“Vinyl, it’s lights out!” Phonograph called up the stairs.
“Okay, Pop!” Vinyl Scratch shouted back, pushing away from her desk and moving over to her bedside lamp.
Just as Vinyl’s hoof touched the pull string, her father called up from the living room again.
“You have school tomorrow, so don’t stay up all night listening to the radio!”
Vinyl sighed and shook her head. “I won’t, Pop!”
“Alright! I love you, Vinyl, goodnight!”
Vinyl smirked. “Love you too, Pop, goodnight!” she replied as she clicked the light off.
Luckily, this didn’t plunge her into complete darkness. The moon was out that night, shining in through Vinyl’s bedroom window, which gave her just enough light to avoid knocking anything over while she crawled into bed. Vinyl snuggled herself under the covers, shifting a few times to get comfortable. She laid her head on her pillow and then slowly and slyly looked to her left.
The radio sat there on her nightstand, boxy and silent. Tempting her.
Well, her father had said to not listen to it all night. Surely just a few minutes wouldn’t hurt.
Vinyl sat up and activated her horn, its soft blue glow enveloping the radio’s knobs and dials. She twisted and tweaked them, her magical touch gentle and well-practiced. She knew exactly what to do to hear her angel make sweet music.
She made one last adjustment to the radio’s antenna, and turned the volume down low, before finally turning the wonderful little device on.
And the voice of her angel filtered through.
“I’d like to dedicate this next piece to someone very near and dear to my heart.” There was a pause. “I’d like to, but it seems Frederic has left me hanging again.” She laughed. Even her giggles were melodic. “So it seems tonight I shall be playing solo.”
Vinyl smiled happily and laid her head back down on the pillow. She closed her eyes just as the first cord sang through the radio, her mind sailing on the sound.
Just a few minutes and she’d turn it off and go to sleep.
Just a few minutes.
Sixteen Years Later
Vinyl slowly slid a hoof over the sleek form of her new instrument. It looked like a standard keyboard, but it was so much more. She pressed a key, and the speakers behind her emitted a low, electronic cry. She tried a few more keys, listening closely to the pitch and sound.
She was alone in an almost barren room. It was just her, the keyboard, and the speakers. There was a door across the room from her and a window open to the early morning city on the wall to her right.
She continued to play with the keyboard. And just as her experimental touches were approaching a melody, the door to the room opened.
“Hey there, Vinyl,” the blue-gray stallion said as he entered, a box of wires levitating before him.
“Sup, Neon,” Vinyl replied, absentmindedly running a hoof down a number of keys in succession.
Neon Lights set the box on the ground and began unpacking its contents. “That your new synthesizer?”
“Yep,” Vinyl replied, tapping the keys again, trying to find her melody again.
Neon cocked his head to the side, listening to Vinyl’s speakers. He sat there for quite a while as Vinyl experimented, nodding his head and muttering under his breath as his hooves tapped the edge of the box.
After a time, Vinyl let out a groan of frustration and stopped, frowning down at the keyboard.
“Who was that?”
Vinyl turned around, seeing Neon pulling yet more cords from his box. “Who was what?” She asked with a tilted head.
“Who was that you were just playing? It sounded familiar.”
Vinyl frowned and tapped her hoof against the floor, trying to mimic the beat. It was like trying to remember a dream from two nights ago. It was a piano, she knew that. But there was another instrument in there, one that muddied her thoughts. She could hear it in her head, sort of. A low, drawn out note. It wasn’t a piano, but a-
“PC and the Sunshine Band!” Neon said triumphantly.
Vinyl blinked. “What?”
“It was PC and the Sunshine Band,” Neon nodded as he began untangling a knot of wires.
“It was so, totally not!”
“Yes it was.” Neon insisted, momentarily abandoning the knot. “They had the music video in the ballroom with the suits and the hats and then the bass kicks in…”
Neon was gesturing vaguely, but it clicked in Vinyl’s head. She knew what he was talking about. But he was still wrong.
“That was a cover,” she said with a shake of her head.
“It was?” Neon held a hoof to his chin. “Oh, yeah, one of, oh shoot what was her name…?”
Vinyl chewed the inside of her cheek. She knew the answer, but to think that she had even temporarily forgotten it felt… shameful.
“Octavia Melody,” Vinyl said quietly, kicking her hoof. How could the name of her childhood idol have slipped her mind?
“Right, right, her and that Frederic guy,” Neon nodded.
“I can’t believe I forgot,” Vinyl said, holding a hoof to her face.
