The dirt path leading to Vinyl's and Octavia's house was a calm and desolate. Nopony usually walked down the path, which is why it was so comforting to Mark. No hustle and bustle from the towns folk to distract him from his thoughts, just the pure serenity of the birds chirping, and the sun shining. Mark has always been one to prefer the smaller crowds, more than happy to just have alone time to himself and his thoughts. He may not have looked the part, but he was quite the deep thinker. Always wondering why, and how things were the way they were. Then again, the stereotype for a thinker was a old man with a big beard and a pipe: That was something he didn't even want to imagine himself looking like.
In his line of sight came a small, cozy looking house. It was divided in color, one side having the color scheme of cool purple, while the other a light brown. In the front yard was a hedge in the shape of a eighth note. In all honesty he found it to be one of the most unique buildings he seen in this world, and he has seen quite the interesting sights while living here.
Walking up the two steps to the door, he heard music coming from the other side. Not unusual considering the occupancy of the house were musicians, but the taste of said music was deplorable. Dubstep, as his friend liked to call it. To him was more like a bunch of noise thrown into a blender. He didn't mind that she liked it, in fact he respected the passion she put into her work. He just never understood the appeal of nature of the genre. Classical was more his style, and that was the same thing for the other mare that lived in this house, Octavia Melody. In fact that was the reason why he was here today in the first place.
He raised his fist to the door and gave a light knock, no response. He tried again only a bit harder, still no response. He sighed. "Vinyl could you open the door?" Waiting a moment, he still didn't get a response from the mare inside. He then decided to pick up the volume of his voice. "Vinyl, it's your friend Mark, open up the door!" He gave a series of hard knocks after that to make sure she heard him this time.
He heard hoof steps coming towards the door, he smiled finally getting the response he was looking for. The door opened and he was greeted with the Queen of Dubstep herself, Vinyl Scratch. Her glasses hanging low, and her brow raised accusingly at him. "You didn't have to break the door down trying get my attention."
Mark rolled his eyes at her statement. "May I come in?"
"Yeah, sure. What's up?" She asked
As he walked in, he was greeted with the sight of two distinct areas of the house. One half being filled with portraits of famous classical musicians, art replicas, and instruments like the piano, cello, violin, and harp. The other half being filled with portraits of more modern bands such as Fall Out Pony. Along with that there was huge speakers, some guitars, and a mixer on top of a stand connected to the huge speakers. It was easy to tell which side was for which pony.
"Give me a moment, I'll get to that. Let me sit down first." Mark responded to her question. He chose to sit down on the couch adjacent to the piano on Octavia's side of the room. He was trying to put some distance away from Vinyl's side, because it was blasting her electronic music, hurting his ears.
Vinyl walked up to the opposite side of the couch and took a seat next to him. She waved he hoof in a questioning circle. "Sooooo, what brings you around?"
Mark looked around the room. "Is Octavia home?"
Vinyl deadpanned, getting annoyed with him not answering her question. "No, she's out grocery shopping. Ya still haven't answered my question?"
Mark turned to look at the DJ, and then proceeded to say to her. "Sorry, and good. I wanted to talk to you privately, also could you turn down that music. It's kinda hurting my head."
Vinyl raised her eyebrow at him. "Yeah, sure. I'll turn off my jams, but what do you want to talk to me about privately?"
His cheeks reddened a little bit, and he lowered his head. "Well... Y-you see... It's abou-"
"Just spit it out man!" Vinyl interrupted him.
"It'saboutOctavia!" He blurted out, covering his mouth right after. His cheeks now flaming from within.
Vinyl's smile grew smug on her face, and she gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Oh, you dog. You finally gonna confess your feelings for her." She got up, and went over to her side of the room to turn off her music. Full intent on listening to what Mark had to say. After she turned off her beats, and she returned to the flustered human, she asked. "So why now of all times?"
After composing himself he responded. "Because... Because I've been harboring these feelings for her for quite some time now, and if I don't say anything now. I feel like I will never be able to. I want her to know how I feel about her, it's just..." He put his face in his hands. "It's just I don't know how to go about it. " He turned to face Vinyl eye to eye, well, eye to glasses. "You have known her longer than I, that's why I came here to ask you for advice on how to catch her fancy."
Vinyl was honestly stunned with how much energy he put into those words, like he truly cared for the pony he was referring to. "Well, if you wanted to know how to go about getting Tavi to like ya, then you've come to the right place." She put on a determined look.
Mark let out a deep sigh before recollecting himself. "Thanks Vinyl, this means the world to me." He put emphasis on the word world.
