>Before long, you're in line to order at Joe's Tavern
>Up above the counter, you can see a large menu scribbled out in chalk
>Various pastry-based dishes are listed, all for fairly reasonable prices
>"Yo, 'Tavius," Vinyl asks, nudging you with an elbow. "See anything you like?"
"Hrm..."
>Scanning through the menu again, you try to find something that jumps out at you
"Well, bugger me dead..."
>A grin spreads across your face as your eyes lock onto one item in particular
"They got Cobbish pasties here! Haven't had one of them in yonks."
>"Cool. I think I'm gonna go with a potato pot pie."
"Righto then."
>Reaching into a pouch on your saddlebags, you draw out a small hoofful of bits
>"Here's m'dosh. Mind orderin' for me while I nip off to the bar to fetch the cider?"
>"Sure," she replies, grabbing hold of the coins with her magic
"Ta."
>As you turn to leave for the bar, though, a call of "yo, 'Tavius," sounds out
>You pause, looking over your shoulder to see Vinyl waving at you
>"Make sure you get me a large, kay?"
"Got it!"
 
>Five minutes and two large ciders acquired later, you're sitting down with Vinyl, enjoying a nice pre-dinner chat
>You listen intently as Vinyl goes on about last night at work
>"So then the cops came into the bathroom," she explains, gesturing with a hoof, "and they find Neon there with a bag of Mare Jane."
>Raising an eyebrow, you give your friend an incredulous look
"Wait, wait... THE Neon Lights? Into the wacky backy? Are you havin' a giggle?"
>"Nope. Totes 100 percent true," she states, self-assuredly. "But you won't believe what he did when they found him!"
"Oh? What'd the poor bastard do, then?"
>"Well, he says to the cop, 'hey, I was trying to flush them, but they kept turning up in my saddlebags right after!'"
"Wait, wait... you ARE havin' a giggle, aren't you! I've heard this joke before!"
>Vinyl raises an eyebrow at you, smirking knowingly. "Oh...? Do tell."
>You match her smile with your own before answering
"Yeah. The bobby calls him out on the porky, the druggo offers to prove it, then when the backy's down the loo, he asks, 'so, let's see those drugs pop up in your saddlebags again', and the druggo comes back, 'what drugs'!"
>"But that's the thing," Vinyl counters. "The cop who nabbed Neon knew that joke too."
"Wait, are you sayin' that..."
>"Yeah, dude," she says, cracking up. "Neon actually tried to pull that shit in real life!"
"You're fuckin' joking!"
>You burst into laughter, unable to do much else but struggle to breathe for the next ten seconds
"So... what'd the bobby do to the poor git when he called him out on it?"
>"Well, he..."
 
>Just as Viny's about to continue, however, you see one of the wait staff approaching
>It's a unicorn mare, toting your and Vinyl's meals above her with her magic
>"Alright then... So," she asks, bringing the bowl and plate down to eye level, "which of you ordered the pot pie?"
>"That'd be me," Vinyl replies, smiling greedily as her pie floats into position before her
>"And the pasty's yours, I take it?"
>Looking up at the server, you give a quick nod
"Yep."
>"Here you go, then," she says, bringing down the plate with your pasty on it. "You two lovebirds have a lovely evening, now."
>"Lovebirds...?"
"You feckin' what, mate?"
>"O-oh, I'm sorry," the waitress says, taken aback. "I... I just-"
>"Chillax. It's cool," Vinyl assures her, calming things down. "But yeah, me and 'Tavius here are just friends. Right, dude?"
"Right, right. We're just... ol' mates, catchin' up over a bit of a nosh-up. Yeah."
>"Of course. My mistake." The waitress bows before taking a step back. "Enjoy your meal, then."
"Cheers."
 
>As the waitress leaves, the two of you immediately dig in
>With Vinyl wolfing through her pie at record speed, relaying the details of Neon's ass-kicking by the police between mouthfuls, you take a massive bite out of your pasty
>You catch yourself almost moaning as the flavour hits you, taking you back to the days of your youth
>Swallowing, you breathe a contented sigh as you get ready to take another bite
>And another
>By the time you're halfway through your meal, you look up to find your friend's already polished off her own
>Smirking, she watches you, resting her head upon a hoof as you continue munching your pasty
>Swallowing your latest bite, you look back at her sheepishly
"Sorry, mate. I know I'm a bit of a slow eater..."
>"Nah, it's cool." As her eyes wander down to what's left of your meal, Vinyl licks her lips. "Though," she adds, "mind if I help you out with that?"
"Oh, you want a nibble?"
>"Yeah, if that's cool with you."
>Smiling softly, you nudge the plate across the table a bit, towards your friend
"Sure, knock y'self out."
>Raising her knife and fork with her magic, she carves out a generous chunk of the pasty for herself. "Thanks, 'Tavius," she says cheerfully, popping it into her mouth
>Swooning, Vinyl seems to melt into her chair as she chews
>Before you know it, she's already taken a second bite for herself
>You grin as you see the mare become acquainted with the finest of Cobwall cuisine
"Pretty pukka, innit?"
 