Neon just shrugged. “Don’t beat yourself up, I think most everyone forgot about them.”
Vinyl scoffed. “They shouldn’t. PC and her spit-shined band should be kissing the ground those two walk on.”
Neon let out an amused snort. “You know, for a head banging, synthesizing, bass-dropping club DJ, you sure love classical music.”
“With good reason,” Vinyl muttered, turning her attention back to her synthesizer.
“You could help me with these wires, you know,” Neon said from behind her.
“I could.”
She heard Neon laugh while she gave the keyboard a few more tries. But no matter where she started, she always ended up back at that half-remembered melody. After a few minutes, Vinyl gave up and walked over to Neon, sitting down beside him and starting on another knot of wires.
She had just gotten them undone when Neon spoke again.
“You okay there, Vinyl?”
Vinyl smirked. “I just wish I could remember how the song went. The proper version of the song.”
“I take it you really like Octavia Melody’s music then.”
“Was I being too subtle?”
“I’m surprised you never had Melody sign your poster of her or your cutie mark or something.”
Vinyl snorted. “I never had the chance to meet her. She stopped doing concerts before I had a car and I can’t afford a train all the way to Trottingham.”
Neon raised an eyebrow. “She doesn’t live in Trottingham.”
“She doesn’t?”
“No, she lives here.”
Vinyl dropped the wires. “She lives here? She lives here, in San Franciscolt, and you never told me!”
Neon raised his hooves. “I thought you knew!”
Vinyl quickly got to her hooves. “Do you know where?”
Neon raised his eyebrow as Vinyl dashed over to the corner where her jacket, white as her own coat, lay draped over an upturned box.
“Are you actually going to go bother her?”
Vinyl turned around as she put on her coat. “Neon, you know what it’s like to have a song stuck in your head. If I don’t hear that song again, I’m going to go crazy and kill someone.”
Neon sighed. “And that would probably be me. Okay, okay, I’ll tell you where she is. Just, try to not freak out on her, okay? And do not mention me at all! She goes to the same tea shop as my mom and if she finds out I told you where Melody lives-”
Vinyl walked over and squished Neon’s face between her hooves.
“Neon, just street names, ‘kay?”
“…kay.”
Vinyl’s heart was racing. There she stood outside a two-story house. A house that looked just like any other. But unlike any other, it very well could contain the angel of the radio.
Her hoof was poised to knock, but she hesitated.
“What am I doing?” Vinyl said to herself, her hoof dropping down. Octavia Melody no doubt had far, far better things to do than talk to some mare who used to listen to her on the radio.
Vinyl was just about to turn and walk away when she heard a voice behind her.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
Vinyl froze. That didn’t sound like Octavia, but maybe she sounded different after all these years. Although, why her voice would get higher was a real mystery.
Vinyl winced and slowly turned around. But the pony that had spoken to her wasn’t Octavia. Instead, it was a young mare, somewhere around Vinyl’s age if she had to guess. Her coat was a bright, vibrant green and her mane bubblegum-pink. She stared at Vinyl with light-blue eyes, jaw going as she chewed a piece of gum. There was a paper bag with a few groceries sticking out on the ground in front of her.
“I, uh,” Vinyl swallowed thickly. Was this even Octavia’s house? What was she supposed to say to this mare? Hi, have you seen any famous cellists around here?
“Hey,” the mare said, tilting her head, never stopping in her chewing. “You look familiar.”
“Um…” Vinyl’s brain simply and completely refused to help her.
“Don’t you work at that club, Tech-Noir? You’re the DJ, right?”
Vinyl blinked. There was something in the mare’s voice. Excitement?
The mare grinned and clapped her hooves. “Oh wow, I totally love your work! I go there, like, every night!” the mare’s grin faltered a little. “Hey, what are you, like, doing here, anyway?”
Vinyl coughed. “Heh, I was, uh,” she coughed again. “Does, Octavia Melody live here?”
The mare blinked. “Do you, like, mean my mom?”
“…Mom?”
The mare nodded. “Yeah, my mom is Octavia Melody. I’m Tune, by the way.”
“Vinyl Scratch,” Vinyl swallowed. “Is your, uh, mom here?”
Tune shook her head, still chewing. “Nah, she’s out getting, like, tea or whatever. You wanted to talk to her?”
Vinyl nodded.
“Oh, well she should be back real soon.” Tune’s eyes lit up. “Hey, you can totally wait inside if you want.”
