Way to the Top

by Lapis-Lazuli and Stitch

Rating: mature
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Romance, Octavia, Slice of Life, Sex, DJ P0N-3
Length: 25066

Vinyl Scratch loves her sister - so much so, that she'll risk everything to help Octavia achieve her dreams. With luck, she'll even get to have a little fun along the way.

Sequel to: Musical Relations
Part 3 - Duelling Pianos

Vinyl and Octavia are closer than they've ever been. But the pressure Octavia feels to achieve success and admittance into the Royal Symphony is cracking her confidence and ruining her joy in music.

For love of her sister, Vinyl will do anything to help her achieve her dreams. With luck, she'll even get to have a bit of fun along the way.

Published 2013-06-17 17:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-06-17 17:40:02 UTC

Part 1 - Another Day in Ponyville

"Psst. Wake up. Wake up Arpeggio Piano. Come on now, sleepy head. Wake your cute flank up."

A single eyelid cracked open. Then its twin did the same, revealing the beautiful ruby-like eyes that they concealed. Two dry lips opened softly to inhale a deep breath, and then exhale it. A slick tongue darted out to wet those dry lips, which then themselves opened up to speak. "Tavi, are you ever gonna stop callin' me that?" grumbled Vinyl Scratch, a hoof coming up to rub the sleeping gunk out of her eyes.

This task so accomplished, she was finally able to see the soulful violet eyes of her sister - not to mention a sly, sexy sort of smile that she only wore when they were alone like this. Not for the first time, Vinyl swallowed a little lump in her throat as she became slowly more conscious of everything else around her. The soft cotton linen of their sheets, the crisp clean scent of apples from the air-freshener on the window sill. Most importantly though, was the gentle soft warmth of Octavia's coat pressing up against her own.

Octavia's eyes twinkled at her mischievously as she frowned at that response, and Vinyl felt a tiny blush of red flush her cheeks. Oh great, I wake up and the first thing I do is stick my hoof in my mouth. Vinyl thought with no small amusement. That surely meant today was going to be fantastic. Vinyl licked her lips again softly and then spoke in a much gentler tone, one filled with a warmth and love no words alone could convey. "Mornin' to you too, Tavi." Octavia's frown turned to a smile, and her eyes warmed considerably - which in turn, gave Vinyl the warm and fuzzies.

Octavia let off a soft, gentle sort of chuckle. Her refined Manehattenite accent granting it a degree of sophistication and flair that sometimes made Vinyl wonder what her sister saw in her. Oh great, Scratch. You have descended into full on sappy Wub Wub... and you don't give a buck, do ya? Vinyl pondered that thought for a moment, and decided she didn't give a buck. "Well..." Slowly began Octavia, her voice rolling out in those sweet tones that never failed to get a smile out of Vinyl, "No, I'm afraid I'm never going to stop calling you that little sister. So you had best just get used to it." Octavia's delicate hoof came out of nowhere, and bopped the DJ pony on the nose - sending her cross-eyed.

Octavia giggled this time, a sound much more down to earth and simple than her delicate laughter. Vinyl treasured both sounds, for very different reasons. The giggle, because it meant that Octavia was relaxed and happy - that she had let her shields down and was simply being herself. The fact that it was frequently followed - as it was today - by her snuggling in closer to Vinyl's body was simply a nice bonus. Octavia always had the cutest look on her face when she snuggled up - like something between a filly with her favorite teddy bear and Pinkie Pie about to tuck in to a new kind of cupcake.

Seen on anyone else, Vinyl would have made a retching face and stuck her hoof in her mouth. Seen on Octavia, she felt her heart melt into a puddle of goo. It also did other things to her. Things that made Vinyl put a sexy smile on, and sent her mind cartwheeling into entirely new realms of naughtiness. Well, if Tavi was going to call her that damn name, Vinyl was going to get a little revenge in her own style. "Hey Tavi..." she said softly, and Octavia looked up at her oh-so-innocently.

Vinyl seized her opportunity, and pounced! Well, not actual pouncing, but she did pull Octavia's lips up to hers very firmly and not let go. Tavi gave off an adorable little squeal of surprise into the kiss, smacking Vinyl's shoulder with her hoof. Vinyl responded to this assault by parting her marefriend's lips with her tongue and pushing it in to dance against Tavi's. Octavia's eyes went wide, and Vinyl stopped caring about the rest of the world as Tavi's tongue slowly began to writhe back against hers.

Vinyl could feel Tavi's body begin to shift against hers, and she did her best to scootch about on the bed without interrupting the hot kiss. Soon, Tavi was lying atop Vinyl, and had wrapped her hooves around Vinyl's neck sinuously. Vinyl's own hooves were firmly on Tavi's flank, and she leaned in a little harder on the kiss now that they were more comfortably positioned, gently nipping at Octavia's lower lip and eliciting a sweet sound for her tease.

Vinyl had long since closed her eyes, focusing entirely upon Tavi - the warmth of her breath upon her coat as she nibbled softly down to Octavia's neck. The sweet sound of her breathing heavy in the air. The soft feel of her coat rubbing up against her own, the gentle friction of two bodies slowly writhing together was.... indescribable. Incredible. In...something or other, Vinyl was out of words to describe how freakin hot it was.

It had been six months since they'd first kissed like this again, since that party where they danced before every clubber pony in town. Since they'd made love to one another on the floor, after Octavia had given back Vinyl the most precious gift of all... her piano music. Six months, and Vinyl still felt a rushing pitter-patter of her heart every time their lips locked. Nothing else was needed, not so much as a hoofjob was required to send Vinyl's libido into the stratosphere.

Just this kiss. This touching of lips, this moment in which two mares who loved one another were gently joined. Tongues softly pressing and then lashing about each other. Nibbling, tugging with soft sweet sounds of pleasure just barely escaping them. It was the kind of feeling that wasn't supposed to exist outside of trashy romance novels and clop-fiction.

It was something Octavia was always game for. All it took was a little peck on the lips and it was like lighting the fuse - if Vinyl let it, this kissing session was going to go way, way past kissing before too long. It was enough to make a mare all hot-and-bothered, and as playful as Tavi could be, Vinyl did have a meeting to go to this morning. A meeting that didn't seem all that important right now but Vinyl knew she'd regret missing.

So she gently broke the kisses from Tavi's neck, and nipped once up at the base of her ear. "There, hows that for a good morning?" She purred and got another bright red blush from Tavi's cheeks. Funny how Tavi could so easily switch between desperate instigator and blushing, demure lady. Sometimes, Vinyl wondered if maybe... but that was a thought for another time. Business first Vinyl, then you can come home and see if she likes being tied up.

That was a pleasing thought to start the day, and Vinyl squeezed Tavi close in a hug, signaling her desire to actually get out of their newly shared bed. Tavi's room, of course - it was actually neat and tidy. Vinyl's room was still a disaster area, halfway to being condemned by the government. Octavia rolled off Vinyl's body, and she sighed at the loss of that pleasant, warm weight. Still, the world called!

Vinyl pushed herself out of the warm and comfortable bed to peer around her blearily - her hoof reaching for her sunglasses on the side table and perching them above her horn. She could still taste Octavia on her lips, and she licked them like getting the last bit of chocolate sauce off after a sundae. Octavia herself had rolled over to the same side of the bed and was stretching out her limbs slowly and achingly, working some life into them after a good night's sleep.

Vinyl took this moment - as she did every morning nowadays - to marvel at the incredible and good fortune that had brought them back together. Sure, things were still not perfect - Vinyl was pretty sure they never would be, that was the way life was - but they were a damn sight better than they'd been in years. The elegant and tasteful decor of the bedroom, much of it beautiful in its own right, paled in comparison to the mare next to her.

