Symphonic Fusion

Chapters

Chapter 1: Drinks
Chapter 2: Poptarts
Chapter 3: Beans
Chapter 4: Ice Cream
Chapter 5: Strawberries
Chapter 6: ...
Chapter 7: Waffles
Chapter 8: Sandwhich
Chapter 9: Olives

Chapter 1: Drinks

In a rather nice restaurant two ponies sat opposite one another. Each had a rather lovely dinner sitting in front of them, awkwardly half eaten. One was a rising star in the orchestral world, a cellist by the name of Octavia Melody Philharmonic. An earth pony, she had fur the same gray as a storm cloud, a black mane and tail, and a delightfully pink bowtie perched at her throat. She was a mare of culture, class, and refined tastes.

Opposite her sat one Vinyl Scratch (Otherwise known as the Turntable Temptress, Damsel Dj, Seductress of Spin, Wub Warrior, along with several other nicknames she came up for herself), a unicorn and one of the hottest Dj’s around, sporting the nom de plume of “Dj Pon3” which very few people can pronounce correctly the first time off, especially considering she keeps changing the way she pronounces it herself. Her white coat contrasted strikingly with the electric blue mane and tail she sported, which went well with her violently violet shades. She was a night owl, a rampant hedonist, and the kind of pony who generally forgets to floss.

It was surprising enough that these ponies, so intensely different from one another, were at a rather nice restaurant on a date. It would have been even more surprising to each that they were thinking very nearly the same thing, except that thing was “'Why did I ever agree to this thing. This is a complete disaster. I am going to kill that idiot.'

-|-

Three days earlier, Octavia had been idly wondering exactly when her friend had gone insane. Broughe Strings was a classically trained violinist of the highest order. She could play any piece forwards, backwards, or sideways with nary an issue, and had had her pick of concert and orchestra seats after graduating from the Canterlot Academy of Music.

She was also quite busy trying to contort herself enough to show off her newest tattoo to Octavia without accidentally flashing her. After a moment, she gave up and just flashed her. “See? Hurt like nine kinds of hell it did, but damn if it ain’t lookin good.” She said cheerfully, balancing on her fore-hooves like a circus act and wiggling her nethers at Octavia. The grey mare couldn’t help herself—she reached out and poked her friends cutie mark, sending her crashing down with a panicked squeak. The cellist bit back a little grin of pleasure as the tattooed and pierced mare shot back up and perched in her seat, lifting the napkin dispenser to check and make sure none of the foot long spikes she’d styled her acid green mane into had been smushed.

“Well, now that you’re quite done ensuring I’ve seen as much as you as your coltfriend,” said Octavia a touch dryly. “Do tell why you wanted to have lunch.” She identified the offended look that came over her friends face for the act it was and continued. “Strings, darling, you offered to pay, and you specifically invited me to my favorite little café,” she said, raising an eyebrow with an indulgent smile. “ Which you have already thoroughly embarrassed me in with your acrobatics. You are one of my best friends, but do you honestly expect me not to see through all that?”

Strings visibly deflated before perking back up. “Well…ok, yeah. Ye’see, I might have a bit of an ulterior motive, heh?” she fiddled with her silver-ware for a moment. “Ye’see, Bass Line has this friend…” she began, pulling a groan from Octavia.

“Oh, Strings, really?” She huffed, giving her a look, though she seemed more amused than anything. “I get that it’s been a bit of a dry spell, but you don’t have to go around setting me up…on…” She paused, and considered what she knew about her friend and her friends beau. “Whats in it for you?” she asked abruptly, narrowing her eyes. The way Strings’ left eye twitched while her smile kept brittle-still told Octavia just enough. Poor mare was lousy at poker. “Strings…” She said warningly.

A sigh and a huff. “Ah…fine.” The neon purple mare slumped in her seat. She looked around, displaying the kind of tact that she hadn’t seemed to have less than a minute ago, before leaning in and muttering, “She been…she’s been hangin’ with us, and…gettin’ in the way.”

Octavia once again bit back a grin. She knew exactly what her friend meant, but she wanted to drag it out of her. “In the way? How? Is she underhoof, messy?” She asked politely. She watched Strings squirm a bit, biting her lip, before answering.