“Um, if that’s alright…”
“Like, of course it’s alright,” Tune laughed, picking up her groceries and walking up to the door. Vinyl moved aside while Tune opened the door, hesitantly following her inside.
The interior wasn’t as grand as Vinyl imagined it. There were little tables placed every couple of steps along the entrance hall, each holding a potted plant. Further along there was a higher and longer table, this one covered in picture frames, with more placed on the wall above it. Vinyl examined at them as she and Tune passed. Tune was in a number of the pictures, along with a light-red, yellow-maned stallion that seemed to be her brother. There was another pair of ponies in the pictures. A brown stallion with a cream mane and a familiar gray mare with a mane of obsidian.
Vinyl tore her eyes away from the pictures, hanging her head. She followed Tune into a more spacious room. A pair of overstuffed chairs flanked a couch. A rather large television set was placed across from the trio. A coffee table sat between them.
Tune placed the bag on the table and sat on the couch.
“Go on, have a seat,” she said, gesturing with one hoof while the other rummaged around in the bag.
Vinyl smiled and sat down in one of the chairs, folding her hooves.
Tune pulled a pack of gum from the back and started opening it. She paused and turned her head back towards the hall. She suddenly shouted, “Hey, Tone, I’m back!”
“Took you long enough!” a male voice shouted back from somewhere above.
The sound of hoof steps reached Vinyl’s ears. Presumably the stallion walking down from the second floor. He appeared in the doorway, the red stallion from the pictures. He glanced at her and then made a beeline for the bag.
“Who’s this?” He asked as he rummaged around in the bag.
“You don’t recognize her?” Tune said as she popped another stick of gum into her mouth.
The stallion, Tone, Vinyl assumed, stopped his rummaging to look at her. After a moment, his eyes lit up.
“No way,” he grinned. “No freaking way is Vinyl freaking Scratch in our living room!”
Vinyl smiled weakly, feeling amazingly awkward as Tone rushed over and shook her hoof.
“I love your songs!” he said, excitedly shaking her hoof.
“That’s good to hear,” Vinyl said, trying to smile wider.
Tone was laughing as he fell onto the couch beside Tune, again searching around in the grocery bag.
“So, hey, what brings you here?” Tone asked, at last pulling an apple from the bag.
“I, uh, was hoping to talk to, um…” Vinyl coughed. Why was this so weird? “To your, ah,” For fuck’s sake, Scratch, it’s just a word! “…Your mom.”
“Huh?” Tone said, mouth full of apple.
“She wants to talk to Mom, stupid,” Tune said, hitting Tone on the shoulder.
“Hey, quit it,” Tone said, batting his sister’s hoof away. He turned to Vinyl with an almost apologetic smile on his face. “You want to talk to our mom?”
Wow, it sounds really stupid when he says it.
Vinyl just nodded.
“Huh,” Tone said, leaning back and taking another bite of his apple.
A silence stretched out after that, the only sound being Tune and Tone’s chewing. Whether this lasted a minute or an hour, Vinyl didn’t care to guess. But Tune spoke eventually.
“So, like, can I ask you something?”
Vinyl blinked, coming back to reality. The reality of sitting in Octavia Melody’s living room with her kids.
Vinyl nodded. “Sure,”
Tune blushed. “Could you, like, sign my album?”
It took Vinyl a moment to process the question. “…Oh. Oh, yeah I can totally do that.”
Tune let out a squeal of delight and jumped up off the couch. “Yes! Let me go and grab it!” And with that, she sped off, hooves pounding up the stairs.
Tone offered an embarrassed chuckle. “Sorry, my sister’s a big fan.”
Vinyl smiled. “I don’t mind.” She watched as Tone fidgeted, her smile morphing into more of a smirk. “Want me to sign your album too?”
Tone chuckled nervously. “Actually, I have, uh, your, um… poster,” he said quietly.
Vinyl giggled. “I can sign that if you want.”
Tone almost choked on his apple. “For real?!”
Vinyl nodded. “Totally for real.”
Tone practically leapt off the couch. “Gimme just one second, I’ll be right back!” he said as he sped off.
Vinyl let out a proper laugh, feeling oddly giddy. She didn’t know anyone had even bought her album or those posters.
She was pulled from her little ego trip by a loud grunt from the front of the house. Hesitantly, Vinyl got out of the chair and trotted towards the door.
“Hello?” An accented voice called from beyond the front door. “I don’t suppose either of my darling little brats could come help me with the door?”
That sounded like- oh gosh. Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh!
Vinyl swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat as she approached the door. She reached out and pulled it open to reveal the mare she had come to see.
