Taste Test (R, S)

Thank you to Orifalcon, who does the pictures for the branch

“You’re here. I-I’m glad you came.” She stopped waving, nervously putting both hands behind her back.

“Of course. I saw all your messages.”

“Right.” She looked down at the ground for a moment. “I don’t usually do that many messages in a row, but I was both excited for showing you what I made and a little nervous about everything I planned for today.”

“You have a lot planned?” He asked, following as she began back down the path back to the plaza and the forest.

“Y-yeah. I thought we might be able to do something more familiar in the evening and make dinner together with another lesson, but I wanted to try being more adventurous earlier in the day. You’ll see when we get there.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I like your outfit by the way.” He complimented. He’d been thinking it, but it helped that Luna reminded him to actually say it out loud.

“Thank you. The skirt was something I bought once when I saw it at the mall, but I’ve never actually worn it before today since Mom always warned me not to wear something like this or I’d attract too much attention. The sweater I actually bought with the last of my BP. I wasn’t actually sure if I could afford it but Ata pointed out that she could give me a discount if I was willing to have a deeper neckline. I hoped it’d go well with my new hair.”

“It does.” He agreed.

He let his eyes wander over the sweater. It revealed the same small amount of cleavage that he’d seen when he’d first approached, but even that it was scandalous by the pinkette’s standards. Like the blue dress on the previous date, he found himself staring at the curve of her large chest. It wasn’t the result of a transformation like Felicia or Maeve, just a natural part of her that was usually hidden under baggy hoodies and sweatpants.

“You’re staring at me.” Stella pointed out.

“I’m so sorry.” He said, quickly averting his eyes.

“Do you like looking at it?”

It? Is she talking about her outfit, her chest, or… He wasn’t sure, but since the answer was the same either way he tried to answer honestly. “I do?”

She giggled in response. “I, like, guess that’s alright then. I’ll tell you if it gets to be too much.”

Huh. I’m glad she thought that was funny. He was still wondering for a moment what she meant with her question when it was dragged down his priority list as he noticed her highlights swirl up, the pink lightening further.

“Can I ask what’s happening with that?”

She blushed as she put a hand up to her hair. “This? My hair gets pink when I’m happy or… other positive emotions.” Which technically isn’t a lie. She tried to justify to herself.

“Then hopefully I can make it completely pink for you today.” Dick promised, which elicited another giggle.

“Hopefully.” She agreed. They’d passed the plaza and gone down into the forest during their little walk. “It should be coming up here soon.”

As they went down the path, they saw a sign for Jensen’s Animal Shelter and Pet Cafe. It was a pretty small building and it looked rustic and traditional, like you’d see on one of those Waypoint romance movies where someone visited their hometown for Christmas.

“An animal shelter?” Dick asked.

Stella softly shrugged. “I don’t know if the animals were actually rescued from anywhere, but I thought it’d be cute.”

“I don’t have much experience with animals, but I’m looking forward to trying it with you.” He opened the front door of the faux business and held it open for her, passing a little wooden table and chairs outside.

They entered an empty room, black laminate floor shining like it was freshly waxed. A reception desk sat unmanned, and above there was a little board listing which had apparently been the ‘nicest’ and ‘naughtiest’ animals the previous week. He didn’t get closer to read the description, though he was a little curious what the rabbit on the board had done to earn the title of ‘naughtiest animal.’ A small kitchenette was just off to the side, while a hallway with the same laminate flooring was straight ahead. After they’d taken in the space, Stella broke the silence. “Did you want to see the puppies or the rabbits first?”

“Do you have any preference?”

“Not really. The dogs are all Golden Retrievers, if that makes a difference. I was originally thinking about Corgis, but I thought you might have more fun with the Goldens.”

“Then we’ll start there,” he agreed, leading them both down the hall to the dogs’ room. It was a short walk to a glass door, the inside about the size of his bedroom. There were a dozen food bowls, several soft beds, and the type of toys littered across the floor were what he’d imagine Golden Retrievers might like. There was only one problem. He turned back to Stella. “You said you asked for a bunch of Goldens?”

She nodded. “Are they not there?” Maybe I should have kept us at his place like last time.

