Nodding, Granyl held the plate using his mouth, mumbling a thank you as he carefully trotted over to the counter and sat it down, before getting himself situated on a stool. He slowly began eating, raising his head and looking at Midnight as he swallowed what was currently in his mouth. "So, Midnight." He began, but took another small bite of the meal in front of him before continuing. "How would you feel about coming to Ponyville with me today?" As he finished his question, he began eating again, seeming to be enjoying it by the look on his face.

She was eating quietly, stretching her wings a little as she did. She smiled as she noted he seemed to be enjoying the food. When he said her name her ears perked up and then when he asked her to accompany him to Ponyville she was surprised to say the least. She hadn't exactly expected him to ask her that but she shrugged a bit, "I guess it wouldn't hurt, if you're sure you don't mind me going with you... " She opened her mouth to say something else but figured she wouldn't and continued eating, smiling a bit wider at the look on his face. Her cheeks began to hurt and she sighed, knowing she hadn't really smiled in a while but she hadn't realized it had been so long that just after a few minutes she'd have to stop.

"Of course not," Granyl figured she'd have that sort of attitude towards the question, but pushed past it. "It'll be fun. Being out and about is always more enjoyable with somepony beside you." He knew those words were true from experience, and figured she might be a little more comfortable in town with someone that accepted her. He figured they could find more than a few things around Ponyville to amuse themselves with, while he occasionally searched for work.

Soon, he finished eating, having sped up over time after realizing just how hungry he actually was. He had small bits of the meal around his mouth, seeming to have missed actually being eaten and instead ended up on his face, making him look somewhat foolish without him even realizing it.

Midnight had finished eating, having cleaned her plate she nodded, "That would be nice, actually. I'm used to being alone so maybe it won't be so bad."
She went to get up and put her plate away when she looked at Granyl's face. She couldn't stop the smile and then the giggle that escaped her mouth at the bits of food around his mouth. Then, she did something she wouldn't have expected at all, a warm feeling rose in her chest and she began to laugh in a soft voice. She surprised herself a little at this and gasped lightly in between breaths. She took her plate and put it in the sink. She went to grab a towel, still giggling a little to herself as she looked for something to wipe his face.

Granyl was pleased with her response, simply keeping his happy expression. Though, as she giggled, he stared. The confusion on his face was as obvious as the food. "What?" He asked, unsure of what she was suddenly laughing about. He hadn't even considered the truth as a possibility, and simply stood up, watching as she began searching for something. He couldn't understand, instead grabbing his own plate and putting it in the sink as his thoughts continued to wander about what was happening that was so funny to her.

Was it something I said...?

She brought out a small washcloth and wet it with the faucet. Still giggling to herself, and then wondering why she found it so funny, turned to him and smiled. She reached up and gently wiped the food from around his mouth. After a moment she regained herself, "Sorry about that, you had food around your mouth and you looked kind of silly. I apologize for laughing, I don't know where it came from." She found that she couldn't keep herself from continuing to smile as she brought the cloth away from his face.

Granyl's eyes widened, feeling the cloth gently cross his mouth. He continued to stare blankly for a number of seconds after she finished, her explanation caused then causing him to look away slightly to the left, nervously laughing at the embarrassing moment. "Aah... Thanks." He responded slowly, looking back at her and the smile that was on her face. He returned her smile with his own, a moment of silence passing as he looked down at her, and admired how happy she currently seemed to be. It made him feel warm inside, the thought that he caused it.

She smiled and put the cloth on the sink and shook her head, "No problem at all. So when do you want to leave?"
She turned and started to clean the dishes, waiting for an answer from him.

"Whenever you're ready." Granyl answered, trotting off to get his bag. "I feel this could be a rather long day for me, so I consider it for the best to start early. Though if there is anything you wish to take care of, take your time." He wasn't exactly in a hurry, just trying to ensure daylight didn't end up running out for him before he got around to actually figuring out his money situation. Otherwise he'd be having a reunion with the ground somewhere...

Midnight shook her head, "No it's alright, I'll just finish washing these and we can head out." After a few minutes she had cleaned them and was going to leave them on the counter on a towel to dry. She turned to him.
"You know, you could stay here while you look for work if you want to. I really don't mind. If you don't find work right away, I don't think sleeping on the ground somewhere like you were about to last night is going to help anything."