Octavia Melody stood there, looking not quite how Vinyl imagined her looking. For one, her mane was a bit disheveled, bits sticking out here and there. It also had a streak of gray running through it that Vinyl didn’t remember seeing before. Her face was just as strong and beautiful as Vinyl remembered, albeit with a few more lines of age. Her eyes were what struck Vinyl the most. They seemed to… not shine as much as Vinyl thought they did on the poster. And it was around that point that Vinyl realized she was staring.
Octavia, her breath coming in deep pants, tilted her head. “I don’t remember popping out you. Did I get the wrong house?” she leaned to the side, reading the numbers on the side of the house. “…Nope, right place.” She looked back to Vinyl. “You’re not robbing me, are you?”
Vinyl tried to speak, but every last speck of moisture had vanished from her mouth.
Octavia sighed. “Look, I don’t care either way. Could you hold this?”
It was only then that Vinyl noticed the bags, just as one was pressed into her hooves. She stumbled, her horn flaring up and taking hold of the bag.
“Well, that’s handy,” Octavia said, picking up the other bag. “Just back up so I can at least get these inside.”
Vinyl did as instructed, trying to find her voice. Octavia placed her bag just inside the door, motioning for Vinyl to do the same. Once both bags were on the floor, Octavia kicked the door closed and brushed a lock of her mane from her eyes.
“Now that we’ve gotten that settled, who are you and what are you doing in my house?”
“I found it!” Tune called as she came running down the stairs. “Vinyl, I found my-”
Tune froze midway down the stairs, a CD case clutched in her mouth. She had frozen at the sight of Octavia, who stood up to an impressive height and leaned against the door, forelegs folded.
“Hello to you too, missy. Where were you when your poor mother needed help getting into her home?”
Tune pulled the CD case out and laughed nervously. “I was, uh, just looking for, uh…”
Octavia snorted, smirking as she dropped back to all fours. “So, you’re Vinyl then?” she said, turning to Vinyl.
“Uh…” was all Vinyl managed.
Octavia laughed, the sound more beautiful than angels singing. “That’s a yes then. I’m Octavia Melody. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She offered a hoof.
“Vinyl Scratch,” Vinyl croaked out, taking the hoof. She could feel the strength behind it, unaffected by time. “The pleasure’s all mine.”
“Vinyl, you still here?” Tone said as he appeared at the top of the stairs, a rolled up poster balanced on his back. He froze once he caught sight of his mother.
“Tone,” Octavia said in a deadly sweet voice, “why don’t you come down here so you and your sister can explain why you left Vinyl here to help me?”
With that, Octavia merrily trotted into the living room. Tune and Tone nervously made their way down the steps, stopping next to Vinyl in the foyer. A sharp whistle from Octavia made them all jump and quickly follow her.
Octavia took a seat in one of the chairs. Tune and Tone took their seats on the couch again while Vinyl sat down on the other chair.
“So!” Octavia said merrily, sitting up and crossing her legs. “Tune, Tone, why did you abandon our guest?”
Tone gulped audibly while Tune tried to explain. “W-well, uh, I was getting my CD-”
“Why?” Octavia interrupted.
“So she could sign it.” Tune said quietly.
Octavia raised an eyebrow and turned to Vinyl. “You’re a musician?”
Vinyl swallowed and nodded. “Yeah…”
“Well!” Octavia said, shifting her body to properly face Vinyl. “What brings you to my home?”
Vinyl saw Tune and Tone visibly relax once their mother’s attention was off them. She looked to them, but they both apparently had seen something more interesting in the corners of the room.
Cowards.
Vinyl took a breath and looked Octavia right in the eye.
And she faltered.
Her gaze dropped, to Octavia’s strong jaw line, her lips turned upwards ever so slightly. Her neck, her chest, puffed out slightly, an adorable little tuff of gray fur standing out. Further down still, to her toned belly, to her deliciously thick thighs. Down and down Vinyl’s eyes went, down Octavia’s strong legs to her perfectly manicured hooves. Vinyl never had been a hoof mare, but she’d lick Octavia’s clean if she so much as held them out.
“Miss Scratch?”
Vinyl blinked, head snapping back up to look at Octavia’s face. Oh sweet Celestia, if she even suspected what Vinyl had been thinking…
“Is this about another of my songs?” Octavia asked.
Vinyl blinked again.
Octavia smiled and shook her head. “Listen, I really appreciate you coming to me, but all you really have to do is call my agent. I don’t mind the covers.” she held a hoof to her mouth and laughed. “And I certainly don’t mind the royalty checks.”