Vinyl wrapped her hoof around Octavia's outstretched one, and squeezed it. That earned her a brilliant, happy smile - one that was more than enough to provide Vinyl fuel for another day in Ponyville. "So." She quipped, as Octavia gave her an expectant sort of look. "Breakfast?"

~~~~~~~~~

Octavia Mezzo Piano stepped out of the shower with an audible sigh of pleasure and contentment, giving a little shake to scatter some of the water droplets off of her coat before vigorously applying a fuzzy towel to it. Her long dark mane hung wetly around her face, and a brief look in the mirror reminded her as to why Vinyl often referred to this particular look as 'freakin hot'. She gave herself a pretty little smile and went back to working the towel down across her frame.

Life was a funny thing. You never even noticed the passing months unless you were paying close attention, and sometimes they slipped by even then. Six months was not, in all realistic terms, a long period of time. Yet it had felt like an entire lifetime to her, one filled her with a new lust for life, only dimmed by that tiny little detail.. Every morning was a chorus of angelic pegasi singing their little hearts out, every night was a symphony of intimacy and love. For Octavia, it was as far removed from her life before as a fine glass of wine was from a tall glass of beer. Oh there were dark portions, certainly but... But not when Vinyl was around.

Octavia stuck her hoof through the loop of her mane comb and slowly went to work with the tool. She'd love to have asked Vinyl to help with this particular task, but the DJ had insisted upon making something 'special' for breakfast this morning. Granted, 'special' for Vinyl typically meant adding blueberries to the waffles, but Octavia was inclined to indulge her this morning. Vinyl's enthusiasms were always a thing to behold, and she enjoyed watching her marefriend frantically trying to assemble something a little classier than a pile of waffles and hay bacon strips.

Marefriend. It felt like an odd word to Octavia even now - but it also sent little shivers of delight down her spine to do so in reference to Vinyl. Somehow, without even intending to, Vinyl had... changed Octavia. In a good way to be certain! But change nonetheless. Sometimes, Octavia wondered if she would ever be quite the same mare she was before. Perhaps this was what living with one's soul mate was like... each of them gently touching upon the life and soul of the other. Vinyl often swore Octavia brought out the very best in her.

The comb worked the water out of her mane, and slowly returned it to its orderly bun wrapped up at the back of her neck. The rest of her makeup was simple, and always elegant. A touch of mascara, a pinch of coat-shine. Practiced hooves tying her collar and tie around her neck and a brilliant smile at the mirror. She'd brush her teeth after the meal.

Her hooves took her out of the steamy bathroom and down the steps, humming a soft tune. Besides, Vinyl fiddling with breakfast would give Octavia time to sort through the mail. Mail she most certainly did not want Vinyl worrying her pretty little head over, given the subject much of it was likely going to be. Six months. she sighed internally, as the scent of freshly fried hay-bacon hit her nose with a tingle. Six months since Fancy Pants said you were still too young. Apparently, 'too young' was the sort of thing he measured in years too. Her regular applications to the Royal Symphony had been denied, although always politely.

She turned the corner into the combined kitchen and dining room of the little house they shared together. A house that Vinyl was now handling the vast majority of the expenses for. A little cork board hung next to the entrance way of the house, covered with typed out letters pinned to it of sponsorship deals for musical equipment, raver gear, at least one of Vinyl's favorite energy drinks and more. All of which now provided Vinyl the kind of steady income most in the town would have gawked at. There was also always a copy of the latest Equestria Herdcore there too, with Vinyl's name at #5 in the Pantheon - the list of the very best DJ's and club-musicians in Equestria - circled in bright red marker.

For not the first time, Octavia reminded herself of how much work Vinyl did to maintain her level of success. How many hours of the day she put in on her music, on concerts, on networking. She could not, she would not allow herself a single twinge of jealousy over Vinyl's rising star. She was perfectly content with simply mourning the state of her own career. Vinyl was busying herself over at the stove, so Octavia quickly seized the pile of mail from the center of the table. The letters still smelled faintly of muffins as she sorted through each letter.

The rejection notices were easy to spot. They were always in those too-thin envelopes, clearly designed to hold a single sheet of parchment. Each one another heartbreak, another knife in her guts that twisted and hurt like no other thing could. These she quickly discarded into a little trash bin - hoping, as she always did, that Vinyl didn't notice their existence. The rest of it was much of a muchness. Bills, junk mail, a few polite letters from the other members of Ponyville's music community asking Octavia.... well, there was no point in reading them. She knew what they said, and simply didn't wish to answer them.

By the time she looked up, Vinyl was floating two plates over to the table. "Here ya go beautiful." Vinyl chirruped in her happy-go-lucky voice. "One breakfast surprise!" She then proclaimed, and Octavia could not help but gawk. Two beautifully toasted Trottingham Muffins sliced neatly in two lay delicately piled with a pair of poached eggs, shredded hay bacon and a thick creamy yellow sauce. It took only the barest flick of her tongue to identify the smooth and buttery-lemon taste of the hollandaise.

Steamed asparagus and a little fruit salad lay next to them, creating the full vision of total shock in Octavia's eyes. "Eggs Benedict." She breathed out in wonderment, her bright eyes looking up at Vinyl as she sat down across from her with her own plate. "Vinyl, when in Equestria did you learn how to make eggs benedict?" Tavi asked, taking up her fork and cutting into the dish with far more enthusiasm than she'd thought she would. A moment later a bit of the egg, muffin, bacon and sauce made its way into her mouth and exploded in a cavalcade of flavor and texture that would have pleased the refined palette of any Manehatten bruncher.

Octavia very nearly had a foodgasm on the spot. Vinyl was grinning at her sheepishly and chuckling as she lifted her own forkful of the stuff and munched on it to cover her blushes before speaking. "Um... Pep's been giving me a coupla lessons on the side." She confessed, scratching her head with her hoof. "He said if I was gonna have a beautiful, refined mare like you I oughta know how to make a proper breakfast." Octavia couldn't help but smile. Bell Pepper was undoubtedly one of the most talented chefs of his generation, else he would not be studying under the stern eye of a legend like Allez Cuisine.

Octavia lifted another forkful of the stuff and bit down upon the heavenly combination with relish. For all of the pain of those many rejection letters, the food chased them away like the sunlight. Vinyl had to have taken considerable time out of her schedule to arrange cooking classes of any sort. It was the sort of thing that warmed Octavia's heart, even as she watched Vinyl blushing and muttering to herself - something to the effect of how it 'wasn't that big of a deal.' Octavia allowed herself a broad grin while she spoke. "Nonsense, Vinyl. This is remarkable and delicious. Thank you, this was precisely the thing I needed to start my day." Maybe that was laying it on a bit thick, but it was so much fun to tease Vinyl with flowery praise.

Vinyl simply sighed in pleasure and dug into her own meal, under the amused eye of her marefriend who simply delicately enjoyed the treat. How does she know? Octavia thought, as she played with the last of her asparagus upon her surprisingly clean plate. How does she always know when I need a boost like this? There was no rational explanation for it. Vinyl was hardly the world's most focused mare, but every time Octavia felt like she couldn't possibly get any lower - there she was. A bunch of flowers, a platter of cupcakes. Tickets to a sweet and sappy movie, or to see the Royal Symphony. Dinner and dancing, or even something so simple as a special breakfast. Vinyl never took credit for them either, just mumbling along in that cute way of hers about how she thought it might be nice to do this or that thing.

Like now, when Vinyl quickly cleared away the plates from the table and came back with a little paper folder and a small red bag clinking with bits. That conjured a raised eyebrow from Octavia. Now what in the world is she up to this time? she thought with no small amount of amusement. "Um..." Vinyl started, that red blush creeping up into her cheeks. "I gotta go have a meeting with some folks today so I thought you might like to get out and relax until I came back." Octavia took that little folder of paper... and saw a private reservation at the Ponyville Spa. An executive level reservation, no less, the sort of thing that cost a small fortune. Of course, Vinyl had a small fortune these days. Several of them, in fact.

Octavia was floored. Completely and utterly floored. Vinyl wasn't going to be immediately around for her normal day off... so she'd booked Octavia with the kind of pampering session that probably could have qualified as an anniversary present from anypony else. Vinyl shuffled her hooves and was still blushing, like she wasn't sure if she'd done the right thing or come up with the right sort of gift. Octavia laughed softly, and turned Vinyl's head back to give her another long, heated kiss. Much to Octavia's delight, Vinyl's eyes went wide in surprise, her lips and tongue giving way to Octavia's for a few brief moments before she withdrew and smiled.

"I love you, Vinyl." Octavia whispered, nuzzling her cheek against her sisters for a moment in contentment. Perhaps today would not be so bad after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Ponyville Spa could be missed completely if you didn't know it was there. It was a large, relatively simple building that differed in no way on its exterior from any other large business in town. Some called it the best kept secret in Ponyville, and its clientele ranged from local mares desperate to get a few hours away from the home, to well-to-do tourists from all over Equestria. Rumor had it that Hoity Toity himself snuck into town every few months just to spend a day in the talented hooves of the spa twins.

Octavia's entrance to the quiet lobby of the spa did not go unnoticed for very long. Unsurprising, given the expense of her reservation. Both of the spa-ponies were awaiting her at the entrance with bright smiles and well-coiffed manes. Octavia would never say so aloud, but she often had trouble remembering which one was Aloe and which one was Lotus.

The pink one (Octavia decided to call her Aloe for now.) stepped forward and bowed prettily before speaking in her bright, accented voice. "Mademoiselle Octavia! Eet ees so good to see you again! Come, come, Dépèche toi! We have so much to do today!" she gushed out, clapping her hooves in excitement. "We hope you do not mind but Mademoiselle Rarity has asked to join vous." said Aloe, shooing Octavia up the stairs to the private suites above.

Truthfully, Octavia was rather thrilled... and fully suspected Vinyl's hoof in the matter. Octavia felt a little smirk cross her face as she ascended the hard-wood, polished steps and then through the door marked 'Private!'. Octavia had never been up to the private suites before, and half wondered if the rumors about the spa twins were true. A touch of nervousness began to settle over her shoulder as she found her hooves sinking into deep, plush carpeting on the floor. That was a surprise, but the gently flickering gas lamps that lined the hallways, the beautifully carved and polished wooden doors set at neat intervals down the hall, and the absolute peaceful silence that pervaded the place ratcheted it up a bit.

Vinyl had provided her a bag of bits for 'extra's - which generally meant a light snack, perhaps some more pricy facial mask or something of the like. Now she was wondering if Vinyl had meant something a little more... erotic. Oh true, she - like every other mare whose barn door swung that way - had entertained a fantasy or two about Aloe and Lotus. Still, the idea that she'd purchase such services was a bit much. Well.... Alright, the idea that she would do so without Vinyl around was a bit much.

Octavia sometimes thought that crazy DJ she loved so much could probably convince her to do just about anything, if she put her mind to it. Something about being around her just... liberated Octavia in a way that she couldn't quite explain. She shook off those thoughts as they swung open a well-polished door into a room filled with luxurious massage couches, and the sleek and chic form of Rarity lay covered in slightly steaming towels and a look of happy contentment on her face. One of Rarity's bright eyes opened at the noise of the door and a broad, brilliant smile crossed her face. "Darling! About time you got here." She cooed, as Octavia was quickly hustled onto a massage couch next to her.

The spa ponies went to work within moments - and soon enough, Octavia sighed happily at the feel of the lavender scented hot towels soaked into her muscles while a pair of hooves slowly worked the tension out of her shoulders. Octavia cracked open her eye to give Rarity a sly sort of look. "Are you ever going to tell me what was up with that soap, Rarity?" Octavia said with a sly sort of smile. Every time she'd used that bar of soap, somehow her mind had gone so relaxed that she'd ended up doing something... well, interesting with Vinyl.

Rarity affected a hurt look, but then giggled softly. "Oh, very well. It's actually one of my own concoctions - a little something I cooked up with Twilight's help. It's supposed to help you completely and utterly relax in every possible way. Why do you ask, dear? I thought you might like that, given how rarely you relax otherwise." She pouted softly, affecting a wounded tone of voice that caused Octavia's eyes to roll.

Still, she had to chuckle. If it hadn't been for that soap... "I did like it, but you ought to warn me next time." She huffed out, and then affected a much more conversational tone of voice. "So! I've heard things are going well for you at the shop?" Octavia queried and immediately mentally facehoofed. The very last thing she wanted to bring up in a conversation with the most socially aware person in the entire town was the subject of careers. Surely as the sun rose, Octavia just knew that she was going to....

"Oh, just fabulous dear... But what about you?" Rarity's voice arched up into concern, and Octavia felt a wince coming on, turning away. "Darling, I really don't wish to pry but I haven't seen you at a single event in town in ages! I'd heard Fancy put you off a few times but..." Her eyes slowly widened, and Octavia pulled one of the hot towels firmly over her head to hide her face...and so she didn't have to see Rarity's eyes. "Oh dear." Rarity's voice slowly fell, and Octavia squinted her eyes shut as tight as she could. She was not going to cry, she was not going to act like a thirteen year old filly after a bad recital, she was not...

A gentle hoof touched her shoulder, startling Octavia out of her thoughts, and a touch of magic pulled the towel away from her head. Rarity had actually gotten up from her relaxation treatment. She was looking down at Octavia with soft, careworn eyes. "Talk to me, Tavi." She said softly, dropping all pretenses to formal names or address. "You know I shan't judge you no matter what." And that was true. Of all the high society movers and shakers within Ponyville, Rarity could always be counted on to be understanding. Always there with a kind word and an understanding cup of tea. Element of Generosity, indeed. Tavi thought while biting back her emotions. Rarity tsked and called out. "Aloe, darling, would you be so kind and bring us a nice pot of that Oolong?" Then turned back and tilted Octavia's chin up. “On your hooves, darling. We're going to have a little chat."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Within minutes, Octavia was sitting next to Rarity on a lush, soft velvet couch with a fine china cup in her hoof. Rarity had taken up a leg-crossed sitting position and was giving her the kind of kindly, but stern look that told Octavia that there was going to be no avoiding this conversation. Octavia sighed softly and sipped the delightful beverage before speaking. "It was after the second rejection, actually. You remember, when Fancy lost his temper with me after I suggested he was holding something against me?"

Rarity nodded, and gestured for her to go on. Octavia sucked in a deep breath and kept speaking. "I started having... trouble with my playing. Little things at first, nothing anypony who wasn't a fellow musician wouldn't notice. A little too much force on the bow, a little too heavy on the vibrato. I hadn't felt nervous before in front of a crowd in years and then, I suddenly did again. It was like every audience felt hostile. After I nearly broke a string during one particular performance..." Octavia fiddled with the teacup, her eyes cast to the floor. "I... told my peers I was having some unforeseen stress in my life. Said I was taking a sabbatical to clear my head. That was... three months ago." She finished, almost in a whisper now.

Rarity's eyes went wide for a moment, and then bright with tears. Sure enough, she gently placed down her teacup and took Octavia's hoof in hers - making sure the teacup was magicked away. "Darling, I am so sorry." She said, voice practically overflowing with sincerity and regret. "I should have seen this sooner. I do ever so hope you can forgive my thoughtlessness." Octavia smiled a little bit. Oh, Rarity. Always the drama queen.

Rarity sniffed softly. "I'm going to presume you've completely lost the will to play. yes?" Octavia nodded a little at that, her eyes cast down in shame. She was a Musician! She was supposed to make music! Rarity though, merely tsked. "Don't give me that, dear." She admonished, pulling Octavia's head up straight again. "You've been doing naught but digging yourself a bigger hole." She waggled her hoof back and forth. "I'm going to give you a little piece of advice, dear." Rarity declaimed, both her hooves now fixed firmly on Octavia's shoulders.

Octavia swallowed as Rarity spoke in tones that brooked no argument, "You're going to spend this morning relaxing your flank off, and then you're going to go home and throw out all of those applications you keep filling out. And then you are going play your music for those ponies you know will enjoy it." Rarity gave her a soft smile. "Focus on the positives, dear. Spend some time with that lovely marefriend of yours." She winked at Octavia... whose cheeks flamed up in a bright red blush from that suggestion.

Octavia slowly shook her head, then sighed and nodded it. If she didn't agree - and didn't follow through with it - Rarity would pester her until she did. So Octavia put on her best brave face and smiled. "Alright, Rarity. I'll try." She said, filling her voice with as much sincerity as she could muster.

That got her a searching look from the white mare, and then a brusque nod of acceptance from Rarity. Rarity perked up a moment later, speaking in a confiding tone, "Good. Now let's enjoy ourselves, Darling. I've got the most hilarious stories about the help Rainbow Dash has been giving me this week."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vinyl Scratch sat at one of the exterior tables of Sugarcube Corner, impatiently tapping her hoof. Her usually wild mane had been slicked back under cool looking mane-gel and glistened a little in the morning sunlight. Her eyes flitted to and fro behind the sleek, multi-colored sunglasses that had become her stage trademark. The remains of a single cupcake's crumbs were spread over the table before her - and a really big cup of coffee. Vinyl hated mornings.

Correction. Vinyl hated mornings she wasn't spending with Octavia, as opposed to mornings where she had to take care of the BS of her business. Especially the BS when the pony she was supposed to meet was getting perilously close to being late. Luckily for him, he wasn't late - but Vinyl was still annoyed. She'd been told Fancy Pants was a prompt sort of pony, even when it came to business outside his usual bailiwick in Canterlot.

He was as impeccably dressed as he ever was. If Rarity was the hottest source for mare couture on the market right now, Fancy Pants was her opposite for stallions. Vinyl, (who appreciated the charms of both sides of the fence) had to admit he was pretty good looking - even if she wanted to smack that mustache off his face just to get rid of his smug smile. "I hope I haven't kept you long, Ms. Scratch." His voice smoothly intoned, all Canterlot Highbrow accents - the kind Vinyl still hated with a fiery passion to this very day, thanks to what her parents had put her through. Still, she'd bite her tongue and live with it if it meant helping out Octavia. "So, have you considered my proposal?" He continued, as though he could not see the frustration evident in her body language.

Vinyl swept the crumbs of her treat off the table with her hoof and leaned in. "It's a pretty generous offer, dude." She replied - not even bothering with the proprieties of language. Truthfully, it was pretty damn generous. What he was offering her was effectively enough bits that she could live the high life in Manehatten or Baltimare - pretty much anywhere except Canterlot - and still have money to spare.

That wasn't even including what she already made, either. "Can't deny it. The fact that Rarity's involved too gives me a bit more confidence in the deal." Vinyl continued, with a wry sort of smile. It was the kind of thing fashion legends were made of. The two biggest names in high-society clothing teaming up to outfit a rough-and-tumble DJ in designer clubwear? How bold! And a fillyfooler too! How naughty! It was the kind of thing that the nobility got off on, not that Vinyl was going to disdain taking their money for it.

Still, now it was time for the dangerous play. Vinyl adjusted her sunglasses a little with her hoof. "I'm inclined to sign on, But I'd like ta' ask you for a little side favor. Something to seal the deal, yanno?" She said slowly, leaning up to the table. Fancy gave her an acknowledging little nod. Vinyl knew just as well this kind of thing was common in the entertainment industry.

Usually, the artist had some kind of weird request, some quid-pro-quo horsepuckey so they could feel like they got the better end of the deal. "My... marefriend, Octavia." That got a wide eyed look of recognition out of him. Vinyl kept talking, keeping her tones pitched low. "Look, she's been going through a rough spot, but she deserves support for the Symphony. You know, and I know that no one gets in without your stamp on the application, no matter what the other members say. I want that support for her." She had placed both hooves on the table, trying to project some of that forceful personality of hers.

Fancy Pants didn't seem much impressed by her personality - or, if he was, he had a damn good poker face. "You know... well, of course you know the policies of the selection board. Miss Scratch." He arched an eyebrow at her in challenge and she lifted her chin back to him in response. "You're actually the reason I worry about such a young pony as Miss Octavia being admitted to the symphony before maturity has bloomed within her. No offense meant to you, Miss Scratch. What happened to you in those days was appallingly unprofessional of that particular orchestra, which is why none of them work for us now."

Vinyl might have winced at the reminder of her own faults, but there were bigger things to worry about here. "Look, I know this is outta line of me to ask. I get that." she tapped the table with her hoof. "I'm not askin' as a business transaction. I'm askin' as a personal favor. " That got a raised eyebrow from Fancy Pants, and Vinyl pressed her advantage. "I'm gonna sign that contract anyway, bro. We both know it's good for my career. But... Tavi means a lot to me, savvy?" Stop there, Vinyl. Don't push it too much further. She thought, trying to keep herself calm.

Fancy looked off to one side, chewing on the ends of his mustache...then said slowly. "I would reconsider my position... IF she is seen performing someplace outside of her comfort zone in the near future. I need to know that she can handle working in a vastly different environment than she is used to. Someplace very public." He stressed, tapping his own hoof on the table. "Something that will raise her public cachet. If you're willing to arrange that, I'll see what I can do about the committee." He offered his hoof to Vinyl, with a smile on his face. "Agreed?"

Vinyl thought that one over then grinned hugely. Heh. Easy peasy, Fancy butt. She grabbed his hoof and shook it firmly. "Pleasure to do business with ya, Fancy." She said in her best high-minded imitation of a Canterlot accent - which got a guffaw of laughter out of the well-heeled stallion. Tavia's gonna lose her mind! She exulted in her thoughts. Now, I really hope he doesn't have...aw... crap. Her triumph dissolved into pain as Fancy piled a six inch thick stack of documents onto the table. Paperwork.

Vinyl sighed. Hopefully she'd be home in time for lunch.

Part 2 - Little Pony Cant Be Wrong

I am losing my mind. Thought Octavia with no small amount of despair, staring at the length of her immaculately cared for bow. What in the world is wrong with me? Her thoughts continued, her body slumping over the comforting bulk of her cello in the midst of her living room. The morning had been going so very well, Rarity had even gotten her to completely relax by the time she'd left the spa. She'd come home, put on a pot of tea - took a moment to relish the silence of the empty house. A spot of sweet green tea (with a touch of lemon) later, and she felt ready to face her own mental blockage with courage and verve.

Two hours later her courage had fled, her verve was hiding under the piano and all of her relaxation had fled off to parts unknown - taking her mind and her wits with it. The tuning had gone just fine - Octavia was nothing if not adept at the purely mechanical tasks of preparing an instrument for play. Even the basic scales, the complex scales, the bow practice. All just fine, and dandy. For nearly half an hour, Tavi had even entertained the thought that perhaps she had simply been overthinking things.

Then she'd tried to play.

It had been a disaster of Wagneighrian proportions. She could handle simple songs - songs she had learned countless years ago as a filly, the sort of thing one heard at children's recitals.. But anything with even the most remote of complexity or depth turned into an ear-shattering bit of torture. This wasn't merely bad it was atrocious on a level so deep it defied the very concept of bad and shamed it into committing suicide. She'd even tried backing it up, working her way through her repertoire piece by piece right down to the simplest, most elegantly composed, single sheet of music pieces but.... nothing.

Too much pressure on the frets, too much weight with the bow, there was always something so fundamentally wrong to Tavi's ears that it set her teeth to grinding. Every failure had fed into the next, in spite of her very best efforts to remain calm and relaxed. It wasn't until she saw a tiny drop of moisture hit the side of the neck that Octavia realized she was crying. That her breathing was coming in short, painful sobs. No. She was stronger than this. She was. "Again." She said firmly to herself, lifting the bow and taking up the playing position, holding her head up high.

Then a soft tinkling sound entered her ears, just as bow met string - The sounds of piano notes gently rolling through the room in support of the melody she had on the page before her. And without so much as a how-do-you-do, the cello sang. Octavia dared not look up, dared not question the sound in her ears - The piano played and the cello wove with it. Through melody and harmony together, Octavia's tear filled eyes closed and she listened to the hushed sweet tones of her instrument.

The piano cut through the anger and the despair, the rage and the grief and pounded through her veins like quicksilver. Her hooves moved, the deep dark tones of the cello moving amidst the bright sounds of the Piano with practiced skill. The Piano dipped low, and the cello followed it - like color and life and music all turned into fae light and dancing within her. Tears fell from her eyes as the two instruments played together - together, as they ought to be.

The music flowed, and Octavia felt the knots in her shoulders relax, her headache that had been threatening for hours vanished like mist under the sun. This was good. This was right. This was... Music. Octavia's movements became bolder - her music taking on entirely new dimensions as she vigorously drew her bow back and forth across the strings, singing out melodies she'd never seen before on a piece of music - just following the gentle and insistent rhythm of the piano in her ears. What had begun as a classic piece had become something else, something joyous and wonderful.

Slowly, achingly, the music came to a close, with a single long note wailing softly from the cello in her hooves. She sagged against it as silence filled the room, her tears still gently streaming - but no sobs emitted from her throat. She opened her eyes to look into the beautiful eyes of her sister, Vinyl - who was holding her gently in her hooves. "Feel better?" She asked quietly, and Octavia found herself nodding dumbly.

She felt her flank hit the hard wooden chair with a little thump, and watched as Vinyl carefully, softly put away the cello into its soft case, and tucked away the bow with all of the care Octavia could have demanded. Octavia still only felt numb, if exhilarated as she sat there in the chair - until Vinyl tugged over another heavy wooden seat and popped up on it. She reached out, Octavia feeling the firm texture of her hooves and the soft coat of her fetlocks. "Talk to me, Tavi." she said, in her most gentle voice.

Octavia sucked in a deep breath and exhaled, trying not to panic. How much had Vinyl seen? How much had she guessed? Too much. Her breathing came quicker now, slowly panicking as her mind whirled in circles. Had she read the mail in the trash? Had she slipped up, said the wrong thing? Had she been seen crying? Had she- "Octavia Mezzo Piano!" Said Vinyl's voice in the sharpest tone Octavia had ever heard her use. "Talk. To me." Vinyl emphasized her words, squeezing Tavia's hooves. "Please." she plead softly to her, eyes full of worry.

That opened all of Octavia's floodgates. All self-possession fled out of her soul, all confidence and verve vanished, and with them the lies she told to protect the mare she loved. She dissolved into tears again and threw herself into Vinyl's lap, craving that physical comfort like nothing else in the world. Vinyl simply took her into her hooves and stroked her mane, and made soothing noises. She did not care about the soaking of tears and strangled sobs into her shoulder. This was safe, this was home. Here, in her arms, she didn't have to put on that brave face for the audience.

"I don't... I can't..." She sucked in a deep breath. "I'm a failure, Vinyl!" She cried out, trying to hide herself in Vinyl's shoulder. The sobs continued to wrack her again, her words coming out in fits and starts. "I cannot play in front of an audience!" Another sob, this one harder than the rest. "I cannot compose! I cannot even get into a bucking orchestra to save my life!" More sobs came, over and over again. "I am.. jealous of you, and it is tearing me up! This is not proper of me!" Her sobs turned into painful coughs, and Vinyl kept holding her. She didn't spurn her or toss her aside. She simply held, and caressed her back. "Vinyl... I cannot... I am so very tired, Vinyl..." Her shoulders sagged helplessly, leaning against Vinyl.

"S'okay, Tavi. S'okay. Let it out." Vinyl gently soothed at her, letting her get out all the pain and bile that had built up... Eventually, pain began to blur in the mass of wet coat fur that Tavi had left on both of Vinyl's shoulders. Tears ceased to flow, and sobs ceased to wrack her breath. The gentle stroke of the hoof against her back and mane, the soft sounds of understanding all began to penetrate through the self-anger and sadness.

Soon, Octavia was nuzzling up towards dry coat, softly wrapping herself around Vinyl's figure. "I'm so sorry I didn't say anything before, but..." Octavia's words were stymied by a gentle hoof against her lips. Vinyl smiled at her softly, and shook her head slowly.

"No, sis." Vinyl said, gently and firmly. "I'm the one who oughta be sorry that I didn't see this. I'm sorry I'm such a thick-headed dunce that I didn't see how bad things were getting." Vinyl shushed Octavia's attempt to deny this, with a gentle kiss on the lips and a fierce hug. "I'm gonna make this up to you, Tavi - and we're gonna fix this thing together." Tavi sniffled softly and nuzzled gently against Vinyl's cheek, aching for the comfort of that touch. "Remember, Tavi? We." Vinyl gently poked Tavi's chest, and then her own. "That means you plus me. We'll figure somethin out, I promise."

Octavia blinked away the last of the tears and smiled softly. "Thank you, love." She said, in her gentlest of voices. "I'm... I'm lucky to have you." she spoke again, sniffling softly then examining her mane with a despairing look. "Oh bollocks, it's all mussy now. On top of everything else, I can't even keep my mane straight." She said, sighing dramatically...

Vinyl just stared at her, and then burst into laughter. Bright, cheerful, obviously helpless laughter. Octavia half glared at her for that... and then gave a big smile. Vinyl's humor was nothing if not infectious. "Well, we better go fix it up then, shouldn't we?" Vinyl said with a dangerous glint in her eye.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vinyl carried Octavia up the stairs, cradling her in her hoof like she was a little foal - with just a teensy bit of help from her magic to keep her balanced. Tavia clung to Vinyl and actually giggled softly on the way up the stairs, obviously enjoying the unique experience . Damnit, Tavi. I'm gonna fix this. Vinyl thought stubbornly, trying her damnedest to keep a cheerful, soft smile on her face. Did I get so wrapped up with my own shit that I stopped paying bucking attention? Had to be. Well, that bull stops right now. The pair of them turned the corner of the upstairs landing, and Vinyl clicked open the door to the bathroom.

Within, Vinyl didn't even bother to shut the door. Her horn lit up as she manipulated the knobs and a fresh stream of water began to spout out of the shower head. Octavia laughed again - this time far more genuinely than the nervous play-giggle of before. "What is it with you and showers, Vinyl?" Octavia asked her in a warmth filled voice. "One might think you were part seapony!" That fetched another gentle giggle from Octavia that filled Vinyl's ears and made her grin in return.

"I like being hot and wet. What's wrong with that?" Vinyl teased back, waggling her eyebrows in exaggerated suggestion as she set Octavia gently down on the sink-top. Tavi gawked at her a little, and Vinyl winked, tossing her shades into a little basket atop the toilet. "Seriously, Tavi. We've been doing this..." Then she grabbed a hoof full of Tavi's mussy mane and pressed a hard, deep kiss onto her lips - flooding Octavia's mouth with her tongue and passion for a few searing seconds before pulling back with a smile "For almost half a year now, and me makin' dirty jokes at ya makes you blush?" It was a gentle tease, meant entirely in fun.

What Octavia did next though, very much surprised her. "Do that again." Tavi whispered, her eyes suddenly wide with shock. Vinyl blinked at this, wondering exactly what was going on... but she leaned in anyway, to press that firm kiss to Octavia's lips.. who backed away shaking her head. "No, not just that. A-all of it." Her voice was trembling faintly now, as the room began to slowly fill with steam.

Vinyl quirked an eyebrow... and then replicated what she did. She grabbed that hoof full of mane, quite firmly... and this time paying attention, noticed the faint gasp of pleasure escaping Tavi's lips. "D'ya like that?" Vinyl asked quietly, reaffirming her grip on Octavia. With her hoof full of mane like this, she could easily control Tavi's head and where it went. Tavi gave her a little nod, her lips parting to dart her tongue over them. Vinyl felt a surge of powerful lust rush through her, as she pulled that head slowly down towards her lips - and Octavia didn't resist in the least. Letting Vinyl control her head all the way to the point where Vinyl's tongue darted out to brush up against Tavi's lips...but not to kiss her. Tavi's eyes widened, but she did not try to strain forward as Vinyl gently caressed her lips with her tongue, teasing as though she intended to kiss - but never touching with lips.

For a few long moments, Vinyl continued to tease her sister this way - the steam slowly adding sheen of sweat to their coats as the hot water continued to spatter inside the shower. Drop the fuckin' bass... She's gone all subby on me! Vinyl thought with some surprise, and once again got gobsmacked when Octavia's lips parted and she spoke again, her voice hushed and heated. "Please... V-vinyl... I won't break.." Her eyes opened and there was a slightly glassy look to them, as though she was fighting with something inside of herself. "I want this... this..." She gestured helplessly up at the hoof in her hair, clearly lacking the vocabulary to describe what was going on inside of her head. "I don't have the words... Help me?" She finally whispered, looking... not scared, not excited... someplace in between. Hungry, almost.

Vinyl took a deep breath. Stay calm Scratch. She's had a heaping helping of helplessness, she needs to feel protected right now. "It's okay, Tavi. Shh." Vinyl gently stroked her cheek, kissing it softly. "I can help you. C'mon." She tugged off the collar and tie, setting it next to her shades and pulling the all too willing pony with her under the hot, fast water of the shower head. Gotta be gentle. Vinyl reminded herself sternly, and gently turned Octavia around "Up on your hind hooves." She said softly, but firmly. Determined to do right by the mare she loved.