Granyl paused, considering her words. "Hmm..." He thought about it for a moment. Having a warm bed to sleep in until he could manage to get a room at the Inn would be pleasant, he couldn't deny that. She didn't seem to mind, either. And having somepony to converse with would certainly be a treat; He missed having actual company. "You're right. I'll accept your offer, though... Only until I can get myself a room at the Inn. I wouldn't want to abuse your kindness."

She smiled and nodded, an odd yet familiar ping in her chest distracted her for an instant but she regained her composure as quickly as it left, "I don't mind, but you seem to have your mind made up. Well, shall we go?" She walked to the coat hanger on the opposite side of the wall by the door from her and went to get her small cape and seemed to debate on whether or not to wear the cowl, standing and staring at it for a moment.

Following after her, he stopped and watched as she stared at her cowl, deciding to pitch in. "You know, us zebras have been judged because of our differences as well. Our stripes, our markings and glyph's." He said, though not seeming discouraged by it. "But we each stand proud for who we are, and don't let others bring us down for being different. I don't think you should, either." He trotted up beside her, nodding. "You are who you are, and if some ponies don't wish to accept that simply due to appearances, it's their loss. Not yours."

As he started to talk she looked up at him with slightly wide eyes as she listened. After he had finished talking she disregarded the cowl and smiled lightly, tucking her wings under her cape as she did, "Thank you... I've probably seemed too self-conscious for my own good for the short time you've known me, huh?" She laughed nervously and walked for the door.

He glanced downwards as she trotted towards the door, thankful that it at least seemed to have help her. "It can be rather concerning, but your reasons are understandable." He said, as he continued to follow, momentarily thinking about how lost he'd be without her to help him get out of the forest. He shook off the thoughts of being lost in the place around him, smiling contently with his current situation.

Midnight reached for the door and it unlocked as she did. Swinging it open she walked outside and turned to wait for him, a light smile on her face. She was rather glad he wasn't going to leave right away. She figured until he did, she would make the most of it while she could. He was one of the few ponies in her life that accepted her and didn't judge her for how she looked, and she was glad that she had found somepony before she completely gave up hope on herself. However, there were so many things running through her mind; the fact that once Granly made enough money he would be leaving, the current situation, her going back into town again today, hoping that Granyl found work and she didn't scare anypony away that wanted to hire him. She shook her head. She needed to not have that state of mind but after a while everything started to get to you. Every negative thought found its way into the cracks of the mind and manifested. This would take time, she thought, and she hoped she could find a way to get over it. She felt rather pathetic being constantly self-conscious about how and who she was.

Granyl stepped outside, glancing about to make sure there wasn't any apparent danger. The place seemed somewhat more peaceful in the day, which he was thankful for, considering he didn't want to deal with Timberwolves again. He began to wonder how bad Midnight's situation had to be for her to act the way she did, had others truly treated her that badly? Shunned her so much because of these differences? It was something Granyl tried to look past, but every time the thought came into his head, it made him start feeling somewhat mad. Nothing major, but a small, irritating itch in the back of his mind that didn't go away until he was pulled away into something else. Today would be a day to get a grasp on the situation, and see just how bad it was to be in this pony's shoes.

"We're only outside your home and I already feel lost." He commented, somewhat as a joke, but he was serious as well. Last night didn't exactly give him the chance to try and note the path through Everfree Forest that they had taken before, between the darkness and the TImberwolves.

Midnight smiled softly and giggled, "Trust me, I got lost a few times before when I had no idea what this place was like by yourself. But then I realized it really wasn't too bad at all. It's rather easy to find your way out. It may look confusing but you know that stream we crossed last night? When you find that it's basically a straight path out of here. Come on!" Her smile seemed to falter a little as she turned and started walking towards the stream.

Granyl smiled at her enthusiasm to get going, unable to notice the lesser smile on her face as she turned. He followed, keeping note of the fact it was basically a strait shot out of the forest. He hoped things could stay this positive, as she seemed to be rather happy compared to last night. He began trying to think of where to actually go; As he had the idea to bring her along, but hadn't the slightest idea of what she'd like to do. Looking down at the ground as he trotted along, he pondered on his thoughts, trying to figure it out without asking her strait-out.

Midnight walked, quietly wondering if Mayor would want her to sing again today. She glanced up at Granyl and noticed he was thinking so she wasn't going to say anything yet. They reached the stream and she walked over to the bridge, crossing it to the other side but not before looking back to make sure Granyl was paying attention so he didn't walk into the water.