He seemed to recognize something in her face and took her hand, pulling her into the room. “They’re in here, they’re just not alone.” He explained as a mixture of Retrievers, Labradors, Corgis, and at least three other breeds he didn’t recognize perked their ears as the door opened and clicked closed behind them. The pair sat down on the ground a few feet away from each other as several of the pups ambled over to them.

“Is this what they’re normally like?” Stella asked, as three dogs started to climb on her.

“I don’t think so?” Richard said, rubbing the head of a small dog with tassel like ears. “Like I said, I don’t know dogs very well. The only ones I ever got to know were the Dobermans that my uncle on Hel’s side professionally trained before his house burned down, and those dogs never did anything without permission.”

“Oh. I-I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. It was a long time ago, and he and Mom didn’t really like each other so I didn’t actually know him that well.”

“Oh.” How do I respond to that? Meanwhile, one of the dogs had brought her a tennis ball, which she gingerly took out of its mouth. Despite tossing it with all the strength of a summer breeze, several dogs ran for it and their roughhousing as they competed sent it bouncing around the room. One of the dogs that had been climbing on her before returned triumphant, climbing back onto her leg as it dropped the ball in her lap. Richard watched the pink streaks retreat as two more dogs crowded around her, **** for her to throw it again.

“Mind handing that to me?” He asked. Stella nodded, keen to give up the responsibility foisted upon her by the canine horde. He threw the tennis ball and the labrador that had been begging for her attention a moment ago jumped off of and joined the others, all of them acting like they’d forgotten the pinkette.

He threw it for them to fight over and fetch a few more times, letting Stella quietly scooch over and lean on his shoulder.

“I think I confused Ata.”

“What makes you say that?”

Stella gestured to the room. “Only two of these are what I asked for. Which isn’t really bad, but it's weird.”

“Did something happen up there?”

She thought about it. “She asked me to explain what I wanted, like, four times. She needed super clear descriptions and still seemed pretty unsure. I got her to understand I wanted young, yellow dogs, but I guess she was just nodding along for the rest?”

He nodded, continuing what he was doing with the animals. With how much they’re jumping on each other, they could probably entertain themselves. “Do you want to leave and see the rabbits instead?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. You can go into the hall, I’ll distract them for a moment.” Stella nodded, not understanding what he was planning but trusting him with whatever he had in mind. After he heard the click he lobbed the ball at a corner of the wall ducking out of the room as the puppies barked and yipped at it bouncing around.

He joined her back in the hall, and they walked a little further down. They passed a room with some baby pigs playing in an inflatable pool of water. Stella ignored the piglets, and tried to continue towards the last room.

“What was that?” Dick asked. “The pig room?”

She turned back to him, her hand on the third room’s doorknob. “I don’t really know. When I wasn’t sure what to do with my last function to add, Ata started begging me for those pigs and trying to sneak them into the paperwork. The only time I’d seen her that passionate about anything was when she was threatening us during the challenge, so I decided to let her have it.”

“It’s a pity that she can’t come out here to see them.” He said, a little sad at the thought. The shopkeeper was confusing at the best of times and flipped between rude and barely responsive, but he still felt bad for her.

“There’s always the chance that the next challenge could give her the excuse to come out here.” Stella pointed out.

“As long as she isn’t trying to chase everyone down again.”

“C-can we go in now?”

“Of course.”

She nodded, opening the door and he followed. This room was much quieter, most of the bunnies asleep in two piles on top of each other. A mound of hay and a litter box were at opposite corners of the room, and a box labeled ‘Rabbit Treats’ was on a bench near the hay, a little ramp leading up from the floor. Rabbits can use a litter box? Dick was feeling more than ever how little he knew about animals.

The same white rabbit they’d seen on the ‘naughtiest animal of the week’ board was the only one awake, making little grunting noises at the treat box.

“I think it’s hungry.” Stella said, leaning down next to it. She opened the box and scooped up some of the discs inside, putting her open palm on the ground. The bunny ignored Dick sitting down next to her, purring as it began to eat out of the pink haired woman’s hand. Once it was done it turned back to the box, grunting as if demanding more.

