Half Past Octavia

Vinyl poked her head over the couch just enough for the top half of her face to be visible, showing her sunglasses that had messily migrated from place with one shade over her eyebrow and the other on her nose, revealing her eyes to scope the room. As she looked our way I got a good glimpse of her eyes, this couldn’t be Vinyl Scratch! My eyes widened as I stared into her deep magenta irises, the sudden wash of color that matched her sunglasses seeming to sweep me away in a mind boggling tide of astonishing captivation. I looked over to Octavia whose jaw was still on the floor, obviously in shock from running into someone she actually recognized.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold it!” I interjected as I crossed my arms looking from Octavia to the obvious imposter behind the sofa disbelievingly. “That can’t be the Vinyl Scratch. It’s just not possible.”

Octavia only closed her eyes, as her expression softened then reopened them with a small smirk. “I’d know those eyes, that hair, and that terrible taste in music anywhere. It’s her.”

The would be Vinyl shot to her feet, her expression seeming to be irritated in a good nature. “You’re one to talk, Octi!” then made a falsely sweet smile and cupped her hands together, mocking Octavia's accent. “Oh Vinyl, when will you learn that Cornelius Symphony is the best music group around far surpassing your measly wubs.” She quickly dropped the charade and placed a finger half way into her mouth and made a gagging sound.

I shook my head unable to accept it. “First off, that can’t be Vinyl. Her eye color is all wrong…her eyes aren’t magenta, they’re red!”

Vinyl’s expression became cross as her attention turned to me as she walked around the couch, hands on her hips. My face flushed a bit once my sight fell on her very lightly clothed body, her boobs weren’t that big, a bit smaller than Octavia’s which added to her tom boyish demeanor but she was still sexy none the less.

“Well looky here, looks like we have a braniac who knows more about me than I do. And just who in the name of Celestia are you supposed to be?” she seethed with one eyebrow raised as she spoke in a surprisingly sarcastic way.

I had to admit, I was taken aback by her hostile sounding tone; so much so that I couldn’t even answer.

Octavia took a step forward, her smile growing with each step as I saw tears begin to well up in her eyes. In an instant, she charged up to Vinyl and hugged her. Though her face was hidden over the electric blue haired beauty’s shoulder it was obvious she was crying based off her muffled sniffles. Miss O’Neal only leaned against a nearby wall casually watching the touching reunion. Once Octavia had made contact with her, Vinyl’s hostility seemed to be ebbed away as her expression melted into a calm and almost comforting face.

“There, there. It’s alright, lil’ Octi. What’re you crying about? I should be the one crying, I missed you so much.” She cooed into Octavia’s ear as she stroked her long soot black hair softly, obviously embracing the feeling of having the lovely cellist in her arms.

Octavia drew back a little, looking into Vinyl’s magenta eyes. Her own seeming to glitter with overflowing emotion and in that instant, Vinyl leaned in and planted a kiss directly onto Octavia’s lips as they both stood there for a moment enjoying the moment. Miss O’Neal only bared her teeth not in anger but in awkwardness and looked away, stroking her own hair as if playing cool as I only gawked like a dumb ass.

“Well,” Miss O’Neal interrupted with a clap as the two pulled away from each other. “Before this turns into an underwear party or something seeing as one of you is already there,” she pointed out with a glare towards Vinyl who only looked away whistling inconspicuously. “I think I should take Octavia to the studio to rehearse a bit, after all I have something big planned for her!” she ended with a small wink, turning to the small hall way that Vinyl had exited earlier and motioned for Octavia to follow.

Shortly after, the two disappeared into the next room leaving me and DJ queen alone.

“So…” I began as I looked around, struggling to think of something to say. “Umm…nice weather we’re having…?” I had to admit, that was a pretty corny conversation starter.

She only looked at me with a disbelieving stare.

“Really? You’re really asking me about the weather?” she began with a sigh as she shook her head. “I don’t bucking know, its weather. Who cares?! I’m going to tell you straight up right now, human. I don’t like you.”
I blinked for a moment, unsure of how to react and then looked her in the eye. She was serious, no doubt about it.

“What happened to loving and tolerating?” I asked with a grimace.

Vinyl only turned around and walked towards the sliding glass door at the end of the room leading towards the balcony muttering under her breath, “There’re exceptions…” As she turned, I caught a glimpse of her music note tattoo on the side of her cheek. It was indeed her, in the flesh.

***

It had been about two hours or so already and sitting was making me antsy so I decided to take small chance and join the hostile DJ on the balcony to see what she was up to. Little to my surprise I found her sitting in a small chair with a bottle of Jack Daniels next to her; half emptied. Although she had obviously been drinking, she seemed pretty normal though deep in thought. Her cheek was rested in her palm as she looked like she was pouting while looking over at the passing cars and busy street travelers. I slid open the door, it making a distinct dragging sound as it drifted to the right.

