The familiar sound of the clinic doors opening causes Rhino to look up. A yellow pegasus mare with purple mane walks in with a small pet carrier on her back. She approaches the desk where the stallion is sitting, since Manila doesn’t come in until later.

The vet straightens his white coat before addressing the mare. “Good morning ma’am. How may I help you?”

She gives him a winning smile. “I was just bringing in Mittens for her first checkup.” She motions to the carrier on her back where a tiny ball of fur can be seen curled up inside.

Rhino nods as he looks at the little one. “A calico is it? Alright.” He brings out a form and starts scribbling down information before looking back up at her. “Your name, Miss?”

“Oh, my name is Silk Tease.” She answers.

He scribbles down a few more things before standing up and coming around the desk and offering her a hoof. “Good to meet you ma’am, I’m Doctor Rhino and I’ll be performing the examinations this morning.” As they shake hoofs, he continues. “Alright Miss Tease, if you would follow me, we can go ahead and start on Mittens.”

He leads her back to the examination room. Once there, she sets the carrier on the table and lets the tiny calico kitten out to wander around. As the unicorn pets the kitten while listening to her heart, Silk speaks up. “So... do you run this place all by yourself?”

Rhino nods as he checks the kitten’s limb movement. “Only in the early mornings, one of my coworkers gets here in about an hour. So, is this your first kitten?”

“No no, I have cats before.” As he works she looks him over. “It’s just been a while, and I figured she would help with how empty the house feels.”

“Ah, I know how that feels.” He takes a look in the feline’s ears. “It’s not good for a pony to be alone in a house. They need companionship.”

Observing how gentle he is with her pet, Silk smiles as her eyes narrow slightly. “Oh I couldn’t agree more...but there are always ways to combat the loneliness.”

Rhino chuckles as Mittens swipes at him playfully. “Indeed there are.” He speaks to the cat. “You’re a feisty one aren’t you?”

The yellow mare giggles. “Surely that’s not a bad thing?”

For the first time during the examination, he looks up at her. “Not at all, it’s perfectly normal.”

The rest of the examination goes smoothly, and soon they are back up front. As she pays him, Silk’s tail flicks once. “So, when will I see you again, Doctor?”

He makes note of a few things before smiling and answering. “You’ll need to come back in a few weeks for the next round of boosters. Is that alright?”

She nods. “Definitely,” she waves coyly to him as she leaves, “I look forward to our next appointment...”

***

Gel arrives through the side door, making her way to the employee lounge. Time to clock in. She takes her card and punches it before putting it back in its slot. I suppose I should get my table assignments for today. Where is Miss Tease? She glances around, confused. Isn't she supposed to be working with the rest of us today?

One of the other waitresses notices Gel looking around and walks over to her. "Hey, Angel! If you're looking for the boss, she took the day off to take care of a personal errand."

She blinks in surprise, staring at the other mare. "...oh. I didn't know that." She rubs the back of her neck, sheepishly smiling. "...so...where do I get my assignment for today?"

"Well, apparently, the higher-ups took another look at the budget and controversially decided that we would take a few bits out of our lace fund to splurge on..." she motions to the wall behind her, "a chart!" As the sarcasm practically drips from her exasperated tone at how long it took them to get the new wall decoration, the layout of the restaurant can be seen clearly marked with a server's name tacked to each table and spares of each name in a small container to the side.

Gel stares blankly at this for a few moments. "...seriously." Well, I won't have to consult with Miss Tease for my assignments, anymore...even though I enjoyed talking with her. She takes a closer look, frowning slightly. "...um...w-why am I assigned to one of the private booths?"

The other maid shrugs. "Probably because you needed to get experience with those too. Only one things different with those: always knock before you go in. Trust me, it's just better for everypony that way."

"...if you say so..." She nods, straightening her headpiece before stepping out of the room. First stop, the so-called 'couple's booth'. She stops in front of it, knocking softly. Here's to hoping there's someone in there, if only so I don't look like a fool.

Whispering happens behind the closed door before a mare's voice calls. "Come in!"

Gel enters the room, smiling softly at the mares sitting at the table. "...um...h-hi, my name is Angelic Grace...I'll be your waitress this afternoon..." She pulls out a pad and pen, holding it up. "...m-may I take your drink request?" So far, so good.

The blue and pink maned beige cream colored mare raises her hoof. "I'll have a sweet tea please."

The mint colored unicorn next to her nods afterwards. "And I'll have a lemonade."

Gel nods quietly, writing them down as quickly as possible. "I'll be back with your drinks soon." She bows before exiting the room and heading over to the drink area. It's nice that those two aren't afraid of what other ponies would think of their relationship. I have to wonder why they're here, though...maybe one of them is testing the other's commitment? I dunno...

She gives the order to the drink pony and heads off to her other table, her notepad floating in the air next to her. She stops next to the stallion, smiling kindly. "...h-hello...my name is Angelic Grace, and I'll be your waitress...m-may I take your drink request?"

The dark brown stallion looks her up and down. "Well, hey there, sweet cheeks! Start me off with a strong root beer!" He gives her a slightly unsettling smile.

