that'll be right out. Did you guys want to order now, too?"
>You look over at Anon again, who just shifts in his chair.
>"Well, ah, I didn't get a good look at the menu, but if Redheart here wants to...?"
"-Oh, no, I'll wait, thank you."
>"Sure thing ma'am! And I'll have those cheese sticks out in a little bit!"
>She walks away.
>As she does, the silence between you two grows.
"...I'm sorry, by the way."
>He looks up from his menu.
>"Hmm?"
"I'm, uh, sorry for freaking out earlier. Just, ah, most creatures that eat meat aren't friendly in the slightest, and I kind of forgot that you've been nothing but kind this whole time."
 
>His look seems to soften a bit.
>But not out of relief.
>In fact, he just looks a bit more sad.
>"Oh, that's alright. I've had that assumption thrown around me plenty of times- I don't take offense to it."
>But his eyes completely go against what he's telling you.
>He just smiles and lowers his eyes to his drink.
>Makes you wonder how many ponies have been scared off by him.
>'Plenty of times' can mean a big number.
>You take a sip from your drink and look around a bit.
>Though he smiles when you both catch each other's eyes, he looks down the rest of the time.
>He certainly hides it better than anypony else, but you have a trained eye in this.
>"So, uh... you're a nurse, right? At the Ponyville Hospital?"
>You're taken back a little bit.
"Yes, how did you know?"
>"Well, uh, when I bumped into you, I kinda noticed your hat. And there's only one hospital here that I know of."
"...Oh. Well, yes, I work there."
>Though you don't want to get started on it.
>You're a normal pony today.
>If you get started on work, you know it'll be a while until you stop.
>And most ponies can't handle, or don't enjoy what you have to say.
>But, it's a hospital.
>It's never really happy.
>"How is it?"
>He just looks at you, a small spark of curiosity now in his eyes.
>You pause.
"Um, I don't mean to be rude or anything... but why would you like to know?"
>He shrugs.
>"Just curious about the hospitals here, I guess."
>But WHY?
>Nopony willingly asks about your work, EVER.
>Why would anypony want to know?
>"-I mean, it's alright if you don't want to talk about it, but I was just curious. Never been there myself."
>You straighten yourself out and take a small breath.
"Sorry. Just, many ponies don't ask about my line of work, and most don't care to hear about it..."
>"Yeah, I know the feeling."
"...'You know the feeling'?"
>He just nods.
>"Nobody really wanted to know what I saw at the hospitals, either."
>You pause.
"...You were...?"
>He nods again.
>"I was a nurse back home."
 
>Wait, what?
>All you can do is stare at him in disbelief.
>Could it be?
>Could it REALLY be?
>A fellow nurse, that ISN'T insanely old and angry all the time?
>"Well, I mean I guess I don't know that much, only being there for five years, but I-"
"-I've been a nurse for five years, too!"
>You feel a bit relieved, being able to say that.
>Now you don't feel you have to act normally anymore.
>-Well, you still do, but now you feel more comfortable knowing you don't NEED to be.
>"Oh, really?"
>You quickly nod your head.
>"Huh, that's... well, it's just been really hard trying to find ponies who share something with me. I guess there's something."
>You nod again.
"Ponies around here really don't care to talk about where I work. Never been able to vent because of it."
>It's Anon's turn to nod enthusiastically.
>"Ugh, right? I mean even back home, my friends would all complain about THEIR work, but the second I mention some mean ass old nurses or some old guy I had liked dying, I'm in the wrong."
>You nod again.
>You also feel like there's going to be a lot of nodding for a while.
"Ever since I've started, I've yet to talk to a pony who told me I WASN'T 'bumming them out'."
>"Exactly. I mean, I know I developed some kind of cynical humor from it, but-"
"-Oh my gosh, me too!"
>Though, you shouldn't really be excited over that.
>But you are.
>He smiles.
>"-There was one time that this drunk homeless dude walked into the ER. He had like, this crazy hair that was just everywhere, and we didn't know what his name was, so we all called him Krusty, like a clown from this one old show... It was hilarious."
"One time, a mare came running in because she said she broke her leg."
>You both stay silent for a second.
>Then you find yourself and Anon giggling the next.
>It's something you wish you could do more often.
>There's usually not enough time between taking care of patients for a quick joke.
>And those nurses don't look like they ever laugh, anyways.
 