“Nah…well, kinda, but…she just…” Octavia gave her a nothing but a kind, gentle face with a vague “go on?” gesture. Strings forehead impacted the table and she groaned, “Bass ain’t been ‘tween m’thighs fer weeks! You know how he don’t like bein walked in on, and she’s jes constantly barging in and junk! If’n she don’t go out some night soon, I’m liable to explode!”

Octavia bit back a laugh at her friends expense, settling for a demure little chuckle. “And you think I can show her a good enough time to keep her out of your hair for a few hours?” She said archly, taking a sip of her water.

“Hours nothin’, jes need fifteen minutes alone with Bass without her poppin her head in.” Growled the ‘frustrated’ mare across from her. Octavia rolled her eyes, smirking and deciding to take pity on the poor dear.

“Fine, fine, if it will help you out, I suppose I can sacrifice myself to the indignity of a blind date. “ She said dismissively. “Set up a time and a place. I haven’t been on a blind date in a long while, but…really, whats the worst that can happen?” She said with a little laugh.

-|-

Octavia reflected for a moment on those words. Whats the worst that can happen? She should have known better. She really should have. A mare as well read as herself and with a certain…proclivity towards literature that might not be considered “high art” should know that those words were as cursed as any treasure hunters quarry. Really, lightning should have struck then and there—would’ve been quicker at least. Less painful, certainly.

The cellist mused upon all this while sitting in a silence that could charitably be called 'awkward'. The two of them had sat down, exchanged names, and then devolved into the curiously frantic flavor of silence that meant 'Neither of us knows who should talk first, and so we will both sit in silence until the other one says something to break the ice'. Ok, Octavia. You are a trained cellist who has played with the Grand Galloping Gala, in front of ponies whose whims run the very world without breaking down under the pressure. You can certainly start a conversation with this…mare with an outrageous mane.

The silence stretched for another few long moments.

The white unicorn sighed. “Well, this is awkward as hell. Hey, foods pretty much cold now and there’s an open bar—wanna get a drink?” She asked bluntly.

Octavia stared at her for a beat before relaxing with a sigh. “Celestias teats, yes.” She said, rubbing the bridge of her nose. They stood as one and made their way to the bar, where she promptly ordered a scotch. She took a sip before turning to face Vinyl who was gulping a rather sizable rum and coke. “Much as I don’t want to insult you, this date really was a bad idea, wasn’t it?” She said.

Vinyl shrugged. “Eh. Been on worse.” A slight pause. “Not, like, many or anything, but…yunno?” She took another slug of her liquor and soda. “So you’re friends with Bass Line's gal?” She shook her head, disbelief tingeing her tone. “Hell, never thought a mare as wild as that would be friends with someone so…” She trailed off, considering for a moment.

“Classy?” Octavia suggested dryly, taking a sip of her scotch.

Vinyl shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

Octavia snorted. “Might it surprise you that Strings was a perfectly respectable mare before meeting Bass?” A slight pause. “Well, respectable looking, at any rate.” She amended with an eye roll, remembering some of the insane adventures her friend had dragged her into when they were younger.

Vinyl snorted. “Strings? Nah. No way. Mare had dyed her coat neon pink the first time we met. No one who shines like that under a blacklight could look anything like some stuck up priss…” She trailed off as the upward motion of Octavia’s eyebrow made itself known. “Heh. You know. Like…uh.” She fumbled for a way out of insulting her date. Octavia just sat there, letting the silence become deeper and more awkward with each passing second.

“…Sorry.” Said the Dj weakly. “I’m buying the drinks?” She said, hazarding some bits in hopes of salvaging the evening. Octavia rolled her eyes and chuckled.

“If you insist, though its not the first time I’ve been called stuck up.” She said “Anyway, Its not like I haven’t had some unkind thoughts about your own manner of dress since we met.”

Vinyl snorted. “Whats wrong with the way I dress?” Octavia bit back a grin, starting to enjoy herself a bit. Though that might have been the alcohol.

“Well, beyond you’re gaudy hair—seriously darling, you make Strings look positively demure—you’re wearing purple goggles inside a rather nice restaurant, and you haven’t taken them off once.” She drawled. “It’s hardly endearing to not know my dates eye color after, what, an hour and a half in her presence?”

