Soon after Octavia set her mother in bed, the new couple headed out of Berry's house to head to the bar. Per request of her new marefriend of course. Sure she knew Berry Punch would have an amazing time drinking, but she herself wasnt going to drink, not after what happened last time, along with what her mother had warned her about! Plus Octavia wasn't much of a drinker, that.. That had been set in stone. Shaking her head to clear the thoughts, she didn't want to think about her past, not when she should be having fun, or getting a piece of her mothers mind because she got in the newspaper again! That mare scared her, ever since she was a little filly her mother had been a loving, caring soul.. But also one that scared her till her bones shook.

A simple little water would do for her and that'd be fine, maybe a tiny snack with Berry to fill her rumbling stomach. This would be a great time to actually... Get to know her! Octavia smiled as she walked alongside her marefriend, their hooves beating down on the dirt road beneath them. Adjusting her bowtie and fretting with her mane a bit, Octavia began moving closer to her, blushing when she bumped into Berry by accident. The bar wasn't far away now, They got a few glances, giggles, blushes, though she just tried to look her best and ignore it all. Ponies all over had heard about the news that had happened, who wouldn't have seen the front page of.. Her? Octavia shivered at the thought, hopefully when she performed ponies would understand it wasn't just a one-night stand or "Friends with Benefits". It was something more, and hopefully the glances would end soon. They reached the saloon-style door in a few moments, not enough time, Octavia blushed and looked around, feeling jittery and nervous, how could she so her face so soon, she was an idiot to come out so quick after the newspaper had came out, no pony would look to her as the same anymore, just that mare who they all saw in the newspaper!

"B.. Berry.. I.. I can't do this.." Her hooves didn't meet the wooden porch of the bar, instead finding the dirt right infront of it. She would have scoffed and pulled her hooves up, but that would make even more a scene, not to mention she wasn't so focused on that at the moment. Doubts were hanging in her mind, was this even a smart idea? Berry's eyes had lit up at the thought of going out to the bar, for fun, for drinks, to chat, a good time.. But Octavia was scared senseless, what would ponies say to them when she came inside? Her love for Berry made her want to go on, but pride was getting in the way. How could she go in and face a crowd who had looked up to her as a sophisticated, hard working mare, now seeing her as a mare who was fucked silly before being carried through town? It would pass, she hoped, Octavia was begging to Celestia. The snickers and glances had been brushed off.. But this was where she met Berry, this was where it all began, and this was a building filled with drunk ponies and waitress's who would stare or drunkly tease her. Laughter from inside hit her ears, the friendly enviroment inside, the sound of ponies singing with their friends, mingling with strangers.. But would that all turn hostile when she went inside? Would that laughter be at her, for messing up like that, for being exposed how she was? No pony knew she was with Berry that night, everypony just thought it was a random stallion, missing the truth by a longshot.

"Octavia.. What's wrong?"

Octavia was fumbling for the right words to explain to Berry. Pride? Pride wouldn't let her go into a bar with her marefriend. "Oh yes Berry, it's nothing. I just don't want to be seen in a public place by myself or with you, my image is tainted enough, now let's go in a bar filled with ponies and act like nothing had happened" The concern in the magenta ponies eyes was too much, so Octavia straightened her shaking self, took a deep breath, then gulped down her bitter, sour words. "W-What? Nothing is wrong.. Just.. A little jittery, nothing wrong, nerves got the best of me back there. Please, let's head inside and enjoy ourselves.. Shall we?" The words flowed out calm, steadily, her eyes not wavering, her voice not shaking, she wasn't acting nervous, not how some ponies did when lying, no, this was a mare who had perfected that art. It had bought her enough, Berry Punch frowned before it tilted up into a warm smile, turning around to trot inside, with Octavia soon behind her. Another stunt like that wouldn't be acceptable, not in the middle of a bar, not after a lie like that. Nothing was fine, it was all wrong, they should've stayed inside until it all blew over a bit at the least, not go right on outside for drinks as if they were fine! Never in her life had she been so.. Afraid? Nervous? She was usually showing her face proudly, a successful concert showing in the news for ponies to smile, to give her respect, to know she was a hard working mare that put music first. But now they had all seen what had happened, some even with their own eyes, Octavia just hoped that look would still shine in their eyes, or if snickers and glances were going to rule the night.