>By the time you're done giggling like a foal, the mozzarella sticks are done and placed in front of you both.
>When you bite a few for your plate, you notice how much you're enjoying yourself.
>Usually weekends would consist of catching up on sleep, and quick stops to the Hay Burger.
>Maybe park visits, but you don't go nearly as much as you used to.
>Too far away.
>The last time you went out to a dinner like this, was...
>...You actually can't remember.
>You swear, sometimes you remember your hospital routines more than you do the ponies IN them.
>While you're thinking, you mindlessly eat and dip your amazing fried cheese sticks.
>And to think that right now, you'd be completely knocked out on your bed, sprawled out with covers thrown everywhere.
>You know yourself to be a very heavy and physical sleeper.
>You've started to wake up with sore throats more often because you find yourself sleeping with your mouth open.
>It's really something you need to start fixi-
>"Uh, Redheart?"
>You're brought back from your thoughts to Anon.
"Huh?"
>"You, uh, got a little something..."
>He points at his nose and does a little circular motion with a talon.
>You instinctively try to lick yourself clean, then stop.
>Your Hay Burger habits are showing.
>You swallow the bit of food you have and use your hooves to rub your muzzle.
>"Ah, nope, a little higher."
>You move a little higher.
>"Okay, it's like, above your muzzle. At the top."
>You cross your eyes to try and see what the hay he is.
>Then he just reaches over with a napkin and rubs a bit of sauce off of you.
>"If I knew pony anatomy, I'd of just used that, but, you know."
>All you can do is nod, noticing a very small hint of warmness in your cheeks.
>Could've cleaned yourself.
>But, you guess it's kind of nice, not needing to, even for something as simple as sauce around your muzzle.
"Thanks."
>"Mhmm. Kinda got a kick out of the faces you were making, too."
>He just smiles.
>The warm feeling gets worse as you huff.
 
>"Besides, that's nothing compared to the time I went an entire day with one eyebrow."
>Your ears perk up.
>"Damn roommate of mine knew I was a heavy sleeper, so they took a razor to my face during tthe night."
>You stare at Anon, now trying to imagine him with only one eyebrow.
>An amused smile crosses your face.
>"And the worst part was that nobody told me. One of the damn doctors said they never told me because they thought it was a "fashion statement"."
>You can't help but let out a little giggle.
>And you only stop yourself when you snort.
>Anon just looks at you for a moment, wide-eyed.
>Then he snickers.
>"Oh man, you should've seen your face right now. You were like this."
>He puts on a face that reminds you of some dead fish, staring off like it's surprised tha-
"-Hey! I did not look like that!"
>He just nods.
"Well at least I have my eyebrows!"
>He stops and feels over his face.
>"Jesus, don't scare me like that..."
>"-So now, you two ready to order, or do you need another few minutes?"
>You and Anon both share a glance.
>"I think we're ready."
>"Good! So then, what can I getcha?"
>"Guess I'll get a daisy sandwich with onion rings."
"-I'll get the same, but with hay fries, please."
>"Alrighty, two daisy sandwiches, one with onion rings, other with hay fries. It'll be out in a bit."
>He nods.
>"It's weird how sweet the flowers here are, actually."
>You take another bite of a mozzarella stick.
"Weird?"
>"Well, yeah. I mean, back home, flowers are just... well, they taste like the dirt they're in, so nobody ate them. Here, they all taste weirdly sweet, and less dirt-ish."
>He takes a sip of his drink and stares at the table.
>"Just, never thought I'd find myself eating flowers regularly, that's for sure..."
"Where was home?"
 
>The question seems to snap him out of a trance, and he just looks at you, a spark of sadness once again present in his eyes.
>"I..."
>He sighs.
>"I couldn't tell you... But it sure isn't on this planet."
>Another PLANET?
>How is that even possible?
>What do other planets even LOOK like?
>"I mean, I kinda remember, well, dying, then I just showed up here, healthy as ever."
>He pushes the straw in his drink around with a talon.
>"People back home had all these crazy ideas of things that would happen when you died, but I never imagined something like... this."
"'This'?"
>He nods.
>"Just... I don't know. I try not to think about it, really. Thinking too far into things just makes you crazy."
>He sighs and puts on a smile.
>"But, let's not think about that. I'm here now, I'm alive, and there's talking ponies everywhere, so I might as well just continue going with the flow."
>He takes another sip and looks out the window.
>"Besides, there's a lotta things here that I like, as opposed to back home."
"Like what?"
>He pauses to think.
>"Well, you're a good example, actually. If I bumped into anyone where I lived, I'd either get beaten up, or... well, beaten up."
>He motions around the table and the restaurant.
>"And nobody would ever just take dinner as an apology. Too many risks, really."
>This home of his sounds terrible, so far.
>And you thought here was bad.
>You can't imagine anypony getting beat up just for bumping into somepony.
>Even Manehattan isn't that bad.
 
>You both take small sips from your drinks.
>"...Thanks for this, by the way."
"Hmm?"
>"For, you know, being here. I don't think being here alone would have been very exciting, and I haven't had a normal lunch with someone in far too long."
>You wave a hoof.
"If anything, I should be thanking you. Today was just going to consist of sleeping and hayburgers until you bumped into me."
>"That's pretty much my daily routine, but with more flowers... Makes me miss being a nurse, sometimes."
>And most days you wish you could just pick flowers instead.
>"Though I really doubt a pony would be eager to see some six foot creature with a stethoscope walking into their room."
"-I wouldn't mind."
>You freeze.
>Did you just blurt that out?
>WHY DID YOU BLURT THAT OUT.
"Y-you know, because you're really nice and everything."
>He just nods.
>"I get it."
>A small smile slowly crosses his face.
>"...Thanks."
>Before you can say anything else, you spot Junebug walking over with the tray on her back.
>"Alrighty you two, I got a daisy sandwich with onion rings,"
>She places it in front of Anon.
>"-And another daisy sandwich with hay fries."
>You get your plate.
>"-Also got you some refills, because I'm sure those must be watered down by now."
>She hoofs two glasses over, then just looks at the table.
>"You know, the first thing in any relationship is having something in common. Ponies with the same taste in food is hard to come by... Just a thought."
>Then she walks off.
>You find yourself looking at the table.
>Probably just a coincidence.
>And you prefer hay fries.
>...Though, that was because patients complained, the last time you had them.
 