Vinyl’s jaw worked for a moment. Octavia imagined she was coming up with response after response, and swallowing them down. Smarter than she looked, thought Octavia before admonishing herself for the uncharitable thought.

Finally, Vinyl shook her head and gave her a grin. “Eh, point to you. “ She leaned in and nudged one side of her goggles up, revealing a deep, garnet red eye to the cellist. Octavia found herself staring for the brief moment it was revealed before the purple lens slid back into place.

“Not what I expected.” The earth pony said with a chuckle. “Quite striking. Why do you hide them?” She asked, sipping her drink.
Vinyl shrugged. “Eh, side effect of some condition from when I was a kid. Seriously sensitive sometimes, you know? Not always, but it flares up every now and then, and it ain’t fun.” She shook her head. “Ever been stabbed? Feels like that, only, like, worse.”

Octavia shook her head. “I can’t say I have.” She said thoughtfully. “Though I imagine you have a different story.” She gave Vinyl a lopsided smile before lifting her drink carefully. “Well, Vinyl, so far I can’t say the dates been much. You’re crude, have the same awful taste in music as Strings, and frankly, you’re more than a little scary. “ She gave her a grin. “Which is why I have no idea why I’m enjoying myself as much as I am. Cheers.” She tipped her glass back as Vinyl barked out a laugh. Sighing as it burned its way down her throat, she added, “To new friendship. “

-|-

Octavia woke slowly, a terrible noise dragging her from the blissful nothing of sleep. It was a dull, almost windy sound, like a breeze through a dead forest carrying the wretched gurgling groans of a dying cat. With every iteration of it came a deep, stabbing pain in her temple, and an odor akin to the aforementioned dying cats rotting carcass assailing her nose. She cracked an eye and regretted it immediate as a beam of sunlight lanced its way into her brain.

Bravely, she forced both of her eyelids open against this onslaught of devilish light, trying to ignore the abrupt hammering against the inside of her skull and the thick churning of her stomach. “Oh sweet Celestia. Why do I drink tequila when it does this to me?” She muttered. She rubbed pitifully at her temples for a moment, groping at the side of the bed for the bottle of aspirin she had to have left there—she was a very responsible drinker. Drunk Octavia always saw to Sober Octavias well being.

To her surprise, she did not feel a bottle of aspirin on the bedside table. To her further surprise, she did not feel a bedside table, barely managing to stay in the bed—the abrupt jouncing did bring her attention to the other side of the bed. Or, namely, its occupant.

Blankly, she stared at the white coat and neon blue mane. Her eyes traced the curving fluted horn, and her nose twitched as she realized the odor assailing her senses had been the mares morning breath. Slowly, slowly, she became aware of a certain…stickiness assailing certain parts of her, shall we say, anatomy.

Very softly the gray mare murmured, “…Oh deer.” With that, she managed to climb out of bed and stagger her way into what she rather hoped was a bathroom before her stomach lost its dual battles with brain and leftover booze, and she proceeded to violently throw up.

Chapter 2: Poptarts

Octavia wasn’t quite sure how long she spent in the restroom emptying her stomach and rinsing her mouth as thoroughly as she could, but it was long enough that when she groggily stumbled down stairs she found her previous evenings companion in the kitchen. Vinyl was without her purple sunglasses, her red eyes--still somewhat surprising to the earth pony--focused intently on a toaster perched on the counter.

Octavia felt her stomach twist, but fought down the urge to rush back to the restroom. There was nothing left to purge anyway. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. Come now. Just…a mare. A mare you had a drunken roll in the hay wi—not dwelling on the mistakes of the past Octavia! Just…get the awkwardness over with!

The gray mare took another breath and stepped closer to the unicorn. “Vinyl? I—“

The white mare held up a hoof, cutting her off. The gesture repeated when the now somewhat irritated and confused earth pony tried to open speak. Still, it gave her some time to study her…companion. She looked almost refined. Dedicated even, as she stared at the appliance. It was almost impressive, the calm stillness and patience she exuded. Octavia felt some of her irritation cool as she took in the almost zen like nature of her companion.

