Girl Dinner

“Thanks babe, this looks good!”

Minette teased the collection of little paper bags open with her paws. They crinkled softly and gave way to reveal her latest trove of treats. She stood at the threshold of her home taking in the literal eye candy with a watering mouth.

“What even are these???”

Minette flipped over a bright yellow berry with her hoof and watched it tumble over its sunset colored brethren, unaware that she was one closed door away from pouring them all into her mouth.

Her dealer leaned closer to get a look and Minette quickly tilted the bag towards them to avoid getting smacked. Hollis, the mottled brown bun who brought her wild goods, was a dangerous combination of massive gluttony horns and little to no spacial awareness. They apologized, laughed, and gave her a slow, syrupy smile.

“Salmonberries…I think?” They shrugged. “Pretty though, right?”

“And these?”

Minette could see them eyeing the berries and replaced them with the next bag before Hollis could get any big ideas. It wouldn't be the first time the strange bun had sold her something and then asked for a bite. Hollis was right though. The berries smelled as good as they looked. Their scent hung in the air light and sweet, fighting for space with the sharp, salty sting of the next one. She tilted it towards them, frowning.

“Why's it— like this?”

If it weren't for the triple bag she was sure the contents would be soaking her paw the same way they'd already coated the paper in milky, cool grey slime. The sticky sound of its contents shifting around was either suggestive or just plain gross, but she wasn't going to say so.

“You're sure it's safe to eat?…”

She couldn't help but make a face looking at the— whatever they were. Each was about the size of a grape, coated in a thick shiny layer of ooze. Strings of the stuff connected them where they touched. They looked…squishy.

Hollis took one look at the contents and swelled with pride, as much as Hollis ever did.

“Yea so, I don't know what those are,”

They put their paws up before Minette could protest, looking more like they were about to dance than apologize.

“They're soooo good though. Spread like jelly and taste like a beach party. The scales are actually really soft and nice, you'll love these, I promise.”

Looking back down into the bag Minette realized they did in fact have scales. Pale, thin, transparent white ones overlapping under the gunk. She shuddered.

“Yea no way, you can take these back.”

But Hollis just waved it off and smiled like she was making a rookie mistake.

“They’re on the house, babe. Have some trust in me! I've never failed you before.”

Minette looked up at the other bun and frowned. Much as she didn't want to admit it, no, Hollis had never failed her before. That and the free stuff did wonders for their relationship. Still, Minette made a show of sighing and twitching her tail before folding the top of the bag down and fishing through soft pink pockets for her wallet.

“How much do I owe you?”

“I dunno, like, 300 carats?”

Wheeze.

Minette looked down at the assortment of bags gathered in the crook of her arm. 300 fucking carats…that was a third of her paycheck. Then again, she knew where she could get some extra money. Some of the bags looked really good— and more importantly, she also happened to know a bun in sore need of a treat. Tragically neglected, even.

Minette pulled out her satin purse, made a show of counting out the appropriate amount, and transferred her payment to Hollis with feeling. Hollis waited patiently for her organized procession of carat and painted hoof before dumping it all into their pocket.

“Thanks!”

They grinned down at her.

“And let me know how you like the salty ones, yea? It's a new thing I'm testing.”

Minette smiled back and thanked the dopey bun before going to close her door and— stopped.

“Hollis?”

They turned back around and waved with a huge smile on their face as if they hadn't just been talking to each other. It was almost enough to make Minette reconsider inviting them into her home but, no. For that price she was really going to treat herself.

“You think you could help me out? Just before you go?”

They clopped back over on light hooves without so much as a second question.

Minette couldn't help but feel a little pleased at that. Hollis made it so easy. They must be obsessed with her. Poor thing.

“Yea sure, what you need? This was my last stop, so. I'm yours, basically.”

And to think people said she was self centered. This was practically charity.

“Thanks babe! My stuff is in the kitchen. Come in? I'll show you around.”

The fluffy grey bun let them in with a pleasant smile on her face and led them both back to the kitchen.

What she'd managed to arrange so far covered up most of her counter space. Minette sighed just eyeing the spread— an assortment of olives neighbored candied strawberries and a tub of fluffy mascarpone cheese. Maraschino cherries sat atop fancy wafers, though some had rolled away— she bet now she could fix those into place with the cheese and ‘beach party' something. A sweet smell hung above it all, no doubt coming from her apple slices, which were currently luxuriating under a thick bath of honey, rice starch and wine.

“So basically, this is my snack tower,”

Minette set her bags down and allowed the two of them to bask in the glory of all her luxury goods marinating on the counter at once.

Hollis blinked and stared wide-eyed. Probably in shock, or awe, or both.

“My whore d'euvres or whatever,” Minette added with a flourish and toss of her ears, hands on hips as she thought best how to put the other bun to work. Hollis knew their way around a kitchen, right? At least well enough to be making her jams and edibles on a regular basis (both of which had been formed into a cake pop tray off to the side). The jam wept out of the brownie balls and settled along their perimeters as a multicolored plate glaze.

Hollis took it all in with a raised brow and nodded slowly.

“Yea I've been there for sure. The beast wants what it wants, you know?”

“???”

She did not really know, no, and decided not to ask. Just Hollis things, she supposed.

“Right, so— you'll notice this is all— a bit bleeurgh, right now.”

Minette gestured out towards the scattered canape’ with a pink hoof, changing the subject.

“The idea was to stack it all in an actual tower then pick off that with tiny forks.”

Hollis puffed out a cheek in thought.

“So you want all this like…Jenga style?”

“Think more elaborate snack cake? I have enough marscapone.”

Minette looked up at the other bun through her lashes.

“I'd do it myself, but I’m just beat from all the cooking.”

They didn't need much convincing. Especially after she added they could snack as they worked.

Hollis popped a scaly beach orb into their mouth and then into hers— it was good— chewy and hard to keep from slipping through her teeth, but good. Gooey, savory. After that they took their flannel off and got to work.

Minette smiled up at the other bun and settled in for what she knew would be a night of snacking she really deserved, eye candy and all. Hollis could figure out the details for her, and she was more than happy to curl up in a lovechair while they did.