She nods, writing it down. "...w-will do, sir..." Ignore the smile and it'll go away. She turns and hurries off, shivering slightly. That stallion just had to be a horndog... She stops by the drink pony, sighing softly. "...h-here you go..."

The mare couple's drink clink as they are set out on a tray for her to take.

Gel quickly takes up the drinks and heads over to the private booth. She puts a hoof on the handle before recalling the other waitress's words. ...oh, right. Knock first. She raises the hoof away and knocks gently on the wood.

This time, instead of whispering, a shuffling sound is heard before the mare's voice sounds. "C-come in!" As the door opens, the two mares both have bright smiles on their faces, but their manes seems slightly messier than when they were last seen.

She blinks at this, silent for a few moments. ...I think I'm glad that I knocked... "H-here are your drinks." She floats a glass of dark liquid over to the cream-colored mare. "Sweet tea." She gives the other to the unicorn. "And lemonade. A-are you ready to order your food?"

They nod as the earth mare answers. "Yes, we'll just have one of your mixed vegetable dishes to share please." The mint mare nudges her a few times and motions to Gel with her eyes. "Oh right, and umm... would you mind if i ask where this place gets the uniforms?"

She looks up from her pad, intrigued by the question. "...um...honestly, I don't know...m-maybe I could ask for you, though, Miss?"

"Bon Bon, and yes, that would be great." She smiles winningly at the waitress.

...I suppose that may be part of the reason they're here. Huh. "I'll be sure to do that, Miss Bon Bon." She smiles softly. "For you and your friend." She turns to leave, glancing at the pad and flinching. ...I actually wrote down 'a uniform' on this? What was I thinking?

After dropping the order off, she speaks to one of the other waitresses. Apparently the uniforms are made by a little shop in Canterlot. They give her the shop's business card before sending her back to the stallion's table.

She stops next to the stallion, carefully putting his drink in front of him. "A, um...strong root beer..." She brings up her pad, smiling softly. "...are you ready to order?"

"Almost, let me just take a look here..." He holds the menu in front of him, glancing from it, to her, and back again. After he has his fill of looking at her, he puts in down. "Just give me the special, and maybe a wiggle or two on your way back." He gives her a wink.

She blinks at this, confused. ...did he really say what I think he did? "...o-of course, sir..." She walks away, trying to keep herself from accidentally giving any signs of attraction. I have to get him his food. It doesn't mean I have to enjoy it.

She grabs the food for the couple and heads over to the both, knocking as usual. This time there is only pleasant chatter for a second before they tell her to come in.

She enters, smiling kindly. "Your mixed vegetable dish, Miss." She places the plate between them and bows politely. "Oh, and I found out where we get the uniforms. It's from a little store in Canterlot." She pulls out the card, giggling a bit. "It's all right here." I'll write down the address in my journal before I take that stallion his special. Who knows if I'll ever need to go there.

"Thanks for doing this for us." The cream mare says.

The unicorn nods. "Yeah, maybe they make some other things too..." her eyes go glassy as she gets a goofy smile on her face.

A thump from under the table and a flinch from the mare show that her friend had kicked her as she hisses. "Lyra!"

Lyra blushes and rubs the back of her head. "Right, fantasize at home."

Gel giggles, waving a hoof at this. "I'll give you two your privacy for fantasizing. I'll be back in a bit to see if there's anything else I can help you with." She smiles softly as she leaves, scribbling down as much as possible in her journal while walking over to get the stallion's food. Those two seem like a lovely couple. And, with all that love coming off the both of them, I doubt they'll be breaking up any time soon.

She gets the stallion's food and heads over to his table, this time he is watching as she approaches and apparently enjoying every second of it.

She blushes brightly, starting to feel warm. N-not good. T-there's too much lust coming from him. I have to keep myself in check! She puts the plate in front of him, keeping a bit of distance between them. "H-here's the special, as you requested, sir...w-will there be anything else?"

More of his unsettling smile. "How about an address? A guy could get used to seeing a mare like you whenever he wanted."

Uh oh. "W-well, I don't know...m-my roommate might not like that..." She steps back a bit, unnerved. I do not like that smile. Not his overall demeanor.

"I think I got enough in me to take care of two fine mares." He looks around. "Which one of these girls lives with you?"

"Actually, he doesn't work here. He's a veterinarian." Here's to hoping that it deters him.

"He?" The stallion frowns. "Looks like somepony beat me to it. On your way then, minx." He waves her off like she is not worth his time anymore.

She turns away and rolls her eyes. Yeah, definitely don't like that kind of pony. At least I didn't have to lie to that sleazebag. Hate being a liar. She arrives at the kitchen, looking at another waitress there. "...that stallion was kind of...rude..."

The other waitress peeks around her to see who she is talking about. "Oh... him... yeah, he's one of those bad ones, but he isn't the worst. He's tried all his sleazy moves and all of us at one point, but once he figures out he doesn't have a chance, he moves on. It's the persistent ones you gotta look out for."