~~~~~~~~~~

Octavia did not know what she was doing. She did not know what had moved her to say those things. She did not understand this strange feeling fluttering in her chest. What she did understand was that doing as Vinyl told her sounded so very lovely right now. So she lifted herself up onto her back hooves into the 'standing performance' position. Doing so sent the splashing of the hot water straight into her chest rather than into her face, which was an odd sort of feeling.

"Now, gimmie yer front hooves." Vinyl half-growled behind her. Octavia complied slowly, shifting her weight a little to steady herself in the awkward position without a cello to lean on. Vinyl took hold of her forehooves and squeezed them softly, then pressed them flat together behind the small of her back. Octavia quelled her confusion, and just... waited. It was amazing how waiting like that could feel calming but... it was. "Now keep them there. Don't move em one inch, mkay?" Vinyl said, with a gentle nibble along her neck. "You've taken care of me plenty, Tavi. Now it's my turn." She said softly, hotly into Octavia's ear...

Soon, Tavi could feel the hot water spraying up over her head and mane as Vinyl adjusted the shower head. Then... to her shock and pleasurable amazement, Vinyl took up a hoof brush and started to work it slowly through her wet mane. No magic, no impersonal telekinesis. Just her hooves and a brush. It was incredible. She wanted to reach back and... No. No, Vinyl had said not to move her hooves. So she wouldn't. She would just... let go. Slowly, every nerve in Octavia's mind that screamed at her that she had to reciprocate began to quiet down with every soft, gentle stroke of the brush.

Vinyl gently tugged out the knots in Tavi's mane, gently smoothed out the places where the crying and jerky movements had mussed it into a rats nest. Her other hoof gently gripped Tavi's shoulder, and slowly instincts began to take over - she did not move her hooves, but she tried to back up a little into the warm body of her lover. "Ah, ah!" Vinyl chided her gently, pushing her away. "I didn't say you could do that, Tavi. Stay. Be still." She purred softly, sweetly into Octavia's ear... and Octavia shivered at the feeling. She was still. Calm. Collected. Her eyes closed and she simply let things happen.

It was... an unusual sort of feeling. Like being a part of an orchestra. You were never entirely in control of your own music - you played to the whims of the conductor. If he demanded more volume, you gave him such. If he demanded you hold, you held. Faster Rhythm? You went faster. Vinyl had become her conductor, and like any good musician - she would obey the direction she had been given. The brush continued to gently tug and pull through her mane, and Octavia remained as perfectly still as though she were on stage. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, a deep rhythmic sort of breathing that slowly calmed the little eddies in her mind. She was turned on, incredibly so and she did not want to move to alleviate that excitement. She wanted to be told to move, to let the music truly begin.

This was all so very strange, so surreal. Something tickled at the back of Octavia's head as Vinyl now gently shifted the shower head so she could begin lathering Tavi's favorite sweet lemon shampoo into her hair. Vinyl's lips nipped and kissed at Octavia's shoulders and neck - sending little thrills of electric pleasure through her still body. Her lips parted as Vinyl gently ran her tongue all the way up Octavia's spine, and a soft note - a perfect middle C - escaped from her lips in the form of a moan. "Ahn~!" It hung in the air between them, a single note of sensuality.

Soon, Tavi's mane was perfectly lathered, and the hot water was turned up again to allow her to slowly rinse out the soap. For a moment, she could feel nothing, see nothing that Vinyl was doing. Slowly, during that moment, her excitement rose and rose, anticipation eating away at herself control like an acid. Then a soft touch, and the feel of a tongue between her thighs. Her whole body trembled in response... but she did not move.

Then came a low chuckle. "Good girl. You've earned a little reward." said Vinyl, somewhere down between her legs. The tongue started to dart up her thighs, licking a little, nibbling a little, then moving up and on - A tiny peek down saw Vinyl's horn poking out between her thighs and her eyes began to widen. Surely Vinyl had no intention of... Her thought process derailed immediately, at the electric touch of the tip of Vinyl's tongue teasing at her marehood. Her white hooves were planted firmly on Octavia's flank and holding her still while Vinyl went to work licking deeply into her.

As much incredible, powerful emotion had existed between them - Tavi had never felt so much love for Vinyl right at that moment. Her tongue slowly slipped up and began to push in between her lips and softly penetrated her, putting its length and talent to good use. Octavia's mouth parted and another moan, this one far longer, filled the steamy bathroom. "Oh, Celestia." She whispered softly, and then moaned again as that tingly tongue wedged itself in a little deeper. Forget sex toys, this was incredible, not just in terms of the bolts of pleasure that shot up from her nether lips every few moments. Oh no, that was nice, but Octavia felt so... safe.

