Small Hooves, Big Steps [Anzellous]

Cabel nodded and laughed.

"Yeah," he said. "That's not the first time I've heard that."

He liked this. It surprised him by how much he really liked this. She reminded Cabel of what it felt like to be starving but not realize it until someone set down a plate of food before him. He didn't believe in love at first site, or maybe he did. No, he most definitely did.

"I would like to ask you out again," Cabel said. "Something like this, again, with no pressure. I'd like to take you to the museum. Have you ever gone? Would that be okay? It's okay if you say no. I won't be upset. Well, I mean, I'll be sad because you're really nice but I wouldn't hold it against you because--"

Cabel realized he was rambling and took another mouthful of water.

Cabel perked up considerably. He nodded so fast that his hair swooshed out of place and he had to flick his head to the side to make it align back up.

"Trick or treating would be great," Cabel said. "I would love to take you to get some candy apples. it would be fantastic."

He realized he'd just made the assumption that she'd liked candy apples because, seriously, who didn't like candy apples?* He took another sip of water, and then another. This was going great. She was the best thing to happen to him and to think, all he had to do was fall off a bookshelf and get a concussion.

"I'm still in the dorms and I don't have a car, but I can pick you up," Cabel said. "I'm really good at getting things. I can probably get us a car if you don't want to walk. Halloween at...six?"


*

Cabel considered this for a moment and then nodded.

So unicorns were more like horses, not goats. Take that Lochlann, that'll show that prissy fuckboy.

Cabel finished his soup and then his drink a moment later, and when he saw her reaching for her wallet, he shook his head and pulled out his own.

"Please," Cabel said. "Let me get it."

He seemed to realize what that might seem like, so he waved his hands again and said, "I'm not trying to send any kind of message or do anything weird--if you really want to pay, you can--it's just that I appreciate you spending time with me, and I wanted to treat you since you put up with my song. Would that be okay?"