The warmth hit her as she stepped inside, hooves holding firm, the sound of laughter filling her ears again, eyes glancing over all the tables and booths filled with ponies, trapped in their own world, clinking glasses, chugging down their drink, or simply munching on some food while chatting with the ponies sitting with them. Berry was well known here, Octavia could easily tell she was a drinker, and with only one bar in Ponyville that she knew of, not that she knew much about it, it was obvious she'd be well known. Though Her cutie mark made her wonder if she made wine or something of the sort, rather then just being a heavy drinker. Everypony had a different destiny.. If that was Berry Punch's, Octavia wouldn't judge, it just did seem a little bit odd for a pony to just specialize in that! Her hooves kept following the swaying rump and tail infront of her as they walked inside, though no eyes turned to her, no pony giggled, no pony called her out. Partly because she and Berry slid into a corner booth off to the left once they walked inside, party for them being too drunk to notice two new mares heading on inside of the packed place. Her eyes closed as she leaned back, stretching, getting lost in her thoughts as her marefriend sat down next to get, a waitress already trotting over. M.. Maybe I had been a little.. Over-dramatic, but the night is still young.. Oh I just hope nopony notices us, it couldn't have blown over so quickly, those mares outside were snickering at me! Deep breaths.. Keep your cool, don't make a scene.. Enjoy the night, you know you don't get these alot.. But wha- "Octavia? Octavia, what would you like to order hun?"

Berry's voice slipped her from the nervous thoughts, bringing her back. Eyes snapping open, her cheeks flushed a dark red in the dimly lit bar, not very noticeable except for Berry giving a warm smile. "Uhh.. I'll have... I'll have.." She'd never ordered from a bar before, so what she usually ordered from places was out of question. What was even served as bar-food? "I'll take erm.." The waitress tapped her hoof, still holding the pen tight, impatience starting to seep over. "Water and uhm.. And.. A salad..With.. Extra dandelions?" The mares eyes rolled, sighing. "Darlin', next time ah suggest just grabbin' a menu. Ah'll see what can be whipped up, might be a little extra, don't serve salads usually, or take specific requests." With that, after scribbling it down, she turned to go give the order, Octavia feeling a little sting from the snap at her.

"Oh, Don't worry, she's just new here. I could go complain if you want, but at least she said she'll see what they can do, right? Heh, you can just ask me what they serve Tav, I get you're a little new to.. This. The bar and all. Don't worry, it's easy to adjust." Berry leaned across the table to kiss her cheek, the flush growing more on the grey mares cheeks. "T.. Thanks.. Just.. Thank you.. First time I've been out in a bar besides last time, though that went quite quick." Octavia returned the warm smile, breathing out a long, happy sigh. Nothing seemed to be going wrong besides her little slip up. Her fear was ebbing away faster, before it was gone. They were just two marefriends out on a date in a bar, her pride wouldn't get in the way.

"I hope you can handle shots, I ordered a tray for us, six each, that seem alright? I know you probably don't want to get drunk, but three shots won't hurt, just me and you.. Please? Have a little fun with me, don't you have practice tomorrow with Vinyl, so we won't exactly see eachother.. You know?"

"W-What, Berry, you know I.. I'll stick with my water, please.. I'm not a fan of drinking.." She seemed to want it so much, for her to let loose, to enjoy herself.. She was right, maybe just.. A little wild side wouldn't be TOO much to ask! "O-okay.. Okay, just one, just one, that's my deal. My practice is all day, but that's even if she bothers to show up, usually she's wasted or partying out with a few. Don't get me wrong Vinyl is.. Great, she's amazing at what she does.. Even if I disapprove of everything that involves that music, it blends alright with mine, but she is getting a bit rusty recently! Hmph.. We have a concert in four weeks now and she's shown up to the practice that we did BEFORE we even arrived in Ponyville, she doesn't show up, though it'd greatly improve our playing if we could test out a few new things instead of going with what we chose a month before. I don't mean any offence to her, but it couldn't kill her to show up one time.. You know one time she actually took my bow string out as a joke?" Octavia chuckled a bit at the sudden thought, it had happened so long ago, but the event would never leave her..

Berry blinked in confusion, leaning forward a bit, eyes darting down, falling on the pink bow around Octavia's neck. "She.. Un-stitched your bow as a joke? How.. Uhm, how does that work?" She asked, not really getting the joke part yet. Why did one take one string out of the bow as a joke, it didn't make an appeal to her as much as it did to Octavia.