So loved. So controlled, and she loved it. Her hips began to buck little bit and Octavia stopped them. Just the mere act of forcing herself to be obedient to this command was nearly enough to set off her orgasm, and that wriggling tongue was not helping. So she did the only thing she was still allowed to do - She moaned loudly and sweetly, filling the room with the musical sounds of her pleasure. At this rate, she was going to orgasm... very... very soon.

~~~~~~~~~~

She shifted her position, admiring the fact that Octavia had taken to the submissive pose rather well. Who'd a thunk that the calm and collected cellist would be such a submissive? Vinyl's thoughts raced with the opportunities... and possibilities while she worked - her hooves stroking firmly at Octavia's thighs and her head shifting and pushing up and down slowly in a slow fuck with her tongue, her magic glowing and teasing at Octavia's clit as she did so.. The magic, the touch, the... everything... So. Freakin. Hot.

Octavia didn't take much more of that. Her back nearly arched... and stilled. Octavia had taken the 'be still' command super, super seriously. She was cumming so hard that Vinyl had to pull away, giving off a silent sort of cough and marvel at it - Octavia's body had gone stiff as a harp string - the sounds escaping her were almost... mindless in their pleasure. Vinyl suddenly realized what it was, and spoke quickly. "You can relax and move, now." ...and then Octavia collapsed atop Vinyl on the spot. "Wah!" Was about all Vinyl had time to say, as she nearly got a face full of earth pony, ducking backwards so that Octavia collapsed into her waiting lap, panting more heavily than she ever had in her life. Vinyl gently pulled the limp form of the cellist towards her body, stroking her mane gently and cooing into her ear. "Such a good girl. I'm so proud of you, Tavi."

Octavia was slowly starting to snuggle up under her chin, her breathing slowly coming to normal after a minute or so. She looked up at Vinyl and spoke in her normal, self-assured tones - as though everything was just fine again. "That." stated Octavia, with absolute conviction. "Was the most incredible feeling I've ever had. No exceptions." She tilted her chin up imperiously, her eyes sparkling brightly even in the dim light of the shower and a beautiful smile spread across her face. "Thank you, Vinyl." Then Octavia kissed her in a very nice, soft sort of manner. "I needed that." she whispered softly.

Vinyl felt warmth flush into her heart, and brought her hooves up to hold Tavi's face gently. "Love you, Octavia." Vinyl murmured, much softer than usual. Celestia, she's beautiful. She thought achingly, the limp wet mane arrayed around Tavi's face looked like a waterfall of curls. Then she realized she was staring at her, and Tavi had slowly developed a mischievous smile on her face. "What?" Vinyl blurted out, feeling awful confused. Is there somethin' on my face?

Octavia leaned in and gently brushed Vinyl's own flyaway two-toned mane away from her eyes and spoke gently. "I Love you, Arpeggio. Vinyl." She paused, obviously conflicted for a moment before dismissing it. "Whatever, I love you and that's the end of it." That got a firm nod from her, and then she reached around Vinyl to... turn off the hot water. "You looked like you were staring into the heavens, Vinyl." Octavia teased softly, and Vinyl felt a blush creep up her cheeks very quickly. "Come on. Let's get dry. I think I have a lot to talk about with you."

~~~~~~~~~~

About thirty minutes and some soft kisses later, the pair of them were sitting on the sofa - each cradling their hard-drink of choice. A very strong glass of Chateau De Canterlot for Octavia, and a screwdriver for Vinyl. Octavia often wondered what the appeal of flavorless alcohol inside of a perfectly good fruit juice was. Vinyl had tucked herself quite close to Octavia, and she was certainly not complaining about the soft coat and warmth that the DJ provided. "I haven't had a concert in three months." Octavia began, sipping at the rich and luscious wine. Expensive, but she needed it today. "I've not been able to properly practice either. About the only time all of my skills seem to fall back into place is when I'm playing with you." She blushed, but Vinyl didn't say anything, for which Octavia was glad.

Octavia needed to get a lot of this off her chest before her courage began to fail her. "I cannot even compose. All of my theory lessons vanish into the ether, and I end up writing dirty limericks." She paused, and coughed politely. "Which I immediately destroyed, of course.' That conjured an 'Awwwww!' out of Vinyl, and Octavia immediately smacked her. "Oh, do shut up." Octavia muttered, blushing and hiding herself in the glass of wine for a few moments.

Vinyl took the hit to her shoulder and kept on grinning. Octavia just took another deep pull of the wine and then sighed miserably. "I tried to tell you. I just... I could never find the courage. You were doing so well, things were finally turning up for you. It felt churlish to rain upon your parade with my miseries." She held up a hoof to stymie Vinyl's inevitable comebacks. "Yes, I remember what you told me all those months ago. I remain adamant that I will not allow my personal problems to-" This time, Vinyl shut her up with a hoof and a stern look. Octavia swallowed softly, wondering if perhaps she had perhaps gone astray.

"Tavi. I Told'ja. We're partners." Vinyl said, tapping her hoof against Octavia's chest. "I ain't happy if you ain't happy, and that's that. She nodded her head decisively, then worried at her lip with her teeth. "So. I got's an idea that might help, but I'm not sure how into it you'll be. I know you're pretty traditionalist..." She trailed off, muttering something under her breath. Octavia sighed softly. She dearly loved Vinyl, but sometimes for all of her bluster she lacked confidence in some of her own ideas and innovations outside of her own personal music creation. One wonders how she ever hit it big in her business with how diffident she can be. Octavia wondered silently, instead tapping her hooves and arching an eyebrow - motioning for Vinyl to go on with her 'idea.'

Vinyl stopped biting her lip, and nodded. "Well, Maybe you need to change things up a bit? Like..." She tapped her hooves together in thought, then pointed with a big smile. "Like maybe you an' I could do something together! We could rig up our instruments to some mixers and speakers and put together a sweet little thing, yanno?" Vinyl was bobbing her head, as though she could already hear it. "I mean, whenever I get stuck, that's what I do. Switch it up, try something new, expand your horizons." She wiggled her hoof, Octavia watching with some bemusement. "We'll do a little mixing, see what you like - get you back into the groove, yanno? It really sounds like you're just outta sync with the music."

Octavia pondered that for a few moments, then nodded slowly. It certainly wasn't traditional or something she was strictly comfortable with, but then - nothing she was comfortable with was working properly. Besides, she had enjoyed that club music quite a bit - perhaps it was time to expand her repertoire a little bit. "Well.. It's something new to try." She commented, brightening up. "Certainly, it's better than sitting about like a lemon and feeling sorry for myself." Octavia felt a little bounce enter her spirit, finally having some kind of plan giving her a boost. Besides, It has been quite some time since I've tried to learn a new way of music. Perhaps I have been stagnating a bit.

Vinyl hopped up, downing the rest of her booze with a big grin. "Arright! That's the ticket! M'kay, I'm gonna go pick up some stuff from the shop." The shop, meaning the only purveyor of electrical and magilectrical equipment in town, Filthy Rich's Emporium. "We're gonna need.." She paused, tapping her chin for a moment. "The stuff outta the blue box, the green box and the box labeled 'minis' in my room. Just get everything unpacked and I'll show ya how we set it up, aight?"

Octavia nodded enthusiastically, and hugged Vinyl tightly before she rushed out the door, clearly excited to get started.

Well, two could play the enthusiasm game.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It took Octavia exactly six minutes and thirty-three seconds for her enthusiasm to get her in trouble. The mini-amps were familiar enough, but the massive tangles of cables and cords were damn near overwhelming as she tried to sort them out.

"What in the name of Celestia's Flank are all these cables for!?" Octavia exclaimed, finding herself all turned around in the ever lengthening stretches of cord coming out of one of the boxes. Then she fell over, tangled up in the electric cordage and yelled to the ceiling. "Oh, Bollocks to this!"

It took another ten minutes to untangle herself from the cordage, shoving it all to one side. She finally opened up the blue box and found... "Huh? A Microphone? What are these records?" Her hooves flipped through them, growing surprised and increasingly amused. "Oh, Vinyl! I never knew!" She giggled brightly... and went searching for a record player.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was almost an hour later when Vinyl was practically humming with happiness as she toted a small bag full of mechanical doohickeys and electric whatsits (Vinyl didn't care about learning all the technical jargon, so long as she knew how to put it all together), which were designed to allow an artist to attach real instruments to electrical mixing and recording equipment. This was gonna be awesome! She'd thought about doing this for months, but there never seemed to be the time or a good reason to amidst all of her new responsibilities and work as an artist and a product promoter. Still, a good artist - especially one in the DJ industry - never stood still. You had to keep up with the trends if you wanted to stay relevant.

Vinyl kicked open the front door with her hooves and slipped inside, throwing the bolt so that nopony would come in and interrupt their jam session. Vinyl giggled madly at the thought of having a 'jam session' with her sister, of all ponies. It was both awesome and ridiculous to think of Tavi in that way, but there it was! Vinyl set down her saddle bags on the kitchen table when her ears caught a snatch of pop-music coming through the house. "Bwah?" Vinyl quipped, focusing on the sound and following it towards the living room...

♫ ~"There - is a place! Where the grass is what's for Din~ner!"~ ♫

"Tavi?" Vinyl asked quietly, poking her head through the living room doorway to find...Octavia, of all ponies - prancing about the living room with one of her stage mics. She had on a slick looking coral pink vest and her hair had been done up in that cute bun Vinyl so loved... along with a pair of braided tails that hung over her ears. Her eyes were closed and a beautiful smile was pasted across her face. Her mouth opened and much to Vinyl's shock, a gorgeous voice flowed out - full of verve and passion for the music.

♫ ~"Charmed! Fun and wild! There must be somethin' in the wa~ter!

Sippin' rainbow juice! Talkin' Elements of Har~mo~ny!

Our Bronies, hang out too! Cuz they know we're awe-some Fillies!

Come on Everypony!"~ ♫

"Oh my Celestia." Whispered Vinyl, barely able to restrain herself at the sight of Octavia bobbing and jamming out to the pop song. She had to stuff her hoof in her mouth to suppress the laughter of joy. Octavia's hooves had taken her atop the coffee table, where her flank bobbed and wove to the pop-beats. "Oh she is adorable." She squee'd through her hooves, and snuck into the room - waiting to see how long it took Octavia to notice her.

♫ ~"You could travel the wor~rld!

But no one can groove like the girls with the hooves!

Cuz when you party with Po~nies,

You'll be seein' Rainbooms! Oh~ooh-ooh!

Equestrian Girls! We're kinda Magic-!"

Octavia' finally spotted her - midway through her big chorus line and promptly fell off the table into a pile of scattered couch cushions. Vinyl burst into laughter as the pop music kept on pumping out of one of the mini-amps, as Octavia lay mortified on the pile of pillows. After several long minutes of helpless laughter, Octavia finally pulled herself up out of the pile with her cheeks beet red and muttered. "I don't suppose I could persuade you to suddenly come down with selective amnesia?" She asked, half helplessly and then sighed as Vinyl shook her head with the biggest grin she'd ever sported on her face. "I didn't think so." Tavi moped, lifting up the needle from the record player and bringing the bright bubblegum music to a halt.

Vinyl recovered finally, with a smile fit to beat the band on her face and her voice breathy with laughter. "Octavia Piano, you didn't tell me you could sing like that! Holy buck, love!" Octavia blinked at her, and Vinyl hauled her up to her hooves with a huge grin. "That was freakin sweet!" Tavi blushed even brighter, enough that Vinyl started to worry about her fainting away from the praise. Vinyl eyeballed the disaster area of cables, couch cushions and record envelopes and rolled her eyes with a grin. "An' you call me messy. C'mon, Tavi. Let's get to work."

The pair of them quickly put their hooves to cleaning up the mess left by Octavia's sudden enthusiasms, with Vinyl carefully untangling the cordage with her magic while Tavi moved around other bits of equipment at Vinyl's direction. Soon enough, Vinyl was going through her normal setup routine with the sound boards while Octavia ever-so-carefully attached the metal bar sensors to her precious cello. "Vinyl, what are these supposed to do?" Tavi wondered aloud, as she carefully tightened the little devices to the neck and fretboard.