>Her mouth stuffed, Vinyl can only nod enthusiastically in response
>After she swallows, though, you notice her breathing a little harder than usual
>And you don't remember her eyes being red like that either
"Vinyl..."
>She freezes, a fresh piece still on her fork. "Yeah, 'Tavius?"
"Y'right? Your face is lookin' a bit... dicky there."
>At that moment, Vinyl's eyes begin watering up
>Blackened water streams down her cheeks soon after, her makeup mixing with fresh tears
>Her knife and fork fall to the table with a loud clatter as her magic fades
>"'Tavius..." Vinyl mutters, her breathing laboured. "What... what was in that...?"
"Uh, bloody... carrot, onion, potato, swede, aubergine..."
>"Swede?" She coughs noisily before wheezing. "What's swede?"
"Uh... fuck, fuck..."
>Worriedly, you rack your brain, trying to think of what they call swede in the rest of Equestria
"What's the word... fuckin'... Yellow turnip? Rutabaga?"
>"Rutabaga?" Vinyl wheezes again, her forehoof shaking. "I'm... allergic to those...!"
>With those words, she collapses onto the carpeted floor below
 
>Giving zero fucks about proper etiquette at this stage - not that you gave that many to begin with - you immediately leap across the table to Vinyl's side in response
>The clatter draws the attention of nearby patrons who begin forming a circle around the two of you, worried but unsure how to act
>Unlike them, however, you decide to actually ask
"Bloody hell! What do I do?"
>Weakly, she tries to reach for her saddlebags
>However, without the focus needed to use her magic, her clumsy unicorn hooves can't manage the buckle
>"EponyPen," she squeaks between breaths, tapping her bags
>Frantically, you undo her bag buckles, throwing the flaps open
>Digging out a narrow yellow box, you hold it up to Vinyl's face
"This one?"
>After a quick look at the box, she nods. "Yeah," Vinyl gasps, her breaths becoming more forced by the second
>As you open the box and draw out the autoinjector, she weakly taps a hoof against her hindleg
>Nodding, you pop the cap off before driving the needle deep into your friend's thigh
 
>Though it seems to do nothing at first, you notice Vinyl's breathing begin to ease after around the twenty-second mark
"Vinyl... you right, mate? Need me to give the ambulance a ring?"
>"Yeah, I'm fine, but you..." she answers, breathless. "You should call them. Thanks... 'Tavius."
"Got it. No prob."
>You wipe the sweat from your brow before getting up, turning to face the stunned crowd behind you
"Alright, you lot. Any of you bastards try to ring an ambulance yet?"
>The ponies in the crowd murmur to one-another before collectively shaking their heads
"Bloody hell. Uh... You there!"
>Doing your best to project authority with your voice, you raise your hoof, pointing towards a timid yellow mare in the crowd
>The pony gasps, raising a hoof to her mouth. "Who, me?"
"Yes, you! Go get on the blow-"
>You catch yourself, realising this pony might not be as familiar with your slang as Vinyl
"Er, that is, get on the -telephone- and -call- the ambulance. Right now! My mate... uh, -friend- here's havin' an allergic reaction!"
>You almost feel dirty as the unnatural-sounding words pass from your lips
>Still, if it means saving Vinyl's life, you decide you're willing to tolerate it, at least this time
>The bystander nods, whimpering. "O-okay," she whispers, spreading her wings before floating off to the bar
>With that sorted, you turn your attention back down to the mare at your hooves
 
"Alright, Vinyl. Help's comin'. Don't worry."
>Chuckling weakly in response, Vinyl smiles up at you. "I'll... be fine. It's gonna take more than some wannabe turnip to kill me, 'mate'."
>Normally, you'd feel like laughing with her, happy for her to be taking the piss out of you
>But these aren't exactly normal circumstances
>Instead, you slip your hooves around her to give her a firm hug
>Though she hesitates at first, you feel her own hooves wrap around you after a couple seconds
>After a brief embrace, you pull away, getting back up onto all fours
>Still woozy from her encounter with anaphylaxis and the effects of the injection, Vinyl opts to stay down on the ground for now
"So... you need anythin'? Cup o' water...?"
>Vinyl scratches her chin, pondering for a few seconds. "Actually," she says, her eyes wandering over to the counter, "I -could- go for a donut right about now, dude."
"Righto. You still like the strawberry ones, yeah?"
>Your friend shoots you a grin in response. "You know it. With extra sprinkles!"