Music, Love, and Crime

Vinyl's bike skidded to a halt in the ally behind the club. She leapt off quickly and held out her hands for the records in Octavia's arms. The Cellist handed them over and Vinyl placed them on the ground. Once again holding out a hand to help her off the bike.

"I'm not a child Vinyl I can get off myself."

Naturally as soon has she said that she misplaced her footing and slipped. She was surprised when she didn't hit the ground. Opening her eye's she saw Vinyl had caught her by the arms. She had an amused smirk but released her once she was not in danger of falling. Octavia flushed slightly annoyed as the DJ picked up the records. She might have preferred physical injury to the dent in her pride.

"Come on Octavia if we hurry we'll only be a few minutes late!"

"I'm coming just hold on!"

They breached the front doors together and Vinyl passed the records over to the Cellist.

"Put these on my table I have to send a text real quick."

"But we're already late!"

"That's why I got to text the boss now hurry!"

She nodded to her and ran towards the stage. Vinyl tapped at the screen on her phone furiously sending the message. Finished she ran up to the stage. Octavia was in place with her Cello bow at the ready. The DJ placed a record on the turn table before yelling into the mike.

"What's up London?" The crowed bellowed cheers seeing the show was going to start.

"Tonight I want you to welcome our newest member of the team here at Foal House Octavia Melody!

There was cheering again. Octavia timidly waved her bow all the while wondering if she was small enough to hide behind her Cello. Vinyl looked over at her expectantly and to her horror she realized it was an indication to acknowledge the crowd. She swallowed before speaking into her mike.

"It's...Great to be here." Vinyl gestured for her to continue. "And I can't wait to get started."

She hoped Vinyl would take the hint and let her just play. Glancing to her right she could see her scratching her head before nodding at her. She scratched a record before turning on various parts of the machine. A steady beat enveloped the room and she pointed a finger at Octavia as she bobbed her head. Taking her cue she turned to the sheet music in front of her and began to run the bow across the strings.

Vinyl looked over at her and smiled while the two music genres blended together. Octavia acknowledged the gesture as she played. Still the DJ had her glasses on as always and she realized she had never even seen her eye's. It made it irritatingly hard to see what she was really thinking. Her brow furrowed in slight agitation at the thought.

The DJ was starting to feel confused by the Cellist to her left. She was playing at a popular club with free drinks for employees. Why was she scowling to herself? She turned back to her machine trying to focus but she was wondering if she had pissed her off somehow. The more she thought about the more she felt hurt a bit.

She had done her best to make a good impression. She liked getting along with her co-workers both legal and crime related. Of course with Octavia clearly being as the locals say 'posh' it was possible seeing the state of her apartment had disgusted her. The more she thought about it she thought it was at least a contributing factor.

She pulled a cigarette out of the pack in her pocket and lit up. Breathing the smoke out her nose she relaxed a bit. Unknown to her she had freed her switchblade from her pocket in the process. It fell on the floor but the sound of the bass covered it and Vinyl was none the wiser. Switch blades were illegal in London getting caught owning one would make you subject two a 500 Quid fine at the least.

Octavia had been so focused on her playing she barely noticed the crowed dying out as people left for home tiered. As she heard the sound from Vynil's speaker die out she turned her head to the right seeing her jump off stage. Looking forward she saw the bouncers were ushering the last few drunks out of the club. She started putting her Cello away when she saw something shining on the floor by Vinyl's turn tables. Her instrument packed away she walked over and picked it up.

It looked like the handle of a knife but there was no blade. Turning it over she unknowingly triggered the weapon and the blade popped out cutting her hand. She dropped the knife on the floor crying out in pain. Vinyl heard and turned to see Octavia bleeding. She bolted for the stage and jumped onto it. But instead of going for the knife she went to Octavia.

"Fuck! Octavia I'm so sorry!"

Vinyl took off her leather jacket reveling the rest of her white long sleeve shirt. She ripped off one of her sleeves and tied it around Octavia's hand. Then she looked at the floor and grabbed her knife putting the blade away and shoving it into her pocket. Octavia looked at her with an expression of confusion and shock. Vinyl licked her lips nervously.

"Why do you have a...whatever that is?"

