"The weather's pretty crappy today, isn't it?"
"Excuse me?"
"The weather is pretty crappy today. The snow and all."
"Are you talking to me?"
"Is there anypony else in this cafe?"
"No, I assume not."
"Then I'm talking to you. About the weather."
"Such an interesting topic."
"Oh, you have a better topic, Miss-"
"Philarmonica. Octavia Philarmonica."
"Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch."
***
"You know that dream, Tavi? Like, when you lie in bed, it's just morning - hell, the sun's not up, and you wonder if that's that time when it happens - and you suddenly have this castle, and walls around it, and the triangular pond, and the princess... You wanna kiss the princess, Tavi?"
"Vinyl, you're drunk. Go to sleep."
"It's just that we are scared of saying that. We're using things like 'drunk' as an excuse to say things we really want."
"What do you really want to say?"
"About the castle."
"What about it?"
"Why aren't we living in one?"
"Because we don't have enough money. Go to bed, Vinyl. You have a concert tomorrow."
"A gig."
"Whatever."
"But what - just think - what if we did have a castle, with nice benches, and the flags fluttering in the wind, and an old good servant playing the piano while you jammed with your cello?"
"It would be rather nice. But then again, it's one of your drunken fantasies."
"I guess so."
"Go to sleep."
"..."
"..."
"Tavi?"
"Yes?"
"Can you sing it? That song you learnt in Stalliongrad?"
"Oh, Vinyl, I'm not sure I remember it all that good. Besides, I left when I was a foal, and my accent-"
"Please? I know your parents sang it to you when you were a filly. You sang it to me back then - remember?"
"..."
"Please?"
"Спи, моя радость, усни~
В доме погасли огни~"
***
"Tavi, I need to tell you something."
"Hmm?"
"It's, like, very very important."
"Oh. What is it, then?"
"It's hard for me to say that..."
"I'm not going anywhere. It's a nice restaurant."
"It's... about you and me."
"Are you breaking up with me?"
"Tavi! No! That's- you're joking."
"Yes, Vinyl, dear, I am. Though, I am really interested. What's that what you wanted to say?"
"Well, you see, we kinda have been dating for two years now."
"Yes."
"Living together."
"Precisely."
"Having sex."
"Yes, that too."
"A lot of sex."
"Vinyl, I get it."
"So, maybe we could - you know?"
"We could what?"
"Come on, Tavi, you know what I'm trying to say!"
"Yes, Vinyl. Yes I do. And that's why I want you to say it."
"..."
"..."
"Octavia Philarmonica, will you marry me?"
"..."
"..."
"Yes. I will. Now was it that hard?"
"No. Heh. Not hard at all. It's like... easy. Just telling what I think. To you. The mare I love."
"Good. That's good. Let's eat that salad, shall we?"
***
"You must be kidding me."
"Isn't it neat, Tavi?"
"You must be kidding me."
"I know it's not a castle - but it's kinda a little mansion, with the garden and the benches and-"
"This... You bought it."
"Yes. For us. I thought... You know, I've been saving up some bits. It's our anniversary in a month, and I thought..."
"Vinyl."
"Did I do something wrong again? I just wanted for us to be happy with our own little house and-"
"Vinyl. I may not say it often, or show it, but I love you. I really, really do."
"Oh. So... You love me because I bought us a house or-"
"Shut up and let me kiss you, you silly mare."
***
"Tavi?"
"Hmm?"
"Have you... No, that's stupid."
"Ask away, Vinyl. I'm used to stupid questions. After all, I've been married to you for twenty years."
"Har har, Miss Perfection."
"Why, thank you."
"..."
"..."
"It's just that... I'm scared of dying."
"Vinyl?"
"I really am, Tavi. Like, I walk the streets and I'm scared a brick will- I'm scared even of saying that. I can't leave you. We promised not to leave each other."
"We won't."
"Do you really think we'll live happily ever after and die on the same day, wrapped in each other's embrace?"
"I don't think, Vinyl. I know it."
"...Do you think there's a heaven our there?"
"I really don't know. Maybe."
"If there is a heaven, I hope we can both go there."
"Vinyl, honestly, considering all the sins we've committed, do you really think it's heaven, and not hell, that's awaiting us?"
"I dunno. Is anal sex a sin?"
"Vinyl Scratch!"
"Just kidding, Tavi. Just kidding."
"..."
"..."
"Sing it again, please?"
"What?"
"That song. The lullaby."
"Vinyl, I... Of course."
"..."
"Спи, моя радость, усни~
В доме погасли огни~"
"If this isn't happiness, I don't know what is."
"Huh?"
"My dad taught me that. He said, 'Find a moment when you think you're the happiest pony in the world, and say that'. If this isn't happiness, I don't know what is."
"..."
"..."
"Vinyl."
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you too, Tavi. I love you too."