Vinyl looked him over to see just what he was wearing. Considering there were no humans in Equestria besides him, it was hard to find clothes for him. He needed to get custom tailored cloths from ponies like Rarity. Right now he was wearing a nice pair of jeans, and a blue dress shirt and tie. "Well, while you do look pretty snazzy, you need to crank your duds up to eleven if you are to impress a pony like Tavi. She sees stallions who wear the most on point clothes, as you might know considering you guys play the same gigs from time to time."
Mark tilted his head. "What do you suggest, I wear a special tailored suit before I ask if she returns my feelings? Because I already having one made by Rarity for the upcoming Grand Galloping Gala."
Vinyl nodded her head. "Good, that crosses one thing off the list. The next thing you got to do is bring her somewhere with high class. She won't settle for anything that is below a four star, so be prepared to spend some bits... Now that I think about it, your gonna play at the Grand Galloping Gala, why not ask for a dance there?"
Mark shook his head. "No, I have to play. That means no time for dancing, I have a job to do."
"They won't be to mad at ya. This is a major event, they will definitely have backups. In fact, what if I told you I'll find a replacement for ya so that you can ask her for a dance without it causing to much of a scene?" Vinyl bargained with him.
He raised a eyebrow. "Go on."
She continued. "I have my connections, I promise I'll get someone to fill in for ya, deal?"
Mark rubbed his chin for a moment, but then held out his hand. "Deal." They then shook hand to hoof. "But... What if she's not interested in me. I mean I'm a entirely different species, it must be weird of me to even like her in the first place."
Vinyl patted him on the back. "Don't sweat it bro, trust me she likes you." She then gave him a wink.
His jaw hung open for a second. "Y-You mean... has she... has she talked about me with you too?" The butterflies in his stomach grew exponentially, along with his heart beat. This was news that he was dying to hear.
"Lets just say that she thinks highly of you, and leave it at that." She responded with a sly grin on her face.
Mark couldn't believe it. He just couldn't believe it. The pony he has been admiring for quite some time now has actually gone to Vinyl and told her that she liked him too. That made his heart skip a beat, and made his spirits soar to the heavens. His confidence was now at a all time high, and he was feeling more up to confessing his feelings to Octavia than ever before. "Thanks a bunch Vinyl, that really boosted my confidence. How can I ever repay you?"
She shook her head. "No need to repay me anything, what are friends for? Though, I would be happy if you were to listen to my latest grooves and tell me what ya think?"
Mark just groaned out loud. " Fine, I'll listen to it, but you know I don't like your genre. You know my opinion will just be biased." He hated the sound of electronica, but since she was helping him out, and since she was a close friend of his he was going to listen to it anyway.
"Yeah, I know. I just want someone to listen to it before I play it at my next gig. I would have asked Tavi, but she isn't here at the moment. Speaking of which, she should be back any moment."
Marks pupils dilated, and a single drop of sweat went down the side of his face. "Wait, what? You know when she walks through that door, she will ask me why I'm doing here. It will put me on the spot, and it will get all awkward..."
Vinyl just shrugged her shoulders. "Hey, don't worry about it. You can just say you came over to get some extra practice on the Grand Galloping Gala with her. In the mean time, just listen to my beats."
That made sense to him, she wouldn't suspect anything from from that. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Thanks, you just saved me from a bullet there."
"No problem. Now just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride." As she said that she started to blast her loud, rumbling music. That made Mark give a drawn out groan, and put on a frowny face. He listened to the headache inducing music while trying to think about how to go about asking Octavia for a dance. Would he just walk up to her and ask directly, or would Vinyl give him some sort of cue. He really had no idea what to do at this stage of the plan, he only knew that he was going to ask her for a dance one way or another.
Thirty minutes passed, thirty minutes of torment for Mark. He had no idea how he made it this far without clawing out his ears, this music all sounded the same, and it was driving him nuts. He let out what must have been the hundredth groan that day, when suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"Vinyl, I'm home. Could you please get the door?" came a very posh, and refined voice from behind the door. It made the fire inside Mark light up again, and his face got a slight blush just thinking about her. She was such a stunning, and dignified mare. Shaking his head to get his composer, he looked over to Vinyl who was too absorbed into her song to notice the knock on the door. Mark got up out of his seat on the couch, and walked over to the door to let Octavia in. As he opened the door, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, and she gave a surprised yelp. "Oh, Mark. I had no idea you were coming over today."
Rubbing the back of his head he responded. "Yeah, I thought we could, you know practice together on our parts at the Gala. I know we usually have practice dates with the rest of the group, but I just wanted to get a little extra practice in."