“What do you want?” she asked, not even looking in my direction though her expression didn’t seem as antagonistic as before, in fact she seemed rather saddened.

Maybe it was the alcohol. I’m sure as a DJ she’s had more than her fill of Equestrian beverages that’ll set you just right that she’s used to being drunk or tipsy, then again assuming they have any. If anything, the alcohol seemed to calm her down and make her much more approachable.

Just as I was about to speak, the sound of a relaxing classical melody flooded from the nearby window on the left of the balcony, the ever sweet harmonic combination between a piano and cello. That must be the studio where Octavia and Miss O’Neal were rehearsing. As I looked towards Vinyl she seemed to be grinning lazily as she continued to look toward the world, a gentle breeze pushing a lock of hair over one of her hypnotic eyes as she tenderly brushed it back into place with a hand. Then with a light chuckle she looked at me, no real aggression in her eyes this time (probably from the booze and maybe even from the music).

“Ya’ know, me an Octi go way back. I’ve known her since I was a filly; we both grew up in Canterlot believe it or not.” She said precariously as her soft expression shocked me to no end. This was nothing like how she was earlier.

I only chuckled and looked over the edge of the balcony in a melancholy state. “You two seem to be good to each other. She’s really something, a real catch. You’re a lucky girl…or err…mare?” I ended with a subconscious blush at the thought of talking about Octavia in such a way. I felt kind of strange.

Vinyl shook her head a bit. “We’re not really going out. She’s only like…a best friend with benefits kind of thing. Relationships cramp my style.”

Suddenly, a specific topic I had asked Octavia yesterday loomed in my mind like an eerie thick fog.

“Vinyl, what happened in Equestria? You know, on the day you came here.”

Instantly her eyes glazed with grief as she looked back out over the city.

“I was called in to prep for the Royal Wedding after party by my favorite party mare,” she began and then smirked a little at the thought. “She’s a bucking animal, I swear to Celestia. Ya’ gotta love her though, sweetest thing. I think she does blow though, I don’t see any other way for her to have so much energy all the bucking time. I swear, she’s like a pink flash of lightning!”

I assumed she was speaking of the pink destroyer of fourth walls, Pinkie Pie.

“But yeah, I was called in to prep up and set up my booth for the event. I had Glow Stick with me since he was in charge of the effects like strobes and other bull like that when stuff started goin’ down outside. Me and Glow went to check it out but when we got outside every pony was scattering everywhere. It was horrible, ponies being trampled left and right as the sky started bucking seizing!” she exclaimed, her voice having been raised significantly as she lifted her hands to emphasize. “Like, what the buck! Then we started smelling chocolate, then ponies started just disappearing from the crowd I couldn’t see where but me and Glow just turned and started hoofin’ it! Then everything just went white and I woke up in an alley. That mare or whatever you call females around here found me. I was a jerk at first but she didn’t seem too bothered. I guess she kinda grew on me so I crashed at her place. ‘Been here for a bit now, s’all good.” She concluded with a small sigh as she looked back toward me.

This seemed very similar to what Octavia had told me, at this point I wonder if there’s even an Equestria to go back to. Then the music had stopped and I saw movement in the corner of my eye as Miss O’Neal approached the door. Our conversation must have dragged on longer than I thought seeing as the sun was already resting its chin the horizon turning the sky into a deep tangerine.

“We’re done for the day, Felix. Octavia performed flawlessly just as I expected, I gave her some sheet music to study for the symphony in six weeks time. She’s sure to master the song probably by memory judging by her sheer talent.” She ended with a large grin, her eyes twinkling.

Vinyl snickered, “He he, Felix huh?” and then seconds later she dozed off. I guess the alcohol finally took its toll on her. She looked much more peaceful sleeping than when she’s awake.

I only smiled a little, I was pretty sure she’s just a softie who put the big bad tough girl act just to look cool. “C’mon Octavia, we’re outta here.” I called as I walked inside, Miss O’Neal at my heels.

Octavia rushed out with a handful of sheet music, “Where’s Vinyl?”

“Asleep.”

“But I want to take her with us; the poor thing is my best friend!”

‘Yeah, judging on what happened when you saw her I’d say you guys are real good friends’ I though slyly to myself but voiced a different matter.

“She can’t Octavia; she has to stay with Miss O’Neal. I’m already sticking my neck out by having you with me.”

She looked on at me moodily and then looked over my shoulder toward Vinyl with a smile and nodded agreeing. “I presume that would be best.”

With a final good-bye to Miss O’Neal and a wish for her to tell Vinyl that we both said good-bye we set off home. Things were about to get a lot more interesting with another pony-human around. I wonder just how many there are…

To be continued…