Vinyl bit her lip a bit.

"I uh...Have some crazy fans I want to be prepared if things go too far when I'm going home."

The fabric around Octavia's cut was soaking up most of the blood. It was minor and probably wouldn't even need stitches. Vinyl still felt horrible for her obliviousness.

"There's a first aid kit in the back I'll go get it and we can clean that better."

"I'll come with you."

"No! You can't it's strictly certain workers only. I'll be right back ok?"

Octavia nodded slightly confused by what was going on as Vinyl ran off. She returned quickly with some disinfectant, gauss and medical tape. As she went to work the speed and skill she showed in even such a basic medical procedure was evident. When she was finished it looked like she had gone to a hospital instead of making do.

"I'm sorry Octavia I screwed up look if anything is needed to like make it heal better just let me know I'll cover the cost."

"Vinyl it's fine. It was dumb of me to mess with it anyways."

"Is there like anything you need?"

"Vinyl I'm not mad you need to stop worrying about it."

"Ok...cool." She paused. "He uh you want to go get a drink at the bar?"

"I'm a bit tired I would like to rest tonight."

"Oh ya ok...some other time maybe?"

Damn those glasses Thought Octavia she couldn't tell if she had hurt Vinyl's feelings by saying no or something. She was pulled out of though by Vinyl waving a hand in front of her.

"Octavia?"

"Sorry Vinyl what did you say?"

"I was just... Never mind I'm gonna go get some shots. I'll see you at work ok?"

"Ok."

As Octavia left another well dressed man came through the door. Coin Flip stopped him at first but the man held up an envelope and was permitted to pass. He found Vinyl taking shots at the bar looking board.

"Miss Vinyl Scratch?"

"Ya?"

"I have a message for you from your boss."

Vinyl turned in her bar stool. He handed her the envelope and walked away. She opened it and two tickets for the upcoming movie Blood In The Streets fell out. This movie was sold out for the next six weeks in every theater in London! It was based on the best selling American crime author in history. Inside the envelope was a note saying. you and a plus one have a paid day off tomorrow. She jumped from her seat and ran outside. Looking left and right she spotted Octavia climbing into a cab.

"Octavia!"

The black haired woman halted the driver and looked out the window when she heard Vinyl yelling at her. She was holding two white strips of paper in her hand as she approached.

"Vinyl what in the world are you doing?"

"I just got a letter from the boss. He gave me these." Vinyl held up the tickets.

"This is important because..."

"Well I got two and he said me and whoever I brought had a paid day off."

Octavia lifted an eyebrow in slight confusion.

"So if I understand you correctly your asking me to go to the cinema?"

"Ya why not? This movie has been nominated for so many awards it's got to be freakin epic!"

"But why me?"

"What do I need an explanation for asking a friend to hang out?"

Octavia tried to hide her surprise. Did she just call me her friend?

"So do like want to go or would you rather work to get paid?"

"When's the  movie?"

"It's a 10 PM showing runs till midnight."

"That's a bit late Vinyl..."

"Octavia you're working the night shift now! Every time you work your up all night."

"Well collage won't start for three more days...Ok I'll go if you really want me to."

"Awesome I'll meet you at the theater here's your ticket."

Octavia grabbed it through the window. Vinyl gave a two finger salute from her forehead and started towards her motorbike. Octavia sighed as the Cabbie started off. This was a strange work shift. She had ridden a motorbike, played in a nightclub, and now she was going to a late night movie. She rubbed her eyes. Why had she agreed to go? What was she even doing here? If her parents found out she had been riding a motorbike and working in a nightclub they would be worried to say the least.

That's when a little voice in her head spoke. Because you like the danger. All the excitement that's why you shoplift isn't it your board maybe that's the attraction Vinyl has to you. She shook her head trying to get rid of the thoughts. Still they persisted. Maybe it's true. I like hanging out with Vinyl because she is adventurous?

The cab pulled up in front of her apartment complex and she stepped out grabbing her Cello. As she climbed the stares to her flat she pulled out her phone and looked at the contacts finding Bon Bon. As soon as she had put her Cello away she pressed call. It rang for a few seconds then she heard her pick up.

"Hey Octavia what's going on?"

"I need someone to talk to for a bit if that's ok."