Vinyl poked her head up from under the soundboard, half covered in already attached wires. "Uh, They pick up the vibrations of the strings from the neck, and the vibrations of the body from the ones you've put inside it. The little magilectric crystals transfer the sounds to the sound board, where we can modulate it all sorts of neat ways." She grinned. "Dun worry, Tavi - they're made to come off real easily, but I think yer gonna like this." She dove back down, and came up a few moments later. "There. Toss me those cables, I'll hook you up and get to work on the Piano while you give it a go."

~~~~~~~~~~

Tavi eyeballed the thin cables leading away from her instrument into the complicated arrangement of knobs and sliding dials that now took up most of the coffee table. It took her a few moments, but sure enough none of them interfered with her usual playing stance, which she took up confidently. I cannot believe how much better I feel. She thought wonderingly. Was that all she'd really needed? A good cry, and some silly fun with Vinyl? Had she simply been so utterly pent up that it had overwhelmed everything?

Hm. Food for thought. Vinyl flipped a couple switches on the board and gave Octavia a grin. "Okay, yer all set up. Give it a play!" She then bustled over to her Piano, and within moments was waist deep in the Upright's box with a pile of wires trailing after her. Octavia shrugged, and set her bow to strings - then took a deep breath and dragged it across, looking to get a middle C.

The sound rumbled out of her cello... and at the same time, right through the pair of Mini-amps set before her, giving the instrument the power and sound of an entire orchestra-line of cellos all playing in perfect synchronization. The note rumbled up through Octavia's hooves like an earthquake and set her to a little shiver. Dear Celestia, what power! came the faint thought in her head, staring at her bow in mute amazement. She heard a soft chuckle from Vinyl and half glared at her, then set about working her way up and down the scales to check her tuning.

Every note sent little shock waves of sonic assault through her body, the pure volume was like sitting right in front of an orchestra. It was intimidating... and also intoxicating. With this, she had the full power of an entire cellist section at her own beck and call. Vinyl poked her head out of the piano for a moment... just as Octavia set to her work. First, the Chopin. She thought resolutely, setting to the piece with all the quiet vigor the piece demanded.

Her play was far from flawless. The work flowed from her hooves into the instrument with jerks and overpressures - the notes flowed across the room, commanding but not skillful. The music sang against her body like a physical force. She could feel every note of the song rumble through her like almost nothing she had experienced before. Her eyes closed and she ceased to merely 'play' the music, but instead 'felt' it with her soul, heart and body. It was not perfect, it was not all there quite yet...but she could still play, and that was a minor miracle in and of itself.

When the last notes of the strain died away with a glorious feedback hum she could still feel the tension in her bow, but it was lessened. I have been a fool. She thought, silently. Vinyl would undoubtedly contradict such a statement, and Tavi was in no mood to argue the point. If she had just been willing to admit her nervousness sooner, perhaps all of this could have been avoided.

Of course, Tavi still had the slight problem of public anxiety but...No. No buts. You have your skill, Octavia. It has not abandoned you when you play alone. The rest, you can conquer with willpower. By the time she looked up, Vinyl was perched on her piano bench with a huge grin on her face. Octavia blinked and looked up at her, slightly startled out of her reverie. "What?" she asked quietly.

Vinyl shook her head and chuckled. "I never get tired of watching you play." She said quietly, and Tavi felt her cheeks flush again. At this rate, she was going to turn as red as Cheerilee! Vinyl's voice came again, gently. "Okay. I'm gonna try a few things here. Let's pick a piece, uh... Bach five, maybe?" That got a cautious nod from Octavia. That was simple enough, and should hold up to tinkering. Vinyl kept talking, her horn glowing as she began to manipulate dials and knobs on the sound board. "Mmkay. So you just start playing, and I'm gonna... play around with the sound while I play with you." She grinned at Octavia, who guessed the dubiousness she was feeling was showing through. "Dun worry, I think yer gonna like this."

Octavia shrugged and brought her bow back up to the 'ready' position, and waited patiently - once again, Vinyl was her conductor. She waited calmly and patiently as more dials were twiddled and manipulated. Vinyl winked. "You may begin." She intoned in her best faux haughty voice, and Octavia couldn't help herself. She smiled and gently began to stroke gently across the strings. The sound rolled richly out of the speakers in slow tones, filling the room with its sweet sound. Octavia closed her eyes, and exhaled deeply - trying to tap into that place where she'd been just a few moments before....

Suddenly as she moved into the next bar of music, she was startled as the sound coming out of the multiple amps was not merely the note she played - but a harmonic chord of sound as though three different cellos were playing in perfect sync with her. She continued to play slowly, her head tilted in fascination as those three sounds became separate tones, and began to play at slightly different speeds and tones, and a chord became a harmonic melody that played along with her. Remarkable. She thought in surprise, moving into the heavier and more intense middle of the piece.

Octavia's eyes began to widen though - as Vinyl flicked a few dials up and down and adjusted another couple of knobs... Now she could hear her own cello - but the trill of a violin twittered alongside it harmoniously, and a sweet, deep throated viola came in alongside it - gently lending her deep cello a little more depth. Now, every stroke of her bow was like leading her very own string section - Every mistake she made provided instant feedback through the system. Every time she screwed up - the rest of the instruments did it with her.

Little by little, though - her play sharpened. This was like no other form of practice she'd done. She could feel her mistakes instantly, in a way that immediately clued her in to her error. When she over-adjusted, she had no time to think about being frustrated at it - she simply corrected herself. The weight on her bow slowly adjusted to its proper place - the smooth and gently pressure of each stroke calmed, and her breathing calmed with it. After a few moments, she suddenly stopped - as a realization hit her. Her eyes shot open and she half glared at Vinyl... who was smiling coyly behind her electrical equipment. "You're manipulating me." Octavia accused in an amused tone, pointing her bow firmly at Vinyl. "You know how I get when I'm around other performers."

Vinyl's smile was unrepentant. "Ayup. Sure do, which is why I did that." She wiggled a hoof at the sound board and grinned. "I'm tellin' ya, Tavi. You weren't anything more'n a victim of your own damn brain." She leaned over and gently brushed Octavia's mane a bit with her hoof. "Now suck it up. I'm going to get on Betsy and we're gonna rock out a bit... And I've got a proposition for you after!"

Part 3 - Do the Clop

Vinyl nodded her head slowly to the sound of her sister's cello buzzing through the heavy duty headphones over her ears, intermingled with the roll of her piano through the melodic line. Vinyl cast a glance over at Octavia, who was also listening very intently to the recording they'd just put together, as Vinyl slowly adjusted dials on the recording mixer and bit at her lower lip. Gotta get this right. Heavier on the treble there. She adjusted the appropriate dial, and continued listening to the music herself, trying to fix it up right so Tavi could hear the kinda thing Vinyl was about to propose.

Tavi hadn't said a word since they'd both sat down on the couch about twenty minutes ago. Vinyl wasn't... worried about her, she was just kinda... antsy. Tavi'd been through the wringer, and Vinyl was only half sure she knew how to pull her out of it. Stressin' out over the orchestra had sent her into the kind of downward spiral Vinyl only thought drugged-out rockers got into. Vinyl frowned at a particular section, slowly adjusting the equalizer on the mixer. That bit needs more bass. Gotta keep the rythmn tight. Her eyes narrowed, and she wished she'd remembered to grab her shades. She always thought better with her shades on.

Octavia's whole physical posture reeked of personal uncertainty and doubt. She looked like a filly waitin' for her first recital, and Tavi had never looked like that. Of the two of them, Octavia had always been more confident in her skills. Vinyl knew she was good to a certain extent, but Tavi lived and breathed being good at what she did. She'd never had a doubt in her skillz, never had a reason to doubt it. She was a Piano, latest in a long ass line of musicians, and Pianos were good at whatever music they turned their hoof to.

Now? Tavi had been getting hooves in the guts from the Royal Symphony selection committee, and even more of em from her own self. Why else would Tavi possibly be getting rejected if her music wasn't good enough? Vinyl knew that attitude, like she knew every bass drop or phat beat in her repertoire. That was mum and dad's influence shining through like the dirty light it was, and never had Vinyl wanted more to walk back up to that schmoozy house in Manehatten and beat the living shit out of both of em.

Vinyl pulled her headphones off, grabbing a surprised look from Octavia - who removed her own a moment later. Vinyl half smiled at her and flipped one of the analog switches... Suddenly, the room was filled with a thumping bass beat, woven around a slick piano roll that sounded like it could go on forever - and in the background, the thrumming tones of Tavi's cello gave the usual bass beat a kind of soul that vinyl could really dig. Octavia's mouth dropped into a cute little 'o' shape, as the music flowed in the room around them.

It was a little jazzier than Vinyl usually went in for, but she liked it. It had a good head-bopping feel to it, something you could sink a good tailbounce into too. Tavi's eyes were wide, and shining with... some kinda emotion. Maybe it was wonder. There was an old school classicism to the piece - heavier on the bass, sure - but there was plenty of weight from that cello that Tavi looked like she couldn't quite believe it was her own music getting played. Ain't gonna be a better time than this. "Ey, Tavi." She nudged her sister, turning the volume down a bit so they could have a chat.

Octavia turned her head to her, blinking slowly - She was smiling, and that was a damn good start. "Lissen, I had this crazy kinda idea." She scratched at her chin, pretending it had just occurred to her. "You're comfy playin' around me, and I've been meaning to try out a little somethin' different." Vinyl gave off her very best, most confident grin. "How'd you like to do a little gig, jus' you and me and a sound guy at one of the clubs? Playin' stuff like this." She waved her hoof in the air, as the music continued to thump and thud around them like a faint heartbeat. "Could be a lotta fun, dont'cha think?" She quipped, wondering why Octavia was looking increasingly puzzled.

Tavi opened her mouth a little and spoke quietly - almost too quietly to be heard over the music. "But... Vinyl, don't you have a reputation to worry about?" There was the tiniest of frowns on her face, her hooves slowly tapping together. "You've got an image now, fame to worry about. I couldn't possibly let you jeopardize your career for-"

Vinyl cut her off right there, a little tired of this line that Tavi's mind kept coming back to. "Octavia, buck my career right in its bucking plothole." She growled out, a shocked look spreading across her sisters face. Vinyl grinned toothily. "Part-ners. I dunno how many more times Imma hafta say it, but I guess once more." She grabbed a hoof full of Octavia's gorgeous mane and kissed her hard on the lips for a few long, sexy seconds amidst the wubs, and pulled back with a growl. "I am not happy if you ain't. We stick together Tavi." She pulled up Octavia's hoof and gently pressed her own flush against it.

Tavi flushed a bright red then slowly began to smile, wider and wider by the moment. She lifted her other hoof and Vinyl pressed hers flush to that one too, and leaned in to touch her forehead against Tavi's. Octavia spoke softly, gently. "I love you so very much, Vinyl Scratch. I cannot possibly understand what I did to deserve somepony like you." Her cheeks were faintly red, her body completely relaxed.

Vinyl winked. "Same thing I did to deserve somepony as awesome as you, sis." She grinned hugely. "Cuz I wubs you right back, Tavi. Always will too." She tilted her head then grinned roguishly. "So, I take it that's a yes?"

~~~~~Two days later~~~~~

The next two days passed in something of a blur for Octavia. It was as though Vinyl had spun her up in a whirlwind of practice and preparations, and she'd had no room to even think about the fact that her playing was still flawed to a rather absurd degree. Still, she was looking forward to the chance to expand her horizons a bit - even if the night turned into a complete fiasco, there was the promise of something nice to eat and a bit of dancing... which Octavia was looking forward to rather too much, if she was perfectly honest with herself.

Still, it was nice to have two whole days without any of the stress that had been infecting her life for the past six months Even if she was inflicted with a whole different kind of stress. She could throw herself into the task of preparing for the oddest live show she'd ever been signed up to play. For one thing, the performance had posters. Posters! As though they were some kind of famous pop-starlets coming down into the stews to mingle with the common pony.

Even worse - the poster had a picture of the pair of them in their clubbing gear from the big party six months ago - wrapped in one another's hooves and surrounded by colorful smoke effects. It looked like an advertisement for some kind of steamy stage show, advertising the show as 'One night only!' Vinyl, predictably, had loved it. She'd even made it clear in the ad that this was going to be a concert - not a DJ set. Reportedly, they'd be back in The Clop, and they'd be occupying that center stage hanging above the floor for everypony to see.

It would undoubtedly be the single largest audience Octavia had ever performed in front of, even including the Grand Galloping Gala. That whole new kind of stress? She was equal parts terrified and exhilarated at the thought of it, and she simply could not make up her mind about which emotion was stronger. On the one hoof, she'd finally get to show off her stuff in front of a real audience, even if they were expecting a whole different kind of music than she was used to playing. On the other hoof, she worried - in spite of Vinyl's nigh constant efforts to convince her that she shouldn't - that she was going to fail in some truly preposterous manner and horribly damage Vinyl's career.

It was a knotty problem, and no mistake. She needed to relax herself, or she was going to shakily mount that stage and promptly fall off. Octavia slowly rubbed her temples - trying to focus on the positives of the evening... when two white hooves started working themselves into her shoulders and slowly easing away the tension there. "Geeze, Tavi. You really gotta stop doin' this to yourself." Vinyl teased softly, nipping at her neck. "Chillaaaaaax. We're gonna have plenty of club time to get settled in."

Octavia sighed and nodded slowly. Vinyl was right, of course. "Now c'mon." Vinyl continued, her hooves smacking Octavia's flank - sending her jumping into the air in surprise. "Get dressed so we can get there before the catering vanishes." Vinyl said, her voice laced with a giggling laugh as she quickly shuffled out of range of a retaliatory thwap from Octavia. Tavi glared at her then huffed softly, tossing her mane flippantly before trotting up the stairs behind the still laughing DJ. She was not going to chase her sweet flank up the stairs to get a little....

