Love Letters, ch. 2- The “Date”
Diamondback was out of the shower and felt much cleaner. He came down the stairs, expecting to see that Love Letters had left while he was taking a shower, but she had not. She waited just as she said she would.“Well,” he said, “we should probably head out now.”
“Okay.” Said Letters in her same sing-song tone, and Diamondback found himself once again strongly attracted to this lavendar unicorn. “No, you know you can’t get attatched to anypony…” He thought to himself. “But still…” Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Diamondback went to the door and opened it, holding it open for Love Letters.
“Such a gentlecolt!” She sang. At first Diamondback thought she was just teasing him, but when he looked at her, he could tell it was a sincere statement. He blushed heavily. To try to hide his embarassment, he turned around to lock up his store, but she had still seen his maroon coloring, causing her to giggle a little, which set off another bout of heavy blushing from him. “You seem so uptight. Relax a little. We’re just two new friends going out for coffee! It’s not like we’re going on a date or anything…” She began walking and Diamondback trotted up where he was walking next to her. When he caught up to her, he could’ve sworn he heard her whisper “Are we..?”.
Eager to change the subject, Diamondback asked, “Um… so where are going?”
Letters seemed like she was in a different world altogether. “Hm? Oh, it’s a new place in town. It’s called Sweet Pea’s Teas.”
“Huh… never heard of it… Course, then again, I don’t really get out much anymore…”
“Yeah, Skyheart told me about that… When was the last time you got some fresh air?”
“Um… depends… does an open door and a gust of wind count as ‘fresh air’?”
She giggled again. “No…” Diamondback looked down.
“Then last month.” he said sounding slightly ashamed. Love Letters looked at him.
“Oh, you poor dear!” She said, her voice filled with legitimate concern. “That’s not healthy!”
“I’m fine,” he said, sounding rather meancing, although he didn’t mean to. However, the damage was done, and they walked the rest of the way to the café in silence.
Once they were seated, however, Love Letters once again risked conversation about the subject. “So, what exactly happened between you two? I mean Skyheart told her side, but I want to hear yours.”
“Oh, well, it’s not really that important. Besides, I’d rather talk about you. What do you do?” said Diamondback, again wanting very much to avoid the topic of what had happened between him and Skyheart
“Oh, well, I’m a novelist. I write love stories.”
“Oh, that’s… cool…” Diamondback said, trying not to sound demeaning. Most of the love stories he had heard about and read had been very poorly written, and he rarely made it past the first chapter. Although there was that one that had been, in a word, rivoting…
“Good love stories!” Love Letters said defensively. “I actually put some thought into mine… I’ve actually been published, not to brag or anything…” she blushed a little as said the last few words.
“Luna she’s cute when she does that…” “What was the book?”
“And so the Tides Recede,” she said, blushing even harder.
“Oh, no way! I’ve read that book! It was one of my favorites, not to mention the only one capable of keeping my interest…” Diamondback suddenly had a lot respect for the lavendar unicorn that sat across from him.
Their drinks came and soon they were chating about everything, from Love Letters’ upcoming new book, to Diamondback’s latest designs, even though Letters didn’t seem to understand his profession very much. He appreciated her effort though.
After they both finished their drinks, Diamondback offered to walk Letters home, and she happily (almost a little too happily for Diamond’s comfort) accepted. The sun was beginning to set as they left.
When they reached Love Letters’ home, Diamondback became appalled. “You LIVE here?” He asked, indicating the tin roof… Well, hut was about the only word he could think of to describe it.
“Well, when you live on a writers’ budget, you can’t exactly afford the best living conditions. Besides, it’s cozy…” She said, her voice trailing off as she looked pensively at her home.
“No, I will not allow one of the great minds of Equestria to live in such squalor. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to build you a somewhat decent house.” he said, already formulating what it would look like.
“Oh, no! I could never ask you to do that!” she said, blushing mildly from the attention.
“You’re not, I’m offering to do it.”
“Oh… well, I suppose that’s okay… but where am I supposed to stay while you’re working?” “Well, I still have another spare bedroom, if you want…”
“Oh, that would be terrific! Thank you so much! I’ll move in first thing tomorrow morning!” She suddenly threw her front legs around Diamondback in a hug, which caught him off gaurd. Then she did something even more unexpected: she planted a light kiss on his cheek, sending a warm feeling throughout Diamondback’s body, then ran inside her hut, leaving Diamondback standing outside smiling like an idiot for no reason he could think of.
Diamondback stood glued to the spot in front of Letters’ hut until the sun had gone down and the moon was up.
“What was that? A kiss? Well, yes, obviously a kiss, but for what? As thanks for offering to build her a decent house, or was she trying to hint at something? And if so, what, exactly? Does she want to be more than friends? And why did I like it so much?”
Diamondback had a thousand questions running through his head at a million miles an hour, so he figured he should get home and sleep on these thoughts and feeling he was having toward the lovely mare. Diamondback arrived home to find Skyheart drinking… again.
“What are you so fucking happy ‘bout?” she said, her speech slurred. Any happiness Diamondback had been feeling went away instantly, as did his smile.
“Nothing.” he said in his usual cool and calm monotone.
“Ah, whatever. I don’t friggin’ care.” she draped herself over a display case, a cider bottle rolling out of her hoof and onto the floor. She hiccuped.
“Hey, where were you anyway? (hic) Usually I come (hic) home, and you’re here, (hic) workin’ in your friggin’ workshop (hic), doing Celestia knows what…”
“If you must know, I was out having a drink with a friend.” he said maintaining his cool, calm, and collected demeanor despite the fact that Skyheart’s inquaries were beginning to irritate him. He started heading to his workshop. He was going to have to forgo sleep again in order to get the blueprints done.
“Wait a (hic) minute. Since when (hic) do go out (hic), much less (hic) have friends?” Diamondback sighed. It was going to be a long night indeed…