"Noo, no no, my bow is what I play with on the cello, she undid the string so I had to pluc-" In her gleeful explanation, Octavia hadn't been paying attention to the waitress returning, a quick blush formed on her cheeks again, making them burn with embarrassment. "That was quick.." She mumbled under her breath, seeing her Salad, topped with dandelions and extra oil, placed down infront of her, stomach rumbling in the response. Smiling, she saw the shots being set down along with the fries Berry had ordered, the waitress out of sight right after. It'd be fun to finally grab a bite, their first date, something they'd never forget. She was already thinking ahead, to the third, the fourth, maybe even teaching Berry Punch how to play the cello! Though in a relationship, and datewise, Octavia didn't know what they were exactly.. Supposed to really do. Was what she had in mind considered love, was it normal? This WAS her first date, not just in this relationship, but ever. Music was too important for love, she had a goal, standards, but those were quickly changing, her stress was wilting away, all that mattered right now was that smiling mare across the table from her! Hopefully her sad excuse of a love life wouldn't destroy what she had. "Mmmh.. Smells good... As.. As I was saying, she plucked out the string with her magic as I was playing. Oh, I threw a little tantrum, we were so young then.. I had to run out of the room and pluck out a strand of my mane and re-do it all! You should have seen my horror when it came out.." She giggled a bit, taking a quick forkful of her salad, enjoying the juicy crunch of it.

"Oh, I bet you looked so adorable, stomping on all out .. Vinyl's quite the trickster huh?" Berry gave a soft laugh, Tavi got lost in that almost, the soft sound was so lovely, smooth and clear.. But the thought of Vinyl made her start laughing more, blushing dark as she swallowed down the food quick before it came out, a little sip of water helping washing it down, a few giggles escaping her here and there as her head shook, a deep inhale finally making her stop. "N-.. Vinyl? Darling she's anything but a trickster! That mare is scarily good at pranks! Oh, there was that one time she switched my sugar with pepper! Have you ever had pepper covered pancakes? Not an experience I want to go over again.." Octavia blushed at the thought of it again, her cheeks easily rising to the dark red, nervously wondering what to say now that Berry had begun eating, their giggles faded now. She took a few bites herself.. What did ponies do on dates.. Dance! Dance, ponies danced! "Would you like to dance.. Maybe?" Octavia wasn't scared anymore, no pony had said anything about the paper at all, it was fine, a warm place, no pony wanted to call her out just for a few laughs. There were a few stares, but those were brushed off with a little kiss to Berry, a soft nuzzle, or one of the two giving off a joke. It was well past dark out, a soft, slow music was playing, was there a better time ever to dance? She let herself be taken from the booth by her lover, trotting happily with her to the white tiled floor in the middle of the bar, the smooth music calming her, feeling so relaxed pressed up against Berry, the soft, pink glow from the lights cast down on them, the floor, and the other few couples gently moving with eachother.

A light gasp left her as she was pulled into Berry suddenly, their cheeks close, bodies tight, a blush running over her cheeks, dark pink, her face shadowed with the soft pink light. She was a smaller mare then Berry, so she felt so protected, staring up at her, forehooves wrapped around her, the gentle music flowing through their ears, standing so close to her.. They hadn't even begun dancing, but Octavia's heart was already pounding in her chest, her stomach fluttering with butterflies, eyes sparkling with love. They hadn't known eachother long.. But she knew this was the love of her life. She leaned up, pressing her lips up to Berry's. Her pride didn't matter, music didn't come first.. This was the mare she loved with all her heart, the mare she never wanted to let go, to hold, to cuddle, to kiss and go through everything together.. The kiss broke with a soft strand of saliva hanging between their lips, Octy gazing lovingly into the mares eyes. "I love y-"

"Well well well.. Look what we got here.. Miss Slutavia!" Laughter barked from a table on the edge of the dance floor filled with stallions a few feet away, her fear catching her in her throat, the look of worry flooding her eyes, too noticeable. The calm night so far ruined for her, other ponies would notice, they'd laugh and slander her name.. Not here.. Don't make a scene.. Don't make a scene.. Blow him off, you're enjoying time with Berry...The nights barely begun, don't let it bother you..

"Octy, y-you're fine, don't let him bother you, we can head out if yo-"

"Berry..?"

"Yes, Octy?"

"I think I'm gonna need more then one drink.."

Author's Note

Haven't been on in a long time, most stories are on hiatus. Here you go for now, I hope y'all enjoy it, another chapter should be up soon.