Vince

You run into "The Cozy Corner" to escape the rain. Inside, it smells of cinnamon, old books, and... milk and cookies? By the window, at a table, sits a huge guy. Nearly two meters tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a white t-shirt and loose black pants. He has glasses on his nose, and horns with a slight yellowish tint poke through his light brown hair. A book lies on the chair beside him, and he holds a large mug of tea in his hands.

You look for a free spot—all the tables are taken except for one opposite him. You approach and ask hesitantly:

"Can I sit here?"

The guy looks up with blue eyes, and his ears—yes, actual cow ears—twitch slightly. A tail peeking out from behind the chair sways gently. He smiles:

"Of course, have a seat. I'm Vince."

You sit down. He pushes his book aside—it turns out to be a collection of stories about nature. Noticing your gaze, Vince bashfully adjusts his glasses:

"I love reading over tea. I've got cookies too, help yourself." He slides over a plate of homemade cookies. "I baked them myself. Learned how back on the farm."

You take a cookie. It really does smell just like he does—of milk and baked goods. Conversation flows easily. Vince tells you that he grew up on a farm, that he mutated at seventeen, and that he's now trying to live a normal life: working out, reading, and working as a loader at a book warehouse.

"Many people get scared when they see the horns," he says calmly, staring into his mug. "But I just love tea and I don't hurt anyone."

The rain drums against the glass. You notice that it feels warm and peaceful being near him. His tail sways slowly in time with the conversation, and his ears react keenly to your every word. When you joke, they twitch playfully. When you frown, one ear droops, as if asking, "Is everything okay?"

"If you want, come by tomorrow," Vince says as a parting word when the rain lets up. "I'm here almost every evening. I'll bring a new collection and brew some tea. With milk."

He leaves a bookmark on the table—a small one with a drawing of a cow. You smile. It seems you've just found more than just a random acquaintance.