"That sounds like a lovely idea, I would like that very much." She said to him with a smile on her face. Mark then moved out of the way to let her in, happy that she was accepting of their impromptu practice session. She then walked into the kitchen which was in the other room to drop off her groceries that were in her saddle bags. After she returned, she saw Mark pick up the violin case and begin to open it.
"Since you already have a violin here, I didn't think it was necessary to bring mine. Besides, I like yours anyway." He told her with mirth in his voice, happy to be in her company.
"I guess that makes sense, and thank you very much." She responded to him still keeping that smile on her face that sent the butterflies in his chest into a flurry. She then turned around looking at Vinyl in her zone. She was so absorbed into her music that she didn't even notice her walk in. "Vinyl!"
The DJ heard that one, how couldn't she. Octavia practically blew out her lung with how loud she shouted at her. She turned off the music she was playing and said. "Hey Tavi, I didn't see ya walk in."
She had a innocent smile on her face that just irritated Octavia. She rolled her eyes before saying. "I knocked on the door calling your name, but it appears you were to absorbed into your music."
"Sorry about that." Vinyl rubbed her right hoof behind her head feeling guilty. "I'll be more aware of my surroundings next time, I swear on it." She gave her a salute.
Octavia on the other hoof had a different idea on her mind. "But do you Pinkie Promise?" She gave Vinyl a smug grin.
"Pinkie Promise! Oh. come on. Really?" She complained to her roommate.
"Yes, really." She put emphasis on really to get across her point to her thick headed friend.
"Fine, I'll give a Pinkie Promise." She grumbled a little bit before going through the motions. "Cross my heat, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." She ended with one of her forehoofs on her eye. "Happy?"
"Indubitably" Octavia nodded with satisfaction before turning to her guest who was all ready for their practice session. He had a stand up with his sheet music, his violin under his chin, and his bow in hand. "Now we can continue onto are practice."
Mark nodded happily, giving her a wide smile. "Ready when you are."
She nodded back before heading over to where she kept her Cello. It was in a lovely black carrying case which had her treble clef cutie mark on it to show it was hers. It was a gift from her mother, who was also a cello player. It was previously used by her before she retired. All Octavia did to it was add her cutie mark on the carrying case. Using her mouth she unzipped the case, and opened it up. It took a moment for her to set her base down and get herself situated; With her music sheet in front of her, she turned to Mark nodding. "Ready."
"All right, lets get started." With that they began their practice. They played their individual parts flawlessly, and it was something to be admired. but the best part was when they would have parts together. Their music would meld together in perfect harmony, one never over powering the other. They were in perfect sync, it was like they had a mental link with one another. This lasted for about an hour before they noticed that the sun was setting. It was then that they decided to stop, and call it a day.
"Whoooo! nice job guys. Awesome show!" Vinyl shouted out to them as they finished up there apparent performance for her, even though it was just them practicing.
"Thank you, thank you." Mark said, bowing with Octavia at his side.
"No really, you guys were on fire out there. It was like you were one in the same. You guys were made for each other." Vinyl didn't realize what she just said, she was just trying to give them a compliment.
Both Octavia and Mark's pupils dilated, and there faces grew warm. "Well... you know." Mark said rubbing the back of his head.
"We were just in the moment." Said Octavia doing the same as Mark.
Vinyl just realized what she just said, and grew a little pale for a moment before wiping a sweat drop from her brow. "Yeah, you guys were so on fire it got me sweating." She gave a nervous laugh.
"Yeah... Right." Mark replied while packing Octavia's violin back in its case. "I think it's about time I go, the suns going down, and I don't want to walk in the dark on the way home."
"Yeah, thanks for the session by the way. I really enjoyed it, we should do this again sometime?" Octavia beamed hoping for another chance to play with him again before the Gala.
"That sounds like a great idea." Marks reply made Octavia's smile grow just a little bit, and that made him blush a litter harder. Knowing that she really did like him back made him a little more at ease, but he was still nervous because of the fact he knew she liked him. His time was coming, he would get a chance to let her know how he feels later. He then walked over to the door. "Goodnight everypony, sleep well."
"You too." Both them replied, and with that Mark left the house. Returning back to his place, which was on the other side of town. This gave him plenty of time to think, think about how he was going to exactly ask Octavia to that dance, and how he was going to word how he felt about her.
Soon. He thought. Soon you'll understand just how much you mean to me.
Author's Note
Hello everyone, this is my first time writing a romance, and I hope all of you are enjoying it so far. Feel free to tell me how I'm doing so far, and If you have any criticisms just let me know.
Until next time, have a majestic day!