>When you look up, you notice Anon doing the same thing, just staring at the table.
>Then he counter-notices you looking at him.
>"Told you about Junebug."
>You nod and stare down at your plate.
>Even with the mozzarella sticks, you feel hungry just looking at it.
>Like many things today, you haven't had a daisy sandwich in far too long.
>You lean over and grab a bite, while Anon grabs and takes his.
>"Back home, nobody in the world would ever think of doing this. Here, daisies taste like honey."
>He takes another bite and smiles.
>"It's so weird."
>You can't imagine what life without tasty flowers would be like.
>Probably very... well, bland.
>And from the small things you've heard, everything about his home was bland.
>It certainly doesn't sound like a nice place.
>And he doesn't seem to be affected much, while you can't even imagine yourself in his position.
>He really is an interesting pony- or, "hueman", rather.
"I actually like daisies the best."
>He nods.
>"I like the honey-ish flavor to it."
>It's been a while since you've talked to a pony that agreed with you on such things.
>Even the small things.
>It's definitely nicer than what you're used to.
>You can't help but feel somewhat... safer, because of it.
>It's a very weird feeling.
>A small smile crosses your face while you take another bite of your sandwich.
 
>It's a small, nice, but also unrecognizable feeling.
>Certainly one you don't think you've noticed before.
>You take and savor another bite of your sandwich.
>It's delightfully toasted, but not enough for the bread to be too crispy.
>The bread itself is buttered, and is flavored just a tad, in order to make the contents taste even better.
>There's tomatoes and lettuce very lightly salted, in order to counter the sweetness of it all.
>And of course, the sweet daisies in it aren't overwhelming at all.
>You softly hum with delight, then remember you're not alone.
>Your eyes snap to Anon, who's looking at you with an amused smile.
>"I take it the sandwich is good?"
>All you offer is a meek, slow nod.
>His smile just grows a bit.
>"Ah, don't be embarrassed. I won't judge you for enjoying yourself."
>You simply nod again.
>It's somewhat comforting to hear that from him.
>Another feeling you can't really seem to place.
>You think it's the beginning of a small acquaintanceship.
 
 
>Not much talk seems to follow between you both.
>You don't see it as an unwelcome silence, and just use it to reflect on everything.
>It's nice having somepony that doesn't feel the need to talk all the time.
>Anon seems to be off in his own little world.
>But he once again seems to be unhappy in it, for whatever reason.
"Something wrong?"
>He snaps out of his trance and just looks at you.
>"Huh?"
"You look like something's bothering you. I'm nopony to pry, but you've had the look for a while."
>He seems surprised for a second, until he shakes his head.
>"Just the usual stuff, really. Homesickness and such. "
>...He's lying through his teeth.
"I can tell when ponies are lying, you know."
>He pauses for a moment.
>"...I won't bore you with details. Just a seasonal thing, really."
>He's lying again.
>But, you guess it really isn't your place to pry.
>You still barely know him.
>He takes a sip of his drink and puts on a smile.
>"So, how'd you get your Cutie Mark, anyways? That's what determines your job, right?"
>You nod and shrug.
"It's nothing special, really... I just enjoyed helping ponies, and thought that medicine was interesting."
>You remember getting your Cutie Mark when you helped some filly with a cut on her hoof.
>Times were much simpler, then.
>Never thought you'd go from helping cuts to healing wounds in a few more years.
>"Oh, there has to be more to it than that."
>You shake your head.
"Not really... I'm no Element of Harmony or Royal Guard pony or anything."
>Though there was a time you were able to see yourself in Royal armor...
>But unless it's in your name or on your flank, you guess it really isn't meant for you.
 
>"Well, that's still more exciting than everything I did to become a nurse."
"And how did you?"
>He shrugs.
>"Well, I went to school, got out, did more school, volunteer work, and then real work."
>You nod, and he softly laughs.
>"Out of the six billion people back home, I'm really no shining example of an interesting person."
>You nod again.
"I think I know the feeling."
>He shakes his head.
>"Well, I find you plenty interesting. You don't need to be saving the world like Princess Twilight and her friends do to be."
>You get a very faint, warm feeling in your gut at his words.
>It feels... nice, being complimented like this.
>It's extremely rare that you are.
>The ponies at the hospital certainly don't do it.