Vinyl swallowed. “I am here about a song,” she said hoarsely, her throat dry. “But it’s not about doing a cover.”
Octavia’s laugh died out and she tilted her head. “Oh?”
Vinyl nodded. “Do you remember… Summer Rain?”
Octavia blinked, her expression becoming sober. “Yes, I remember.”
A sick feeling washed over Vinyl. She’d upset Octavia, she could tell.
Octavia face suddenly brightened, but something felt off about her smile, like it was just a hair too wide.
“You want to hear it, right?”
Vinyl nodded mutely.
“There might be a bit of a snag, then. I don’t have any copies of it here.”
Tune suddenly seemed less interested in the corner of the room.
“You have records for everything but-”
“Yes, yes, it seems I misplaced it,” Octavia said quickly, cutting off her daughter. “But, there should be a spare somewhere in the old studio.”
It was Tone’s turn to speak it seemed. “At the studio? But isn’t-”
“That where all the backups are kept?” Octavia said, her voice hard and lacking any joking quality. “Yes,” she said, answering her own question.
Vinyl’s gaze flicked between Octavia and her children, feeling uneasy.
“Well!” Octavia clapped her hooves together. “I guess we better be off then.” She got up from her seat. “Tune, darling, put away the groceries please. And do pick up your gum wrappers.”
Tune loudly swallowed her gum, shoulders drooped. “Yes, Mom.”
“And Tone? Be a dear and put away the tea for me?”
“Uh, right away,” Tone nodded.
Octavia paused and looked between the two. “Okay, what’s- oh!” Octavia touched a hoof to her forehead. “I’d forgotten. There are a few pens the under table, Miss Scratch. Indulge my children if you will and then meet me out front. I’ll just need a minute to freshen up.”
And with that, Octavia trotted out of the room, whistling off-tune.
Vinyl blinked a few times and looked to Tune and Tone. “Did I... make her mad or something?” she asked hesitantly.
Tune shrugged, unwrapping another piece of gum. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen her act like that before.” She popped the gum into her mouth and started chewing. “Well, except for-”
“Except for that other time,” Tone said quickly, clearing his throat. “Listen, uh, Vinyl, sorry for, uh...”
Vinyl waved him off. “It’s fine. I should be the one apologizing. I showed up at your house uninvited.” She reached out with her magic, finding one of the pens Octavia mentioned and levitating it into her hoof. “Now, wasn’t I supposed to sign something?”
A pair of signatures and two surprisingly excited hugs later, Vinyl was trotting out the front door of the Melody home. Octavia was already standing there on her back legs, leaning against the side of the house. She had smoothed out her mane some and put on her trademark white collar and bow tie. A thin black coat covered the rest of her form.
“I trust my brats were civil enough to say thank you,” she said jokingly once she spotted Vinyl.
Vinyl nodded. “Very much so. They, uh, seem well behaved.”
Octavia snickered. “Well, Tone says he wants to be an actor and Tune usually helps him with his lines, so I’m not surprised.” She dropped down onto all fours. “Did you drive here?”
Vinyl nodded.
“Then I hope you don’t mind if we take your car. I’ll give you directions.”
Vinyl just nodded again, trotting down the street to where she’d parked her car, Octavia following maybe a half step behind her. They reached her car in no time, Vinyl unlocking it and climbing into the driver’s seat. From there she leaned over and pushed open the passenger door. Octavia made a sound of thanks as climbed inside.
Vinyl started up the car, pulling away from the curb in silence. Octavia rolled down her window and leaned a foreleg out it, moving her head so the wind would catch her mane.
“Hot day, isn’t it?” she said, casually.
“Yeah,” she coughed quietly. “So, uh…”
“Corner of Suns and Keys,” Octavia said, looking to Vinyl. “Do you know how to get there?”
“Yeah.”
They drove in near silence most of way. Vinyl was thankful that there wasn’t much traffic that day. As they grew closer to their destination, Octavia spoke up again.
“I’m sorry if I upset you back there.”
“What do you mean?” Vinyl asked, briefly glancing from the road to Octavia.
“You were uneasy, after I said we needed to go to the studio.”
“I was, uh,” Vinyl coughed. “I thought I upset you.”
Octavia laughed. “You didn’t upset me. And I lied, by the way. About needing to go to the studio.”
Vinyl raised an eyebrow. “Then why-?”