Oh, sod it. Tavi took off behind Vinyl and tried to tackle her.

~~~~~~~~~

By the time the pair of them had gotten dressed and out the door, the sun was hanging low on the horizon, signaling to all the world that the evening's festivities were about to begin. Octavia took comfort in the familiar weight of the cello case strapped to her back and the gentle chill of the spring breeze catching her coiffed mane and sending the little braids fluttering. It certainly distracted from the costume they were both wearing. Vinyl had insisted this sort of thing was 'hot' right now in the club scene.

Octavia was pretty sure Vinyl had insisted upon them wearing it so she could see Octavia wear it in public. Admittedly, Tavi - you were the one that got Rarity to make them, not Vinyl. Octavia thought, then tried to tell her brain to stop speaking such logic. She sighed and smoothed out the black cotton skirt with an idle hoof, and eyeballed Vinyl. Somehow, she looked incredibly attractive in the schoolfilly's outfit. The tight fitting white blouse, half unbuttoned near her neck with the sleeves slightly rolled up. The loosely tightened, bright red tie around her neck - the black cotton skirt 'shortened' a little so as to teasingly frame her fine flank along with the flashy pair of red panties.... Buck, she was even wearing fishnet stockings and a garter belt.

Octavia wore much the same outfit - except she'd done herself up in it as prim and proper as a parent could wish for. She was buttoned up properly, with a red bow-tie instead of the usual long-tie - Her skirt was perfectly fitted to be proper, and she wore the more common black stockings. They gave off a remarkable dichotomy of style - the wild child and the prim and proper one. It would probably look fantastic on stage. That didn't mean they weren't essentially dressing up in fetish outfits for a musical performance. Not that Octavia precisely minded seeing Vinyl in it...

She shook off the thought with an amused smile as they trotted down the street, staying close to one another. Vinyl had shipped her gear to the club earlier that day, and thus had no burden herself to bear. So instead she used her free hoof to wrap around Octavia's neck and keep her hugged close to her. The physical contact was doing wonders for Octavia's nerves, even if she was still fighting off a feeling like everything was about to go horribly, horribly wrong. Then Vinyl lent into her and gently kissed her cheek, wordlessly - and much of that feeling vanished in a puff of smoke. Octavia already knew what Vinyl would have said anyway. If we go down in flames, we're going go down in flames together.

The trip to the club was made in companionable silence - Octavia truly lacked something to say, and Vinyl was probably thinking about the recital. Well. Not precisely a recital, but Octavia truly had no other word for it. What had Vinyl called their little moments of playing music with one another? Jam Sessions? Perhaps then this was a Jam Concert. It was an absurd sort of name, and it brought a smile to Octavia's face. Of course, thinking about that also allowed her to ignore the gawps and gapes from the stallions - and other fillyfoolers - of ponyville as they strutted down the streets. The last time she'd realized that anonymity was not going to be on the menu for them. it had caused Octavia a minor panic attack.

The streets leaning into the club-part of town were only partially busy - Night had not yet fallen, and so the night market was not quite set up and going yet. Stalls were being dragged into the streets, and the many wares hung on racks or placed on rickety, portable shelving. Hanging around some of the food stands were knots of the younger members of Ponyville hanging about in various bits of costume and talking with one another. As the sun began to fall below the horizon though, the streets rapidly began to fill with more and more clubbing ponies...

The Clop's sign lit up like a neon beacon, in the evening's twilight. The jerkily animated pair of clubbing ponies on the signs summoned the ravers, the goths, the geeks and the wubsteppers to the call of the beat. Outside the club, the walls had been plastered with that promotional poster of the two of them in those incredibly sexy costumes. Octavia blushed horribly and turned her face away from the slowly thickening crowds - hoping they could get inside before someone sent up a ruckus.

Sure enough, the front door bouncer-ponies waved them in - and kept the rest of the crowds firmly out for the moment. Past the front door, and through the little foyer room which separated the club's interior from its exterior - the club floor was bustling with waitresses, bartenders and technicians making final preparations for the night. Nothing much had changed about the club - a former grain depository which had been converted into a club some unknown number of years ago. It had paid host to countless musical trends, and right now was set up for the clubbing set. The club itself was three floors, with a large central empty space in the middle of the club that went all the way up - with a DJ stage hanging on supports, struts and cables hung from the ceiling in the middle of the second floor's gap.

Vinyl tugged on Octavia's shoulder and grinned. "C'mon, I want you to meet somepony," she said, indicating the stairs with a nod of her head. "Then we can get to relaxing." The pair of them ascended the steps to the second floor, Tavi readjusting the cello's weight across her back. Oof. It's going to be nice to set this down someplace. She thought idly, as they crested the top of the staircase and Vinyl rushed over to a unicorn stallion wearing a slick looking black dress shirt and a white tie, and sunglasses very similar to Vinyl's. "Neon!" Vinyl gushed out, and grabbed the stallion around the neck and mussed with his already spiky hair do. The Stallion let out a strangled word and Vinyl grinned unrepentantly. "C'mere! Octavia, this here is Neon Lights. Neon, this is my marefriend, Octavia."

Neon pulled off his shades and suddenly grinned at Tavi. "Well I'll be a diamond dog's uncle. So this is the pretty lady that stole your heart away, eh Vinyl?" Octavia felt her cheeks color prettily... and then was surprised when the stallion took her hoof and kissed it gallantly. "Now that I've seen you for myself, I can understand why Vinyl rebuffed my considerable charms. In the face of this beauty, how could she not?" He said with a voice that was pure cultured Canterlot, smooth and silky like a nice soft cheese.

Vinyl rolled her eyes and clonked the Stallion over the head. "Give that shit a rest, Neon. You knew I was a fillyfooler when we freakin' met." Neon grinned unrepentantly at her, and Vinyl rolled her eyes. "Look, can you take Tavi's cello and get it sound-checked for us? We're gonna go chillax for a while." She had slipped off the soft case from Octavia's back at some point, much to Tavi's personal surprise.

Neon nodded, taking the case carefully with a light glow of golden magic. "Sure thing, marshmallow. Pleasure t'meetcha in person, Miss Octavia. We should all get together and talk shop sometime." He winked at the both of them. "Maybe talk about some other things too." He grinned, trotting off with a cheerful little whistle.

Octavia shook herself out of her reverie. "Vinyl... Did he just hit on us?" She asked, trying to mask her personal astonishment. "I mean- Wait, he doesn't know we're sisters, does he?" She quickly deduced, her thoughts racing as she tried to recall all the times Vinyl had introduced the pair of them around.... actually, she hadn't told anypony they were related directly. Octavia fixed Vinyl with a beady sort of look. "Vinyl Scratch..." She began in a warning tone of voice.

Vinyl sighed softly. "Look. Mum and dad don't know a damn thing about who I am nowadays. I'd like to keep it that way too, not just for me... but for you too, Octi. I know none of us exactly talk all that much, but I don't want you gettin' put through the same wringer I did." She poked Octavia' in the chest, and Tavi meeped a little. "An' don't tell me it wouldn't break your heart, either. Much as we both have a bundle of hay to pick with those two, I know you still love em, warts and all."

Octavia paused in retort, then sighed. "True enough, I suppose." She shook her head and started to walk about the club - taking the time while it was still empty to enjoy the cool and quiet of the place. "Vinyl... What are we going to do about our future?" She asked quietly, a little sickness in her stomach. "We can hardly get married. I am relatively certain there are laws against that sort of thing." Tavi said, a trace of misery in her tone. She lifted up a hoof to gently stroke Vinyl's cheek. "I love you, with all of my heart. But... I'm worried, Vinyl. Where do we go from here?" That was all she could get out - only half seeing the interesting architecture and random bits of kitsch on the walls.

Vinyl sighed and pulled her shades up over her horn. "Yeah, I been thinking about that myself." She rubbed at her chin, and Octavia was surprised at the look of serious thought on her face. "I mean, it's a sticky wicket, eh wot?" She affected a silly sort of Trottingham accent, and Octavia felt a smile tug at her lips. "Well... Um. We're still pretty young. I'm doin' really well fer myself, and I bet after tonight you will too." Vinyl looked to one side - Tavi noticing her cheeks flushing red. "I mean... you ever thought about having a foal?" Vinyl was blushing. A very, very bright red...and finally her words penetrated Octavia's brain.

"You..." Tavi hesitated, her eyes wide and her mind racing. Surely, she hadn't just suggested... or had she? "You want to raise a foal with me?" She whispered softly. The very thought was... astonishing. Intriguing, even. Perhaps a little scary? Well, perhaps. Still! "Vinyl that's...I..." She pressed her hooves to her mouth for a moment and took in a deep breath. "Yes, I think I'd rather enjoy that." Her voice finally squeaked out - sounding a great deal more confident than she felt.

Vinyl stopped in midstep to stare at her in surprise, a slow smile spreading over her face - transforming into a big, happy sort of grin. "Yeah. So would I." Vinyl said softly, and the both of them couldn't help it - they softly laughed. Octavia felt soft warmth in her heart - and trotted up to nuzzle up affectionately against Vinyl's cheek. Vinyl blushed and shook her wild mane a little, looking a little sheepish.

Octavia smiled, and spoke softly. "We'll do our own thing, then. Like we always do." It made sense to Tavi, at least. Who cared what normal was? She'd thrown out normal six months ago, when her beloved Vinyl had pinned her to a brick wall and given her the necking session of a lifetime. Vinyl and her could make their own normal. They'd continue the mighty line of the Piano family with or without Momma and Poppa's help. "We'll raise them right, Vinyl. With love, and care, and gentle pressure so they can become the best musicians they wish to be." She practically giggled at the bright eyed look on Vinyl's face. "And yes, I do mean even if they wish to be like you." She thwapped Vinyl's shoulder and got a laugh for it - Vinyl thwapped her back and Tavi giggled in response, so much of her tension forgotten already.

Vinyl shook her head. "Let's hit the green room. I don't feel like sharing you any more than I gotta tonight." She grinned lustily, and Octavia felt a little shiver of anticipation down her spine, her thoughts racing as Vinyl continued to speak. "We'll have some nice privacy for a few hours, and I bet I can come up with a few ways to loosen you up a little..." Vinyl said slowly, hotly into her ear - gently nibbling down the edge of it and to the primly tightened bow tie.

Octavia could not help herself - she whispered softly back into Vinyl's ears, her voice slightly quavering. "Yes Ma'am."

~~~~~~~~

Octavia was familiar with the concept of the green room. Nopony really knew why they were always called that - they were rarely green, and often they encompassed several rooms. It was one of those traditions that had begun so very long ago no one questioned it. On the other hoof, Octavia had never been inside one of those mythic green rooms herself - and she had to admit, it was not quite what she was anticipating. So she took the moment to look about while Vinyl busied with something regarding the 'sound check' going on outside.

The room itself looked like it had been converted from some kind of administrative office. There were still low-hanging ceiling fans gently spinning and not really doing much but stir up the air, and the entire left wall looked like it had once held windows - most of which were now filled in with plaster and drywall. The room was crammed with furniture of one kind or another - couches, chairs, there was even a rumpled, but clean looking bed at the back of the room, complete with what looked like a full bathroom behind a door - with a privacy curtain no less! What in the name of the moon goes on back here? Octavia thought with some amusement.

What wasn't furniture appeared to be little luxuries for waiting artists - several large earthenware crocks, likely containing some cool beverage or other. A small fridge, for other things to be kept cold. There was even a small, intimate bar here - fully stocked too. Octavia felt a little cheer rise in her as she spotted a very nice bottle of sweet blueberry wine, and pulled it from the shelf without a second thought. Oooo, Chateau de Orange! Very nice. she thought with a great deal of cheer, rooting out a chilled glass from the fridge and set it on one of the tables.

A few moments later, Tavi had snuggled into one of the couches in the green room with her hooves full of a lovely glass of wine - and her mind full of struggling thoughts. What do I do? Tavi thought silently, tracing her hoof along the edge of the glass. I'm still so nervous, but... Her thoughts stalled out there, as they ran into that little problem she'd been wrestling with for the last few days. Vinyl makes me feel so calm, so confident. Why is that? Why is it just her being around me makes me feel... safer? Octavia didn't know. These feelings of personal doubt were an entirely new sort of experience for her as it was, and these strange urges she had around Vinyl were not helping.

Or perhaps it was more accurate to say they were helping... and they were also scaring the buck out of her. She could no longer deny that simply being in Vinyl's presence was more than the comfort of having her very special somepony around. It was like... Admit it Octavia. The thought of letting her do as she pleases with you has become awfully appealing. It was a squirm inducing thought, even as she drank deeply of the wine from her glass. She was not completely naive about the world - Octavia knew more about the sexual oddities of her fellow ponies better than most would presume she did.

That did not mean she was entirely comfortable with applying those same oddities to herself. But once again, every time her mind came back to the thought of just... letting go... Of letting Vinyl stripping away the fear, the stress, the anxiety and replacing it with her gentle love and... and... Control. Octavia's thoughts whispered, and she felt a thrill of desire up her spine. Oh yes. Control. That was the word she'd been avoiding these last few days, the word she'd secretly lusted after and been frightened of in equal measure.

Tavi wasn't left alone with that thought for long, as Vinyl swung into the room with a gusty sort of sigh. "To quote you, Tavi - Bloody hell, these ponies are gonna drive me to drink." She chuckled in a bright, cheerful voice and swung over to the couch - spotting the bottle on the table with a sudden smile of enthusiasm. "Hey! Pour me one, willya?" She said, oh-so-casually... and a little thrill of excitement went up Octavia's body.

Octavia quickly pulled her body out of the deep couch and trotted smartly over to the fridge to fetch another chilled glass. "Can I get you anything else, Miss?" She asked in her very best playful voice, all saucy and sweet. The Trottingham accent rang through, and Vinyl often said it made her sound like a professional maid. Once, she might have taken offense to that. Now... Mm, That's a very sexy thought. A revealing little skirt and a bodice... Octavia shivered again, as she poured the sweet blueberry wine carefully into the glass.

Vinyl blinked at Tavi, as she slowly sank her flank into the couch cushions. "Uh, I could use something to nosh on." She said slowly, obviously curious about Tavi's behavior. Octavia bowed her head and did a cute little curtsy in the school-filly's outfit, bustling over to the mini-fridge behind the bar... Oooh. Perfect. Tavi grinned into the fridge and grabbed the chilly glass bowl carefully in her hooves, biting her lower lip slightly as she turned and slowly walked back with the bowl full of cherries.

Vinyl's eyes brightened up at the sight of the sweet red treats. "Whoa-ho-ho! My favorite!" Vinyl grinned enthusiastically, her hoof lighting up to snatch one out of the bowl... only to have it snagged out of midair by Octavia's crafty hoof. Vinyl blinked in confusion at first, then a look of comprehension slowly dawned over her face as Tavi dangled the cherry invitingly in the air. "Well," Vinyl began, with a slow smile. "are you just going to hold that thing or what?"

Octavia slowly smiled, and gave off a soft tut-tut. "Open your mouth, Miss." Octavia whispered softly - and Vinyl dutifully did so, her eyes widening a little bit as her lips formed a sweet looking 'o' shape. Gently, Tavi pressed the cherry to those lips, then fastened her own around the stem - plucking it off as she pushed the rest of the cherry into Vinyl's mouth with her tongue.

Should I? Octavia thought naughtily, as Vinyl savored the sweet treat... and then smiled coquettishly. Of course I should. She giggled, working the stem with tooth and tongue before popping it out of her mouth with a neat pair of knots tied into it. Vinyl went really wide eyed at that little trick - enough so that the cherry pit just dropped out of her mouth and plopped into the floor. Octavia allowed herself a wide smile and a cheeky wink. "I'm just full of surprises, Miss." She purred out cutely, sashaying her hips a little to flirt her cotton skirt towards Vinyl.

Vinyl then paused, and pulled her shades off slowly. "Tavi... What's with calling me miss?" That bright, jewel clear eyes felt like they could see straight through Octavia. Octavia paused, tapping her hooves for a moment - then smiled brightly. Heh! I don't even need words! she thought smugly. Octavia lifted her body up onto her hind hooves and gently tucked her forehooves behind her back, pressing them together firmly and adopting a posture of waiting. Vinyl slowly pushed herself off the couch and onto her hooves and raised a slow eyebrow at her. "Huh." was all she said for a moment, and Octavia held her position perfectly. She'd had plenty of practice at remaining this still during the long concerts she'd performed in while at school.

Vinyl was slowly pacing around her, making a full orbit and then stopping to speak, her voice sharp. "You don't have any idea what you're asking me to do here, do you?" At this, Octavia smiled a little and nodded. Vinyl's eyebrows went straight up in surprise, and she hopped back up onto the couch, gesturing with a hoof. "Tell me then." She said in a quiet command.

Octavia chuckled softly. "I certainly don't have the words for it but," she paused and licked her lips slowly. "I want you to direct me. To... be my conductor. I need... structure, Vinyl. I need some kind of authority to look up to. To strive to please and impress. Legitimate authority." She looked down, taking a deep breath and exhaling it." All of my life, that's been the Royal Symphony but now... after so many months of rejection after rejection... I had nothing to strive for anymore. I was completely broken down. I felt worthless... and then..." Her voice was coming out a trifle desperate now, as she tried so very hard to get all of these feelings out into words.

Octavia sucked in a deep breath to continue." When you just... took over those months ago... Like when you kissed me on our way to the club, or in the bathroom, or when you just started playing and let me follow along with you... everything suddenly felt so much easier. I didn't have to be the prodigal daughter anymore. I could focus on just being Octavia." Octavia bit her lip hard, trying to contain the tears. "You... You love me Vinyl. You love me for whom I am. Not some idol or ideal, not some impossible standard I could never hope to attain... you just love me." The tears came anyway. A little bit. "When I'm... when I'm with you. In your hooves..."

Octavia looked up to smile slowly, her eyes bright with a touch of moisture. "I can just be... your mare. Loved without condition. I can throw off all of the lies and just be... myself... so yes, Vinyl. I might not know the proper words or any of that... but I do know that you make me feel safe like nopony else does." Octavia shifted a little where she stood, rolling her shoulder to stretch out the muscle. "And... I want more of that. I want to feel like that forever. " she finished, hoping she hadn't gone a shade too far.

Vinyl just looked a little stunned for a few moments, obviously trying to process Octavia's speech. Still, she hadn't fled screaming from the room or told Octavia she was being foalish, so perhaps that was a good sign? Best to remain silent at this stage. Vinyl's ears are already letting off a bit of steam from that little bit of information. It was actually rather amusing - Vinyl looked like somepony had smacked her in the face with a wooden board. Octavia very much wished to giggle... but she also wanted to impress upon Vinyl how much this meant to her. It truly was like some kind of missing puzzle piece that had just... clicked into place.

After several long minutes, Vinyl finally spoke in a very soft tone of voice. "Yeah... I can work with that." She said with a slow smile of her own. "Sheesh, Tavi... How long have you been bottling that one up for anyway?" Vinyl continued with a rich chuckle. "You looked like you were about to explode there." Vinyl had already switched up her position on the couch, and was patting her lap. "Come here, Tavi." She said with just a little bit of force...

