Face the Music

Sighing to yourself, you sit at the seat furthest away from the door to the inside of the cafe, since the meals were served outside. You knew they didn't serve any meat, for only ponies - herbivores, obviously - came into the cafe, but regardless, you were there. A waiter comes out to ask what you want to eat, but you just wave 'em away, holding your head up with your other fist. Sitting here seems to be a habit for you now - ever since last week. What was last week, you ask? I can't believe you forgot!.. You met Vinyl Scratch, or DJ P0N-3 as she was known in rave circles. The white-furred DJ unicorn appearing with a blue mane and tail with cyan stripes had to be the most beautiful and graceful of all the ponies you had met so far. Vinyl Scratch was almost like a bird flying when it came to mixing and scratching, able to do it perfectly and precisely without any thought otherwise. She seemed.. your type, actually.

You're interrupted in your thoughts as the other ponies all look at the door to the cafe in awe, making you look as well. The pony in the doorway was, though you didn't know her name at the time, Octavia - a musician not normally associated with Ponyville. Octavia was a light grey earth pony with long and wavy dark grey hair that was almost black, and donned a pink bow-tie on her neck. On her flank was the symbol of a treble clef, signifying her expertise with the cello that she always carried around. In fact, Octavia was carrying her cello now - big, brown, and elegant, like most cellos in her parts. You were pretty sure nobody else in the room had been so close to someone as talented as her, as everyone still had their mouths wide open while she sat quietly at your table, not talking or making much noise at all, or even looking at you. But you had seen her around before. Never had you actually been this close to Octavia, but you hadn't exactly never seen her before. Octavia scooted her chair in with a polite and regal air to her as her purple eyes darted over the surface of the table, making sure it wasn't dirty. Then, she laid her cello on the table and began polishing it, to your astonishment.

Then the noise began again, but more of a buzz than actual speaking, as it had been before Octavia had come.
So you leaned back in your chair and closed your eyes, not really caring if this pony was famous or not. You re-opened your eyes, though, at the sound of a soft, but firm voice with a cockney accent. "So. Who are you?" Octavia asked, glancing at you inquisitively for a second and then looking back down at her cello. "Me..? I'm.." you began, but got interrupted by Octavia, "Never mind that, it doesn't matter, I suppose. Do you have any stories, news or something? I am absolutely in need of something to distract myself after that last performance.." she told you, trailing off at the end.

You felt a little sorry for her - and needed to tell somebody else - so you poured your heart out to her about Vinyl Scratch and how much you like her. You even mention to Octavia where you first saw Vinyl - at a rave club called, 'The Haymakers', where lots of up-and-coming DJs challenged each-other for the title of 'Best Mixer', which Vinyl currently held. Octavia looks about the same as before you told her when you've finished, but the inquisitive edge to her eyebrows seems to have disappeared, making Octavia's face look prettier and gentler.

Looking up from her cello, Octavia tells you, with a small smile, "Vinyl Scratch is my greatest friend - I could set something up for you. I know you haven't done much besides tell me about Vinyl, but I'll do it for her sake as much as yours. She really needs a mate - a real one, so she can toss off a bit of that permanent edge she has from mixing all the time." You stared into the depths of the beautiful purple eyes, and sensed no lie. When Octavia set her cello against the fence next to the table, everyone looked your direction as you got out of your seat and hugged Octavia. "Thank you.." you whisper, feeling her hoof patting your back a few seconds later, awkwardly.

You and Octavia walk out of the cafe together as dusk falls, one of you on two legs and the other on four, slinging a cello over her back. You talk about random events in Equestria and she replies in kind, not missing a beat in the conversation as you're walking to someplace you don't know about. All you know is that you can slowly hear classical music being played, far away, while Octavia is still beside you. "I'll give you a backstage pass to 'The Haymakers' - just stay here and give me a moment," the cockney cellist pony tells you. So you wait for a bit. And wait. And wait. Until, finally, the dark grey hair appears over the shadowy horizon, holding a blue ticket-like object and waving it in the air. You grin at Octavia widely as she steps over to you with it - though her cello seems to be gone, as if she put it away somewhere.

Octavia hands you the backstage pass, and you can't help but yell into the air with glee. "Well then, I do hope you'll really be 'The One' for Vinyl Scratch!" she tells you, with real sincerity in her voice. But you can hear a sadness too, in the tone. "...What's wrong?" you ask her. Octavia shakes her head and swipes a hoof across her face - but you're not sure if she had been crying or if she simply itched a little, since there was no telltale wetness on her face. "C'mon, I told you about my love for Vinyl.." you pried, wanting to scratch her back after she scratched yours - to help her with her problem too. "...I love Vinyl Scratch in the same way as you do.. but.. Vinyl denied my request when I asked her on a date.. Because she isn't a lesbian," Octavia summarized for you. Of course, you were stunned! How could it be possible that such a pony was homosexual, you weren't sure, but it was certainly an awkward moment. For you realized that you were trying to take Octavia's love from her.