“I didn’t want Tune and Tone around.” Octavia said quickly. “It’s better if we’re alone for this.”
Vinyl wanted to ask why, but she held her tongue.
The sky had become gray with clouds when they pulled up to the corner of Suns and Keys. From there, Octavia had Vinyl pull into an empty parking lot.
“The studio’s just up this way,” Octavia said as she got out of the car.
Vinyl hopped out to follow, seeing that Octavia was already a dozen paces away. She ran to catch up, slowing to a trot once she reached Octavia’s side. The gray mare didn’t seem to notice, too busy fishing around in her pockets.
“Must be here somewhere,” Octavia muttered as she led Vinyl away from the street and down the alley.
They soon reached a door at the back of a building. With a jingle, Octavia pulled a set of keys from her pocket. She quickly unlocked the door and ushered Vinyl inside, following close behind her.
The inside of the building was dark, but Octavia flipped a light switch before closing the door. They were in a barren hallway, the walls an off-white plaster and the carpet a dull blue. Octavia moved down the hallway, Vinyl close on her heels.
Octavia took a sharp turn left at a junction and followed the narrow hallway down to another door. Out again came the keys, jangling as Octavia unlocked the door. Vinyl noticed a door on the right side of the hallway, but Octavia seemed to willfully ignore it.
Vinyl followed Octavia through the new door, now finding herself in a large circular room. The walls were lined with shelves, all packed to near bursting with books, folders, and records. A glass ceiling sat high above their heads, showing the dark gray skies outside. The outer edge of the room was higher than the middle, separated by a noticeable drop. And in the center of the pit was a piano and a cello, placed across from one another with a large, ornate record player separating them.
“My home away from home,” Octavia said with a grin, taking off her coat and putting it on a conveniently placed rack.
Vinyl followed suit as Octavia made her way around the outer ring of the room, heading for a shelf. She traced her hoof along the contents of the shelf while Vinyl hesitantly trotted over to her. Octavia made a soft sound of triumph as she pulled a large folder from the shelf.
“Here we are, Summer… Rain…” Octavia trailed off as she opened the folder. Inside were pages of sheet music and a noticeably empty spot where a record once sat. “Huh…” Octavia said quietly, staring at the empty space. She looked over her shoulder at Vinyl. “I’m sorry, miss Scratch. It seems someone has taken the record. Probably Frederic, this one was his favorite.”
There was that too wide smile again.
“Well, at least he left us the sheet music,” Octavia chuckled, rustling the pages. “I don’t suppose you know how to play the piano?”
Vinyl swallowed past a lump in her throat. “Actually, I... do.”
Octavia looked up from the folder in surprise. “You… you do?”
“Yeah, it, uh, it’s actually what I got my cutie mark for.”
“Oh…” Octavia grew quiet for a moment before nodding. “Well then… I’m game if you are.”
Octavia turned and moved down into the pit. Vinyl followed her as she approached the piano. Octavia laid a hoof on it, giving the polished wood a loving pat before she pulled the music sheet from the folder and handed it to Vinyl.
“You, ah, better make sure it’s still in tune,” Octavia said, coughing quietly before moving over to the cello.
Vinyl nodded more to herself than Octavia as she sat down on the bench. The old leather creaked under her, still warm from when the sun was out. Vinyl placed the sheets on the music rack and tested out the piano keys. Each keypress gave off the appropriate note. Someone had clearly taken very good care of it.
Vinyl looked up from the piano keys to Octavia, the piano positioned perfectly so the pianist could see the cellist and vise-versa. The older mare was leaning the cello’s neck against her own, resting her cheek against it as she plucked the strings. Satisfied, Octavia picked up the bow and held it at the ready.
“Shall we begin?” Octavia asked softly, her purple eyes meeting Vinyl’s red.
Vinyl couldn’t help but notice that they seemed to have regained at least a twinkle of their normal glory. So she nodded, looking to the sheet and playing the opening notes. Octavia’s cello soon joined her, the sound low and sweet.
And they played.
The final, joined note faded out of existence, leaving the room oddly quiet.
Vinyl let out a quiet sigh, massaging her tired hooves. She could have played with her magic, but she knew that the song had been written for hooves and she wanted to do it justice.
A quiet, choked sob sounded.
Vinyl looked up, seeing Octavia sitting in her chair, draped over her cello, shoulders shuddering.
“Octavia?” Vinyl said as she slowly got up from the bench.
Octavia looked up at her with watery eyes and a tear-stained face. A bitter sounding laugh escaped her as she wiped her cheeks.