"I can put you on speaker and you can talk to Lyra too if you want she's right here getting ready for work."

"You can if you like."

"Ok your on speaker. So what do you need to talk about?"

"I took the job at the club."

"You did?" Bon Bon exclaimed.

"I knew she would she's hot for the DJ" Said Lyra in the back ground.

"I am not Lyra!"

"Oh now I'm sure of it!"

"Lyra stop teasing poor Octavia she'll admit it when she's ready."

"I do not like her!" Yelled the Cellist.

"Well I guess if you didn't I wouldn't blame you. I mean she's a punk and probably treats everyone like a bitch anyways."

"Shut up Lyra! Vinyl is not like that!" She yelled into the phone.

"Ah Ha I knew it! Try lying your way out of this one!"

Octavia blushed with both embarrassment and rage. She couldn't believe she just fell for that.

"So Octavia what is Vinyl really like?" Bon Bon asked with true interest and no intent to tease.

"She is extremely strange. She rides a motorbike and dresses like a gangster. She smokes and drinks but..."

"But what?"

"She's nice. As soon as I got there she offered me a drink or food. When I asked for a snack she didn't tell me where to get it she brought it to me. Whenever she got off the motorbike she offered to help me down."

"Wait you rode her bike?"

"Yes we had to go get the records from her apartment." There was snickering from Lyra.

"Is she a good driver?"

"If you mean law abiding no. But if you mean speed without death yes."

"Ooh that's sexy! Hey Lyra will you buy a motorbike for us to ride? Octavia is making it sound super fun!" Bon Bon called over to her.

"I'll think about it." Said a muffled Lyra.

"So Octavia what else?"

"Well she..."

"She what?"

"My first pay check isn't until after rent is due so she's paying it for me."

There was silence on the other line for a while. Octavia almost suspected the call dropped.

"Like did you ask her and she said ok?"

"No she just did it I'm paying her back though."

"So she said it was a loan?"

"No...She offered to just pay it originally."

"Fucking Celestia! Octavia you've only known her for two days!"

"She says she just likes to help people. I wouldn't think much of it."

"You saw her flat right?" Lyra was sitting next to Bon Bon to be heard better.

"It's horrible! The thing is filthy and she lives off Ramen noodles she has a bed and a chair. Plus the whole flat could almost fit inside mine three times!"

"So she lives in a hell hole but gives away cash willy nilly?"

"Ya she does."

"I honestly have no clue what to make of that Octavia. It is the weirdest thing I've ever heard." Said Lyra.

"I don't know what to do really."

"Do about what?"

"We're going to the cinema tomorrow it's not a date or anything but we're going as friends."

Unknown to Octavia there was the slightest bit of disappointment in her voice.

"Maybe you should make a move or something?" Suggested Bon Bon.

"Ya but make it subtle." Chimed in Lyra.

"I don't know this is...Difficult."

"Just try your best to read her if she's interested which frankly I think she really is it will be visible. See anything that looks good and go for it." Lyra sounded Ernest in this.

"I'll see how it goes tomorrow then I'll decide."

"Call as soon as you leave each other we want details!"

Octavia hung up and turned on her TV. It turned out to be on the news channel with a red bar at the bottom saying Gang war in London. She leaned forward as the reporter came into view.

"London city police have found evidence linking the killings of the gang members found in the Thaimes to a new crime here in London. Police sources have confirmed that it appears a war between two gangs has broken out. Today three men Identified as members of the Crowns were shot and killed. The identity of the fourth victim is unknown. We have footage of one of the two witnesses here. We will play it now"

"So me and my mate are gathering up scrap metal for some extra Quid and we see these three guys draggin a fourth cross the ground. From what I saw he was still kickin but once they had him in the ally they done started whacking him with clubs and such. I don't know when but he died from it. So these three guys are turning around when a gunshot goes off and splatters one of em's brains on the floor. The other two started shooting so we ran. Last thing I saw was a big man and some hooded woman checking the bodies."

"Police are advising caution to all who travel in secluded areas or after dark. This has been reporter Pen And Pad for the London Daily."

Octavia turned off the Telly. She felt sick to her stomach. There was so much happening all around her she wasn't sure what to do.