***

They eventually left the rabbit’s room, the supposedly naughty animal getting its fill and joining its siblings in the cuddle pile. Stella took them back down the hallway but before she let them leave, she stopped at the kitchenette and took a lunchbox out.

“What’s up?” He asked.

“I prepared this earlier. Can we try something out on the table outside?”

Dick shrugged. “I can try anything once. What is it?”

Stella blushed. “Can it be a surprise?”

“Sure, if it that’s what you want.” He followed her as she led him to the wicker table, sitting down at the chair closer to the door. She set the lunchbox down on the table and moved the other chair closer to him. Before sitting down though, she opened the lunchbox and pulled something out.

“Is that Hel’s blindfold?” He asked in alarm.

“No. She has a few extras. Hazel gave me one after dinner yesterday at my request. I want you to put it on.”

“Are you su-” He started to question her, before remembering his promise a moment ago. “Sure, I’ll do it.” He slipped the black blindfold on, feeling a chill from it having been hidden in the fridge. There was a soft rustling that he presumed was from the lunchbox, but without his sight there was nothing he could do but wait for directions.

“Can you open your mouth wide for me?” He heard. He did as he was told, and felt two slices of bread -no, a sandwich. The bread had a slight crispiness to it. “Now go ahead and eat.” He took a big bite. There was a sweetness and a strong creamy texture.

“So, what do you think?” The question came after he

“It’s good.”

“Can I give you more then?” He opened his mouth, letting her feed him again. “What can you taste?”

He tried to think. “There’s tomato, and lettuce. Some sort of cheese spread. Is this a BLT?”

“Not quite. Let me know when you’re ready to try again.” Her voice sounded like she was having fun.

“Can I get some water first?”

“Oh! Sure, I’ll get some from inside for you, I’ll just… I guess I’ll leave that here. Don’t move.” He heard the door open and close behind him.

While he was trying to indulge her, he wished that he could at least see while she was gone. What did she decide to leave here?

She came back, and he could hear her moving around him as she talked. "Do you want me to hand it to you, or should I help you drink it?”

“You can just hand it to me.” He tried to get a grip on the glass, grabbing it as she tried to put it in his hand. He took a slow, long drink, careful not to **** or let it spill before trying to offer it back to her. She took it from him, and he heard the glass softly thud back onto the table. “Ok, I’m ready to try it again.”

She fed him another bite, waiting for his reaction and answer.

“That’s not bacon, is it?”

“No. Do you recognize it?”

“Pancetta?” He asked. Hel would be disappointed I didn't get that earlier.

“Good job. Do you recognize the cheese?”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“That’s alright. I’m going to give you another bite.” She let him have more of the sandwich. “How about now?”

“Mozzarella? It tastes a little different, but I can’t place how.”

“You’re very close. It’s burrata, which is a type of mozzarella mixed with cream. I also added a little mayo and lemon juice this morning when I was making the sandwiches for us this morning.” She paused. “Do you want to continue this, or should I hand you the rest?”

He held out his hand, and she gave him the remaining half of his sandwich. He finished it still wearing the blindfold. He could hear her movement. While he couldn’t see her, it felt like she was incredibly close.

“I know parts of this were probably strange,” Stella started. “But I enjoyed it. Can I ask you some things?”

Dick nodded.

“You like the way I look?”

“Yes.”

“If we were to do something like this again, where you were blindfolded or I was telling you what to do, would you be open to that? Would you like that? With me?”

I… He tried to think it through. Saying yes feels like a bad precedent, but it is Stella. What’s the worst that could happen? “Next time, I’d like more warning as to what’s happening. But if this is something you want to explore… I’m not saying no right now.”

“Then I’d like you to take off the blindfold.”

He slipped it off and saw her standing there in front of him. She’d slipped off her skirt at God-knows-when, and the way she was holding onto her sweater it was impossible not to see her panties.

As his vision went up from there, everything was pink. From her fingernails where she was holding onto her sweater, to the sweater herself. From the blush spread across her face as she looked down at him, all the way up to the fuchsia that she was filled with to her roots.

Everything was pink.