“Sorry,” she said, laughing again. “I’m afraid I just got a little emotional.”
But her laugh quickly degenerated into sniffles, and from there, to tears. She screwed her eyes shut, almost as though to stem the flow of tears. Vinyl approached her slowly, gently taking Octavia’s hoof in her own.
Octavia looked up at her, tears leaking down her face.
“Thank you,” she whispered, leaning her head against Vinyl’s shoulder and crying into it.
After a minute the shaking of her shoulders ceased and her breathing slowed and evened out. Octavia snorted and leaned back, wiping her nose.
“I’m sorry,” Octavia said, sniffling, “I, uh, I haven’t played that song since… since Frederic died.”
Vinyl swallowed, her mouth dry. She hadn’t asked about the stallion, already suspecting the truth.
“He would have liked you,” Octavia said, smiling through her tears as she reached out and touched Vinyl’s cheek. “He never liked Unicorns, but I think he would have liked you very much.” she laughed again, the sound far sweeter now.
Vinyl couldn’t help but smile too. “I certainly hope so.”
Octavia’s hoof fell back to her side. Vinyl bit her lip and then dared to ask, “How long has it been?”
Octavia sniffed again, her cheeks beginning to dry. “Since Frederic passed or since I’ve played?” She chuckled. “The answer is the same, actually. He passed a few years ago and, well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of playing without him.” Octavia let out a sigh. “It was his heart that killed him. He had a condition, yes, but, what really broke his heart was the television.”
Octavia gave Vinyl a rueful smile. “We were stars of the radio. Ponies could listen, just listen, for hours. But, when it came to the more visual side of things…” She shrugged. “We were left behind.”
“I remember.” Vinyl said, daring to reach out and touch Octavia, to lift her chin. “I listened every night, well past my bedtime. Hell, I almost flunked out of school. But I never missed you.”
Octavia laughed. “Ha, I suppose I should take that as a compliment.”
Vinyl smiled and licked her lips. Might as well go for broke. “You’re beautiful.”
Octavia didn’t respond for a few heartbeats. “…No, I’m not.”
Vinyl blinked, unsure if she heard correctly. “What are you saying? You’re-”
Octavia jerked herself away from Vinyl’s hoof and gently pushed her away. She might as well have thrown her across the room. That might have hurt less.
“No, Vinyl. I’m a silly, ugly old mare.” She laughed, bitterly, not looking at Vinyl. “I almost believed you for a second. Almost believed there was actually someone out there that could still find me… desirable.”
Vinyl swallowed thickly. “I’m not lying to you, Octavia. You are beautiful. And-” Vinyl’s mouth felt very dry again. She swallowed thickly. “And you are, desirable.”
Slowly, Octavia looked back to Vinyl, their eyes meeting. “Really?” She looked away again, down at her hooves. When she looked back up, there was an odd twinkle in her eye. “So, were you thinking about that this whole time?”
Octavia’s tone sent shivers down Vinyl’s spine. “What do you mean?”
A predatory grin slowly worked its way over Octavia’s face. “I mean that, while you were waiting for me. While you were sitting in my living room with my children. Were you thinking about bending their mother over a table?”
Vinyl blushed hotly. “I-I…”
“Speaking of mothers,” Octavia continued, her smile now showing teeth. “I’m old enough to be yours. Is that something that doesn’t matter, or is that part of the appeal? Do you want mommy to kiss it and make you feel all hot and gooey?”
Vinyl unconsciously squeezed her thighs together. “Y-yes. I-I was, th-thinking about,” she swallowed, “that. But I d-didn’t say anything because I didn’t even know i-if you were into m-mares.”
Octavia clucked her tongue. “Ah, well. How… thoughtful of you.” Her expression softened. “Look at me, teasing you like this. Truth be told, when you played those first notes, it was only by the strength of my will I did not jump you right there.”
Vinyl took a few breaths and managed to stop shaking. “Really?”
Octavia nodded. “Yes, but I let you play. Partly because you were doing quite well, but mostly out of shame.” She sighed. “My bed has been empty since Frederic… passed. The very idea of taking another lover, it felt like cheating. But, maybe…” She shook her head, staring down at her hooves again.
A silence stretched out between the two. Vinyl stood there, stock still, waiting. It was stupid. This whole thing was stupid. Bothering a mare at her home, dredging up old memories, old pains. And to top it all off, hitting on her as well.
Great fucking job.
“He said he wanted me to be happy.”
Vinyl was shaken from her thoughts by Octavia’s voice. She looked up, meeting the cellist’s eyes.