Octavia complied quickly, pulling herself daintily onto the couch and slipping into the offered lap, curling her back up against Vinyl's belly and nuzzling her cheek up against Vinyl's. "Ages." Tavi said, her voice drenched in relief. She felt the tension slip out of her shoulders and a soft sigh of satisfaction followed it. "I just... I wasn't even sure how to put it until the shower... thing. Then I just needed to figure out what to say." Tavi laughed out softly, resting her head against her hooves as Vinyl slowly stroked her hoof through her mane. Safe. Octavia thought happily.

Part 4 - The Piano and the Cello

For a few long minutes, Vinyl slowly stroked her sister’s mane. She didn't say anything - she didn't need to. The thump and pulse of the bass outside the door was a subtle sort of counterpoint to the rather crazy little confession Tavi had just made. Who coulda figured Tavi for a subby? Vinyl sure wasn't sure she completely believed it, except for the fact that Tavi was all curled up in her lap and nuzzling up against her hoof like a kitten. It was cute as hell and just a little bit sexy.

Vinyl still couldn't entirely believe the steps that had brought them to this night, to this place. But... if Vinyl being all commanding and shit helped Tavi stay happy then.. well, maybe Vinyl had better get more used to being all commanding and shit. Poor Octavia. No wonder you got so hung up on those damn rejections... It pissed Vinyl off. It pissed her off that so much of this crap both of them had gone through could be laid at their damn parents hooves. Nothing you can do bout it now, Vinyl. She thought with a sigh, gently hugging Tavi up close to her.

Vinyl frowned a little, as she gently felt her hooves up and around Octavia's shoulders - down into her lower back and back up. "You got all tensed up again, Tavi. I thought we worked this out." She said with soft concern. Tavi shook her head silently for a moment, trying to persist in her cuddling. Vinyl rolled her eyes and firmly took Tavi by the shoulder. "Talk. Did you tense yourself up like this waiting to talk to me?" Vinyl asked in her very best stern schoolmarm voice.

Octavia's cheeks blushed and her turned away head told Vinyl everything she needed to know. Vinyl sighed expressively and then eyeballed a hanging clock somewhere up on the wall. hrm, Figure we've got time. She thought with a slow smile. Well, time to see if Tavi could walk the walk as much as talk to talk with these new desires of hers. "Look at me, Tavi." Vinyl continued, keeping that stern voice going. Sure enough, Octavia immediately looked up at her with wide, trusting eyes. "Did you, or did you not, tense yourself up waiting to talk to me?" Vinyl repeated slowly, but gently.

Octavia swallowed a little, but then nodded once. Vinyl pursed her lips as though disappointed. "You do realize we're gonna have to relax you before we go on stage, right?" she said patiently, and Octavia nodded again while remaining mute. Vinyl wasn't getting how she stayed quiet like this.... Hmm. Orchestral training - only the conductor talks. Heh. Wow, I can't believe I remember all that garbage. Vinyl thought amusedly, then shook her head, her wild mane waving back and forth. "So instead of just relaxing and hanging, now we gotta work these knots out of your muscles or you're gonna be as stiff as a G string in there." She folded her hooves over her chest and smiled slowly. "So. What are we gonna do about it, Hm? I wanna hear ideas."

Octavia looked shocked for a moment before nibbling at her lip and taking a deep breath. "Perhaps I could... provide pleasurable service for miss?" She said with a smoky sort of smile. "In exchange for some time with her wonderful hooves to ease my tension?" There was a subtle sexiness to the way she casually suggested it. Like describing some simple, every day thing... and not describing how she was going to sexually service Vinyl while getting a shoulder massage. It was really, really hot.

Vinyl grinned and turned around on the couch, laying back into the cushions like Lyra did and spreading her lower hooves just a little bit - which flared out the artfully wrecked skirt she was wearing just enough to tease. She arched an eyebrow and smiled softly at Octavia, who only took a few seconds to get the point - Vinyl wasn't going to take her outfit off. Heh heh... figure it out, Tavi? She seemed to - as Octavia's head slowly dipped down and beneath the skirt, Vinyl allowed herself a cute smirk before shifting her hips a little.

It took a few moments, but soon Vinyl could feel the soft tongue of her marefriend gently trace up her thigh. She grinned happily, and bit her lip as she pulled magic into her horn. Arright, let’s see what we can't do for that tension.. she thought with a chuckle, slowly working her telekinesis into Octavia's shoulders. She was mimicking the same general shape she used to play her piano keys, carefully and deftly pressing into the various muscles and working them slowly around, easing out the knotted tension from them.

Octavia wasn't going slowly either, she had nibbled all the way up to Vinyl's inner thighs and was slowly and gently washing her talented tongue over Vinyl's labia. Vinyl bit her lip a little harder, placing her hooves firmly on Octavia's shoulders. Okay little lady... let's see if I can play you like I can my piano. She thought lustily. Lets warm up the keys, shall we? Vinyl smiled and began to work her magic in rapid little presses and bumps into the muscles. Octavia let out a little shocked gasp of enjoyment, the rapid massage quickly reducing her tension into jelly... With just a touch more franticness, Vinyl felt that tongue plunge inside of her slit and begin lapping enthusiastically.

Vinyl's lips parted and she let out a sweet, gentle moan - the first note of their music. It was soon joined by another moan out of Vinyl's mouth, as Octavia seemed be very... enthusiastic about her new position. Or maybe it was the deep tissue massage Vinyl was giving her with her magic. Dammit, she's gotten good at this... Vinyl thought faintly, biting at her lip and trailing a little bit of that magic further down Octavia's back to work the muscles there slowly and deliberately as Tavi withdrew her tongue to suck firmly on Vinyl's clit. "Ahhhn~! Fuck Tavi!" Vinyl snarled, her magic gripping much more firmly onto Octavia's shoulders as she felt her voice growl out in pleasure.

From between her thighs, a gentle and very entertained voice spoke demurely, slightly muffled by the skirt between them. "Mmmh... Did Miss enjoy that? Perhaps I ought to do that again." Tavi sounded very pleased with herself... and just a little bit self-satisfied. Of course, then she went right back to dragging her tongue over Vinyl's clit, rendering her ability to talk back moot amidst another flurry of hard moans. Oh fffffuuuuck... Vinyl thought, her tongue lolling out of her mouth a little as she gave off slow, panting breaths.

Thoughts began to flee from Vinyl's head, to be replaced by something much more fun - lusts. Lusts which she quickly decided to act on, her magic trickling down from her hooves on Tavi's shoulders... slowly, gently, Vinyl's magic reached out and stroked in feathery little touches up Tavi's thighs. "That's a good little filly." Vinyl whispered softly, giving Tavi's flank a little magical spank. That startled a moan out of the musician, and Vinyl's mouth slowly spread into a wicked grin. "Get that tongue back in there." Vinyl said in a far stronger voice, gently grabbing the back of Tavi's head with her hoof and pushing her in closer.

Octavia quickly obliged Vinyl's command, driving in her tongue with gusto and slowly rolling it around - obviously reveling in this new little game... Vinyl decided to turn that game up another notch, slowly gripping Tavi's flank with her magic’s, and delivering a little slap to it every time Tavi started to slow... and every time she got spanked, Octavia moaned sweetly into Vinyl's pussy and redoubled her efforts. It wasn't taking long for soft panting to become hard moans of pleasure pouring out of Vinyl's own mouth.

Vinyl pulled up her skirt then - wanting to SEE Octavia willingly and exuberantly lapping up her juices... and she looked down and saw Tavi's forehooves crossed behind her back, tightly kept out of the way while she worked her tongue up and down Vinyl's thighs. Vinyl cocked an eyebrow while biting her lower lip to keep from screaming - and then realized what Tavi was doing a short moment later. Holy buck, she's forcing herself not to touch herself... she thought faintly, as Octavia chose that moment to wrap her lips around Vinyl's clit hood again and suck on it gently, her bright shining eyes looking straight up into Vinyl's.

That smoky, sexy, so-fucking-hot look was an incredible sight to behold for Vinyl. It was as though her prim and proper sister had gone under Vinyl's skirt - and like magic, turned into a sexy little submissive lapping up her juices. Vinyl didn't know what came over her face just then, but Octavia put on the most brilliant, sparkling smile Vinyl had seen on her in weeks. "Are you enjoying yourself, Miss?" Tavi asked in a breathy, sexy sort of voice. Vinyl's eyes traveled up a little to Tavi's forehooves and Tavi chuckled softly, gently nibbling just above Vinyl's clit as she spoke. "Mmf... The conductor hasn't told me to play yet, Miss..." She whispered softly. "I've been waiting for my cue." She purred before wrapping those gentle lips back around Vinyl's clit.... and humming a perfect middle C.

Vinyl came on the spot, her hips bucked up and damn near ripped the skirt off and she screamed out a wordless, animalistic cry of pleasure that echoed off the insulated green-room walls. Vinyl's magic poofed out of existence as she felt the electric orgasm run through her veins. Her body slowly, ever so slowly melted back into the couch, her breathing heavy and deep. "Holy buck Tavi..." Vinyl wheezed out, half closing her eyes. Octavia gave off a small, cute giggle.

A few moments later, Vinyl’s vision was filled with sight of Octavia... who then planted a soft, sticky kiss onto Vinyl's lips - her lips and snout still wet with Vinyl's juices. Their lips met, then their heads twisted to press the kiss in deeper with one another - gently lashing tongues together. Octavia pulled away first, rolling her shoulders a little.. "Mm...That does feel much better Miss... of course, now I'm terribly, naughtily wet..." Her voice was still breathy - aching with desire... "Can.. Can I play now?"

And then... Vinyl got an idea. A Naughty, wonderful, awful, terribly dirty idea...