Gel shivers slightly, uncomfortable with those words. ...I hope I never have to worry about a persistent one... "...t-thank you for explaining that...I'm glad he won't be trying that any more with me..." ...I have to wonder, though...did he come here today because he heard there was a new waitress? She shrugs, returning to her tables to take care of her customers.

***

Gel arrives home and enters the building, sighing softly. ...I'm glad that's over...I never thought work would be so trying... She takes out her journal and writes down the events of the day, not wanting to chance falling asleep beforehoof. She moves into the living room and lays down on the couch as she finishes. She sighs quietly, looking around a bit. ...where's Rhino?

The stallion in question comes down the stairs as if he was summoned. He looks over the mare as he speaks. "I thought I heard you get home... rough day at work?"

"...you could say that..." She takes off her headpiece, looking up at him. "...some stallion tried to hit on me today...but he backed off when I said I had a stallion as my roommate..." She rolls her eyes and lays her whole body on the couch, her hooves dangling off the edge. Sleazebag. He isn't a thing like Rhino.

A series of unreadable expressions cross Rhino's face before he settles on a neutral one. "Was he respectful?"

"...when I said you were a stallion, he said, and I quote, 'Looks like somepony beat me to it. On your way then, minx.'" She shakes her head, frowning. "I don't think he was concerned with being respectful."

A deep growl echoes from the stallion's chest. "I see..." He closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths. "Was the... rest of the shift more enjoyable?"

"Oh, definitely!" She giggles, recalling the couple she waited on. "There were these two mares who were eating in a private booth. They were so nice, and they gave me a nice tip, too. Of course, I did give them the location of the shop where the restaurant got these outfits. In fact, the address is in my journal!" She pulls it out and turns it to the page, showing it to him. "See?"

He chuckles a bit at the address. "Heh, that's the same district as my dad's house. Never knew there was a shop like that around there." He looks back up at her. "I'm glad most of your day was pleasant."

"So am I." She gently leans over and nuzzles his cheek, precariously perched on the edge of the couch. "I'm enjoying it more now that I'm with you, though."

When you say things like that, it makes me wonder... He nuzzles her back a moment before asking quietly. "And why would you say that is?"

"...um..." She squirms a bit, nervous. ...do it...just confess, already! "...b-because you're my...b-best friend..." She mentally facehooves. We have to agree with the judge from Stalliongrad on this one. One out of ten.

He carefully keeps his face blank. That may be the current state of affairs, but is it where you wish to stop? He smiles down at her. "Are you tired? Do you want a blanket to take a quick nap or something?"

She shrugs slightly, quickly jotting down a few notes in her journal. "...sure...but..." She looks up at him, smiling softly. "...would you mind joining me?" She blushes softly, looking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes. Please agree, Rhino. It'll make this day that much better...

His eyes lock with hers. "Well... since you asked so nicely..." He walks off and comes back with a thin blanket. "Sure."

She smiles softly, sitting up slightly to look at him better. "...thank you, Rhino...so..." She glances at the couch beneath her for a moment, confused. "...h-how is this going to work? S-should I get up so you can lay down?" Embarrassment, thy name is Gel.

He scratches the back of his head with a hoof. "That would probably be best... if I was to sit down second, I would probably squish you..."

She silently nods, standing up and motioning to the couch. "...a-after you, then..."

Rhino nods and settles himself up against the back of the couch so there is room for her. He shuffles around a moment before stretching out, his rear hooves almost going off the edge. "Your turn..."

She lays down on the couch, her belly pressed up against his and their faces next to each other. She giggles softly, gently kissing the tip of his nose. "...is this a good move, Rhino?" How corny of a line can I say? That, apparently...

...Not what I expected... At this point I'm starting to feel blind for not noticing any of this before... I guess it’s clear how she feels... He blushes heavily and doesn't move as he responds. "That depends on your perspective... It looks great to me..."

She blushes a bit, draping one of her forelegs over his chest. "...I'm glad..." He's blushing. I can only hope that means he's starting to see me in a better light. "...hey, Rhino?" Her other foreleg moves up to his cheek, rubbing it in tiny circles. "...I never got to ask...how was your day?"

He gulps from the attention, having to steady his thoughts before he can respond. "Oh, umm... you know... the usual clients, had a new mare who came in with her kitten... nothing too big. This is by far the most... interesting part of my day so far..."

She giggles, pulling him a little closer to herself. "...I'm happy to hear that..." I wish I could make it more interesting, but I worry that it would push him away. I suppose I'll make do with the rising affection, for now. Besides... She rests her head under his, sighing softly, accidentally starting to think out loud. "...this is just...perfect..."

As he feels her tucked up against him, Rhino's thoughts all seem to align. The clamor of his mind quieted, by a single unanimous thought. It is wonderful... but perhaps it is time I start think about making it truly perfect... for both of us... His tail wraps around hers as he slowly lets out a breath, simply enjoying her presence.

Soon enough, her even breathing is replaced with quiet snoring. Her journal falls to the ground behind them, as she had been writing in it until she fell asleep.

His horn quietly lights up as he levitates the book, giving the cover a glance before making sure it is shut and putting it on the end table. No need to read that, anymore... I know all I need to...