Octavia was smiling, a gentle, genuine smile. “He told me I shouldn’t hold on so tightly. He told me that the worst thing I could do was be miserable and alone. Well,” she chuckled, “aside from our children, but they don’t count.”
Vinyl couldn’t help the little smile that found its way onto her face.
Octavia sighed. “I suppose he meant that I should go out, meet new ponies, have friends, and talk and laugh and socialize. Not sit alone in the house, wishing he would come back. What I mean to say is, I don’t think he envisioned me meeting a young pianist and ravishing her in our recording studio.” She paused. “Or maybe he did, the horny old bastard.”
She beckoned Vinyl with a hoof. Vinyl hesitated for a moment before approaching. Once she was within reach, Octavia pulled her into a hug, forcing Vinyl to more or less sit in her lap. They stayed like that for a time, before Vinyl dared to speak.
“Octavia, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you through this.”
Octavia shrugged. “Don’t be. I think that this whole affair has been for the best.” She grinned. “Now give mommy a kiss.” She puckered her lips.
Vinyl winced and gently pushed Octavia’s lips away. “Could we not do that?”
Octavia laughed. “You mean to tell me you don’t have some sort of Oedipus fetish?”
Vinyl shook her head. “I’m afraid not.” She grinned. “Now, about that ravishing you mentioned earlier.”
Octavia tilted her head. “What about it?”
Vinyl blushed. “Well, aren’t we going to…”
Octavia gasped and pushed Vinyl out of her lap. “Vinyl Scratch!” She said in mock offence. “You think me some cheap floozy you can bed with a few sweet nothings?”
Vinyl stumbled a bit, but quickly regained her balance. “Wait, you’re not?”
Octavia chuckled and stood up from her seat, working the kinks out of her joints. “Vinyl, no offence, but we did just meet. You’ve certainly made an impression, but…”
“But maybe we should actually spend some time together?” Vinyl said.
Octavia nodded. “Exactly. A few lunches and dinners, a movie or two, and then if things go well, we can revisit that ravishing.” Octavia grinned. “And then you can call me mommy.”
Vinyl groaned. “Never going to drop that, are you?”
“I’m just beginning to learn to let things go, Vinyl. Let me pace myself.”
Three Months Later
“Did I ever tell you how much I hate those things?” Octavia said with a smirk as she watched Vinyl set up her keyboard.
Vinyl chuckled and shook her head as she plug the keyboard into the speakers. “Only every time I bring it over.”
The pair were in a recording studio, not Octavia and Frederic’s original one, but rather the one next door. The shape of the room was the same, but the shelves lining the walls were mostly empty and instead of a piano and a cello, there were a few microphones and speakers.
“I swear I can feel Frederic rolling in his grave every time I’m so much as in the same room as that thing,” Octavia said as Vinyl played a few warm up notes.
“Oh really?” Vinyl said over her shoulder. “How did he feel about the time we, ah, you know, on top of his piano?”
Octavia snickered. “I’m not sure how he felt, but I certainly enjoyed it.”
The door to the room opened and Neon Lights trotted in, levitating a pair of headphones in front of him.
“And here is your pair, Miss Melody,” he said, trotting over to Octavia.
“Thank you, dear,” Octavia said, taking the headphones and fitting them over her ears. “And you can just call me Octavia.”
“Right,” he chuckled as he went over to the speakers and began setting up the sound mixer.
Octavia cleared her throat and took a few deep breaths, shifting nervously as Vinyl brought a microphone over to her. Octavia pulled the headphones off her head before speaking.
“Are you sure about this, Vinyl? I know plenty of singers who could do a better job than I can.”
Vinyl just smirked and shook her head. “Not a chance. I wrote this song for you, remember? It makes sense for you to be a part of it.”
“And for you to have more lines than me?”
Vinyl rolled her eyes but continued smiling. “If you don’t like it, why don’t you go start your own band?”
Octavia let out an exaggerated huffed. “Maybe I will start my own band. It’ll be me and my seven kids and we’ll travel around on a bus.”
Vinyl snickered. “I think someone did that already.”
“Well darn.”
“If you two are done flirting, I’m all set up over here,” Neon called from the other side of the room.
The pair of mares giggled and Octavia gave Vinyl a quick peck on the lips.
“Good luck,” Octavia whispered.
Vinyl laughed as she made her way over to her keyboard. “I don’t need luck, babe. I’ve got you.”
Neon counted down. “And three, two, one.”
The End