Vinyl smiled slowly, and grinned softly as she spoke. "Not quite yet, Tavi..." She leaned into whisper. "We're not on stage yet."

~~~~~~~

Octavia could not believe what was happening to her. Or rather she could believe it, but it was all so incredibly preposterous she was having a hard time processing it. For instance, after enjoying a taste of Vinyl she normally would have taken extra care to clean herself up before proceeding to her next thing... but Vinyl had insisted the crowd would like the look. Wearing her still impeccably neat uniform, Octavia was achingly aware of her own arousal as Vinyl applied 'stage makeup' to her face, which appeared to be just a few small touches to improve her looks under the dim lighting of the club.

Vinyl had then donned glow-bracelets and a glowy-stick necklace, before leading Octavia towards the green room exit. Octavia's eyes had gone wide, as she realized Vinyl hadn't been kidding about the stage. Octavia's jaw nearly hit the floor and she ground her hooves to a halt just before the door. "Vinyl, What-" Octavia began to say... until she was cut off by Vinyl's hoof and a slowly arched eyebrow. Octavia flushed bright red... Oh goddess, she still hasn't stopped playing.. we're... we're still playing. She thought, which made Octavia feel a little calmer. "Miss." Octavia corrected herself. "What are we going to do out there?"

Vinyl's grin was actually quite wide as she unlatched the green room door just a touch, the pure wall of sound hitting the both of them from the tail end of somepony's music set. It shook Octavia's bones and rattled her skull...and pulsed right down into her wet snatch and startled a sudden gasp of pleasure out of her. Vinyl chuckled softly, and leaned in to speak gently. "We're gonna go perform. With your sexy flank right next to a nice powerful speaker so you can feel every... single... note." Vinyl chuckled softly.

Octavia's mouth opened slowly as Vinyl swung open the door firmly, the pure sound beginning to slowly ebb away. Vinyl turned and smiled softly, leaning in to kiss Octavia's nose. "Trust me, Tavi." She whispered. "If you get too hot... just gimme a sign. But..." Vinyl winked and flicked her tail as she slowly rolled her hips back and forth, walking out into the club. Her voice just loud enough to hear. "I think yer gonna have the time of your life."

Octavia swallowed softly as Vinyl came to a stop just outside the door, waiting for Octavia to follow... Okay, Octavia. Get your head in the game. She took a deep breath and followed at a regal trot - holding her head firmly up high and her eyes half-lidded. One step, then another. The crowd is different, but the stage never changes. She thought as she came astride Vinyl, and a voice over the speakers yelled out with boundless enthusiasm. "Awright Cloppers! It is time for the Maaaaaaaaaaaain Event! Fillies and Gentlecolts, Put your hooves in the air for our very own legend in the making! Give it up for Vinyl Scratch, known far and wide as the one! The only! D-J-P0n3!"

The club was absolutely packed as a set of burly looking guards began to part the ponies leading between them and the stage. Vinyl winked at Octavia. "Wait till they announce ya!" She yelled, before trotting out with a hoofpump for her fans. The crowd within the club erupted in cheers and wolf whistles, calls of "To The Top!" chanted throughout sections. It half looked like everypony in town was in here tonight. Oh, Bollocks. Octavia's mind whispered, as her eyes immediately sought out and recognized dozens upon dozens of faces all around them. Filthy Rich is here! Fancy Pants is here! Celestia's Red Panties, bloody Twilight Sparkle is here!!!

Octavia might have frozen completely then. She might have broken down and fled for the hills in tears... except for the voice which was pounding over the speaker system. "And now... for the very first time on the club stage! She's got style and flair to spare, that sexy little mare who has captured the heart of our hardcore DJ P0n3!" Some cheers and jeers met this statement, and the voice over the speakers laughed. "Ayo, kids! Don't hate! I've seen this filly and she is all kinds of fly! So I want y'all to put those hooves together, and give a warm Clopper welcome to our second star of the evening! She was once the personal protege of Eleonore Fortissimo herself! So give it up for the elegant, the refined, the classy Lady Octavia!"

The roar of the crowd hit her like a tidal wave, and the burly guard’s ponies began to clear her way... and everything came into focus. Head up. Back straight. Slow, purposeful gait. You're goin to get there on your own damn time. Thatta girl. Now go show em what you're made of. The voice of Madame Eleonore rang inside of Octavia's head like a clarion call. She quickly assumed the walking position she'd been taught as a little filly and slowly followed the guards out. She kept her nose just a little high, her back straight. Unintentionally, her slow flowing gait made her skirt flare out attractively behind her... and noticing that little detail, Octavia threw a little sway into her hips. Not a big one, not a flashy one... but enough to turn a professional walk into something just a touch seductive.

The noise of the crowd buffeted Octavia as she stepped out into it. The press of bodies, the wave of heat that ran over her was incredibly intense. Like stepping into an oven, she could feel the heated gaze of everypony in the room following her across the floor. The room was thick with the smell of sweat and pheromones and alcohol... and here and there, the sweet-spicy scent of sex. Octavia never once waivered from her poise though... Vinyl believed in her... and so Octavia would believe in herself again. You are the finest cellist in Equestria, Octavia. Now let's show that bloody arrogant sot Stupid-Pants what he's been missing. She thought with a flash of satisfaction.

Soon, she was walking smoothly over a carefully secured bridge of wooden planks to the center stage of the club, hanging in the middle of the big column that went all the way up to the ceiling. Vinyl was already there, with her precious Piano set up and wired up. Octavia's cello was perfectly positioned in the same place, and the stage had several large speakers mounted to it and on top of it, cunningly placed so both Vinyl and Octavia could hear their music... and in the case of Octavia, likely feel those powerful chords thrumming through her.

The thought made her take a deep breath, but here and now - on a stage, in front of all these good ponies... she wasn't going to break. She wasn't going to give stupid-pants the satisfaction. Vinyl was there... no... Arpeggio was there, with her piano and that shy smile she always wore. How often had they performed together? How often had they wowed the crowds at their schools and garnered considering looks from those who had come to scout them for institutions of higher learning? They were a team. They always had been... And we always will be. Octavia thought as she dipped a soft curtsy to the crowd.

Octavia's bow was waiting for her - perfectly rosined. Her instrument was tuned - obviously by a professional. She stood and took the instrument firmly in hoof as the crowd's hooting-and-hollering slowly died down to wait in proper silence. Vinyl's horn lit up for a moment and Octavia could see her discreetly repositioning one of the speakers. Octavia just smirked, and gently nodded towards Vinyl. Vinyl returned the nod, and turned to her keys. They had not discussed specific pieces, nor specific things. But Octavia could remember the tail end of that conversation...

"You're not ready to get formal again, Tavi. You'll freak out - I know you will. So I want you to do what we used to do as kids..." Vinyl had said, with a slow smile. "Just play from the heart."

Vinyl began to play. Her magic flowed over the keys with a gentle glow and even behind the shades, Octavia could tell that her eyes were closed. The notes rolled through Octavia's bones with a shiver of sound, the firm strokes of the low D notes thundering through the club speakers. For almost a minute, Octavia simply let Vinyl play - showing off that prodigious skill to these common ponies. Octavia followed her melodic line for a few more moments before setting her bow to the cello and drawing out a pure note from it...

Vinyl quickly changed up the melody, which startled Octavia for a moment...until she realized what Vinyl had been doing. Clever girl. She smiled slightly and followed the original melody line Vinyl had established, adding her own embellishments upon the chords - building upon the foundation laid down by her sister. Every note thrummed through the body of the instrument and Octavia's own body in time. It felt like being trapped within the instrument itself - unable to experience anything but the pure sound of her own music.

It was glorious. There was no mental capacity to spare for anxiety or nerves - Octavia was one with her instrument, and every stroke of the bow thrummed a new note through her body and down into her marehood. She was already aroused as all buck, and every time she stroked the bow it felt like she was clopping herself off with her music. Ooooohhhh Celestia. I must... I must remain composed. Octavia thought a trifle desperately, focusing everything she had on her music. Gentle strokes. Careful pressure. Correct vibrato. Check your frets! Good. Her mind ran through every step of each properly played note in rapid succession even as every note sent another shiver of pleasure rushing through her limbs.

Octavia soon noticed her playing begin to change... the only way to keep herself from orgasming on stage was to depart from traditional formalities. Vinyl was picking up speed though - and courtesy demanded she keep up. So more softer sounds, quicker draws of the bow. Necessity reshaped her music as she played, with Vinyl leading and Octavia following behind - the deep, resplendent tones of her cello weaving in and about the soulful tones of the piano. It felt like Vinyl was purposefully trying to get Octavia to get off on stage given how powerful that music was thrumming through her hips.

Under cover of one particularly strong note, Octavia's mouth opened and she let out a long, slow moaning sound that thankfully was completely blanketed by the music. Well. For everypony except Vinyl... who turned a wicked smile on Octavia. Oh dear. Octavia thought... as the music shifted from an intense, but still classical tone to something far more... what was the word?

Jazzy. Freeform. Vinyl rattled off a roll or two on the keys, and Octavia returned the feel with a series of slow, long notes that hung in the air like smoke out of a pipe. Vinyl would 'ask' with a flurry of notes or chords, and Octavia would 'answer' with a slow stroking of her bow - and of course, the moans she hid behind the louder notes, her body and hooves trembling with the effort it took to remain standing. Of course, all of this was secondary to the other feeling that surged through her. This was fun!

Octavia was so wrapped up in her music she was even completely ignoring the crowd. So... that was... Vinyl's plan. Octavia's thoughts panted, as the smooth music flowed between them - Octavia's joy slowly growing by the moment in the sweet sounds they made together. Don't let me... focus too much... on the crowd. Octavia turned her face in to the instrument, achingly aware of the fact that there was nowhere for her to hide. And she was loving it. She was getting even more turned on under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Goodness... am I some kind of... exhibitionist? It was an intriguing sort of thought... one which was immediately interrupted by a deep thrumming chord of music which came rolling out of the speakers. Octavia's eyes widened as she immediately identified a dozen other instruments laced in with the piano. Someone was using one of Vinyl's mixing boards! Another thrum of sound rushed through her...and suddenly Octavia was surrounded by an electronic orchestra.

Everything was there. The gentle song of the violins, the sweet clarion call of the brass picking up leading the way, the tittering song of the woodwinds, and the deep thrum of the percussion. Octavia took a gentle tentative stroke of her cello... and an entire section of them joined in behind her in perfect harmony. Sure, the stage was jury-rigged at best. Sure, the dim lights and neon flashes of color all around her were a touch surreal... Sure, she was incredibly aroused right now, and she was probably dripping juices down her thighs... But those things didn't matter. Her bow moved quickly, smoothly, perfectly, and her section played with her just as it ought to be. Vinyl led them on her piano, and the orchestra soared around them - filling the room with soaring music that lifted Octavia's heart with it.

Tears came unbidden to Octavia's eyes - just a few, just a dusting of moisture upon her cheeks as she simply sank into the music and lived it utterly. It was beyond wonderful. It was an experience she had no words for, no vocabulary. It was simply itself. Even the soft moans she could no longer restrain simply became a part of the orchestral sounds. The dim lights lending the entire scene a surreal sort of air and quickly building towards a towering climax of sound... just like Octavia was.

There was no stopping the song - and Octavia didn't want to. She gave in to it - to the pleasure, to the music, to the orchestra around her. To her love for that wicked little DJ. Nothing else mattered. The song exploded around her in sound and the orgasm exploded out of Octavia's body with a primal scream torn out of her throat.

And in that moment, she was complete.

Something broke then, inside of Octavia. Some barrier, some old pain was shattered against the rocks of her mind. She had played through an entire musical piece without a single sheet of music... she had simply played, and she had reveled in it.

She couldn't look at her world in the same way that prim and proper little mare had just a few short months ago. Perhaps it was true, perhaps love truly did change everything. Perhaps it was time she stopped thinking so much about a career, and started to think about having a life. Vinyl had turned to smile tenderly at her, and Octavia returned the simple gesture. I have been so obsessed with a dream, that I have nearly forgotten about the reality that is right in front of me. She thought, as Vinyl stood up slowly. Octavia gently set her instrument back into the rack, and she took Vinyl's hoof in her own. She lifted up Vinyl's hoof as she whispered softly. "I love you, Vinyl." and they bowed to the audience together.

To thunderous, roaring applause.

~~~~~~~The Next Morning~~~~~~~

Vinyl yawned hugely and slowly stretched out tired, aching limbs as she blinked herself awake - the sun already shining through the curtains of Octavia's elegantly appointed room. The pair of them had played two more pieces for the crowd, though neither had possessed the raw emotional intensity of the first. Both had been pieces for dancing, which the club had set to with a passion as Neon had mixed in some more traditional club fare to go along with the rolling classical instruments.

But funnily enough, Octavia hadn't spoken a word since saying she loved her. Not since they'd gotten home, not even a 'goodnight' as she snuggled up into Vinyl's forehooves. There had been a look of deep thought upon her face since she left the club - even though she had looked so incredibly happy when she'd been playing music. Something had clicked in Tavi's mind last night, and Vinyl sure as heck wasn't sure what it was. Sure enough, Octavia was also the first one out of bed that morning, and hadn't stopped to cuddle with Vinyl. Geeze, I hope she's okay.. She thought helplessly, swinging her legs out of bed and tapping her forehooves together in nervousness.

Everything had gone fantastically, even better than Vinyl had hoped for. The crowd had loved the music, all of the rich folks in town had been held in awe at the hypnotic sight of Octavia simply letting all of that passion loose upon her instrument. Octavia had clearly enjoyed herself so... why wasn't she here? Vinyl heaved herself out of bed and did a quick check in the mirror. Her mane wasn't nearly mussed enough to mess with it for the moment, so she decided to go hunting her marefriend. I hope it wasn't the sex thing... I mean, I freakin saw her cum. I saw her enjoy it too!

The scent of toasted bread hit Vinyl's nose halfway down the stairs. Ah, Kitchen. She thought brightly, and headed that way with.. a little more speed than normal. Octavia was sitting down at the table with a surprisingly brooding expression - staring at an unrolled scroll that lay on the table. Held open by a glass of juice and a small plate bearing several large slices of peanut butter toast. Vinyl's hooves slowed as she eyeballed the thing, covered in fancy script. Bwah? Oh!

Vinyl slipped around the table and the confusion vanished - the thick wax seal which had held the scroll together bore the coat of arms of the Royal Symphonic Orchestra... and this was good quality vellum. Clearly an acceptance letter. So why does Tavi look... so damn conflicted? "Good news?" Vinyl asked quietly, if only to break the slightly awkward silence in the room. Octavia started and looked up after a moment of obvious confusion before brightening a bit at the sight of Vinyl smiling at her.

"Ah... Yes. I suppose one could call it that." Octavia began cautiously, nibbling on her breakfast absently. "It's an acceptance letter from Fancy Pants. Offering me a second chair in the Royal Symphony. Apparently he was rather... taken by my performance last night. As though I ought to be surprised that he actually gives a buck about me now." She continued, her voice oddly... bitter? Angry? Vinyl was getting very confused now, even moreso than she normally did when politics got involved. Octavia blinked at Vinyl. "Ah, I suppose that requires some context... Apparently we made quite the splash last night." She said, lifting the scroll to toss a copy of Equestria Herdcore onto the table..

The front image was of Vinyl and Octavia playing their hearts out, somewhere in the middle of the first piece. It was a pretty good shot - angled just right to make them look like they were leaning on one another when they played. The headline beneath it blared "New Duo lights up the Scene!" With the byline reading, in equally lurid print. "A brand new beat hits the stage! Vinyl & Octavia : Old + New = Musical Revolution?" Vinyl was staring in slack jawed amazement. Sure, it had been a lot of fun - and it had sure been some groovy music. But this was going a little bit too far! Even for Herdcore!

Octavia though, was smiling bitterly. "The article is similarly effusive in its praise. It's quite flattering, actually. I believe that the writer referred to us as..." She lifted a page, as if to check. " 'The hottest looking pair of fillies I've seen on stage in a long time. With their incredible sound and even more incredible looks, Vinyl Scratch and Lady Octavia are poised to take the musical world by storm.' End quote." Octavia said with a gentle smile and a soft chuckle. Vinyl felt her cheeks color a little bit, and was pleased to see that Octavia was blushing the same way. "Naturally, even Stupid-Pants couldn't ignore that sort of publicity, even in such a disreputable publication." Octavia gestured imperiously at the magazine.

Vinyl raised an eyebrow. "So what's the problem then? I mean, yeah it's not exactly the way you wanted t' get noticed but... heck, no such thing as bad publicity, Tavi." She said quietly, reaching across the table to squeeze Tavi's hoof. "Something else has gotten you spooked over this. It ain't the mag, it ain't the offer... What's wrong love?" Vinyl asked quietly, trying to meet Octavia's studiously avoiding gaze. "What happened last night that got you all riled up like this?"

Octavia took a deep breath and exhaled softly. "Vinyl... Did you enjoy playing with me like that last night? I mean, beyond the obvious enjoyment we get when we play together." She corrected, looking up with a strange sort of look. "Vinyl, I haven't enjoyed myself so much at a concert since I was a little filly." She blushed for a moment and stammered out, as Vinyl felt an amused grin settle onto her lips. "And no it was not because I was having an orgasm on stage, you reprobate! I mean... I've never..." She snarled wordlessly in frustration, startling Vinyl. "I cannot even say it! It is as though I have been robbed of my very wits! I..." her hooves fell to the table soundlessly, and she exhaled a sobbing breath. "I was whole..."

Vinyl didn't think twice. She quickly moved around the table, dragging her chair noisily behind her. She quickly pulled the tense mare closer to her and embraced her tightly. Octavia did not cry... or perhaps she could not cry. But she did curl up into those forehooves and hugged Vinyl back just as tightly. Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck... Vinyl thought, half panicking. She was vulnerable and emotional, she needed support and I didn't see it oh, fffffuuuuuck... It was possible that every little bit of the good work Vinyl had accomplished last night had been utterly undone already. I can't take this. I can’t take this no more. I'll tell her we're moving to Canterlot. We'll accept the offer from fancy pants. I'll pack up my career, I'll make sure she's never unhappy again I'll..

"Vinyl." Came a gentle, whisper soft voice in front of her and the DJ's eyes opened suddenly, startled out of her little spiral of thoughts. She saw Octavia's gorgeous eyes looking right into hers - and her hoof wiping something wet away from her eyes. "Vinyl... It's okay." Octavia whispered softly, leaning in and kissing her cheeks, softly whisking away the tears. "I'm okay. I've just... I've finally figured something important out. Something I should have figured out months ago..." Octavia looked down and softly exhaled. "I have been worrying so much over being in an orchestra... I'd forgotten why I loved music. I'd forgotten why I loved to play for ponies. Not because of the fame, or the prestige or even because it made Momma and Poppa happy... But because I could bring them joy by doing so."

Octavia was smiling, if a little sadly. "And then I brought you joy by playing for you... and it felt so wonderful that for a little while, I didn't need to think about anything else. Then... then I started worrying over the old dream, that I thought was my only destiny... and I was wrong to do that. I should have seen the new dream that was born before me. A better dream than some..." Octavia paused and grabbed the edge of the thick fancy vellum of the scroll. She ripped it off the edge of the table, and then she ripped it into twos, "Stupid!" and then quarters, "Bucking!" and then eighths "Orchestra!". Over and over and over again until she had nothing but two hooves full of paper bits.

Octavia flung the bits of paper into the air above them and blew as hard as she could with her lips - scattering dozens of the pieces all over the kitchen floor around them. Vinyl could only stare in mute fascination as the tiny bits of her sisters oldest desire fell to the ground around them. "I know what I want now, Vinyl. I want to play with you. I want us to play together." Octavia said in her quietest, most intense voice. "I don't even care if I never step on a stage again. I don't want to ever do it without you again. I want to be with you forever.." The last few words slipped out of Octavia's mouth, and Vinyl's eyes whipped up in mute astonishment.

Octavia was smiling at her, her eyes a little wet with restrained tears. "We'll make up whatever we have to. Forge documents, bribe bureaucrats, break laws. As far as I am concerned, our blood relation is now merely a formality. I no longer wish to contemplate a life without you, Vinyl." Octavia grasped at Vinyl's hooves, pulling them up close to her chest to kiss the tips of them softly. "Will you marry me, Vinyl Scratch? So we can make beautiful music together?"

Vinyl took in a deep breath... and smiled, as her heart practically burst with joy. "I thought you'd never ask." she said, and kissed Octavia quite firmly.