The silence lasted until the toaster disgorged its contents…a twin pair of poptarts. Vinyl plucked the steamingly hot pair of pastries up with her magic, setting them on a plate and grinning as the mood almost audibly shattered. “Aww, yeah. Most important meal of the day!” She said happily, her former reticence and still expression completely erased. Octavia stared as the white unicorn proceeded to wiggle and jam her way into the other room. It proved to be the living room when she stuck her head in to follow Vinyl as she danced her way to the couch.

“Mmhmm, mhmmm, aw—wait. Crud, forgot the Oj.” Vinyl turned, continueing her musicless strut and sway back to the kitchen. “Oh, yeah! You’re up. Wanna poptart?” Vinyl asked Octavia cheerfully, wiggling the plate at her face. “Theres some more on the counter. I don’t have any oatmeal or anything, but I got a good deal on a crate of these from a friend.” She nattered on, pouring a tall glass of orange liquid. “So, last night? Fun, huh?” She continued with a laugh. “Barely remember it, but damn filly.”

She was dumbstruck. So it had happened. She…with that? A pony like her? How in the infernal realms of Tartarus could she have ever lowered herself…she didn’t have one night stands! She didn’t sleep with ponies she barely knew! Oh, Octavia. How far you’ve fallen. She felt her eye twitch as the mare in question continued. She felt dirty. Sullied. How could she have made-have had-have done anything with such a crass, vulgar mare!

“Dude, like, I thought you’d have a major stick up your butt, but seriously, fun time.” She snickered. “Might be fun to try that sometime actuall—“

“If you’d be so kind as to shut up.” Octavia said. Her voice was cool, quiet venom. “I dislike listening to such vulgarity in the morning, especially a morning filled with as much regret as this one.” She registered the surprised and somewhat shocked look on Vinyls face, and ruthlessly squashed any reaction she might have had. “Perhaps a mare of your predilections might be ok with a drunken fling…” She almost spat the world. “But I hold myself to a higher standard. I cannot believe that last night occurred, and I will do my level best to forget it.” She shook her head with an almost theatrical sigh. “Enjoy your…breakfast.” She said, her tone making it amply clear as she eyed the plate of patries that she thought the term dubious at best, “I need to return home. I’m sure Strings has managed to enjoy a night with her coltfriend for once, and I simply hope she’ll find someone more suited to a, a filly such as yourself the next time she wants you out of her mane.” She sniffed once. “Good day, Vinyl Scratch.”

She turned and left. She somehow managed to find the door through the maze the mare called a home, and luckily it was the right door as she found herself on the canterlot streets. Judging by the sun, it was nearer to noon than she usually woke.

-|-

Two hours later, Octavia stared down at the fresh, bright green salad she’d bought for lunch. A shower and a new bow-tie had cheered her up a bit—she felt better physically at least—but now, as she let her gaze rest on the uneaten lettuce and spinach, the guilt she’s so ruthlessly quashed before was rearing up again. She had a right to be mad, didn't she? That mare had gotten her dru--no, no she hadn't. She narrowed her eyes at the salad as she admitted to herself that the previous night might have been a mistake, but if so it was one she had made herself.

“…Damn it to the hells.” She muttered with a sigh, stirring a fork around the salad, seeking out the lumps of onion she so detested. Flicking one then another out, she took a bite of the salad and chewed mechanically. It should have been a riot of flavors as the dressing and the fresh vegetables caressed her taste buds. Instead, it just tasted like green water with a sour tang. She swallowed and growled wordlessly to herself. Another bite, another mechanical swallow. Guilt continued to grow as she tried to eat, the mornings memories plaging her until she finally tossed her fork down in frustration, resisting the urge to let her head follow it.

Laying out enough bits to cover the meal and a tip, she set out from the café, back towards the mare she’d fled from so recently.

-|-

Octavia knocked at the door, feeling her insides twist and knot. She owed the mare an apology, at the very least. She had thought long and hard about it on the walk back and had a lovely little speech worked out to try and make amends. Or at least make up for her lack of civility.

The speech flew from her head when the door opened and Vinyl took a single surprised look at her before promptly cringing back and covering her face with her hooves. “Not again! Not the face! These glasses are expensive! “

Octavia stared. "...What...what are you doing?"

Vinyl paused, peeking out over her hooves. "...You didn't come back to slug me?"

"...Why in the--why would I do that?" Octavia asked in confusion.

Vinyl shrugged, visibly relaxing again. "Eh, wouldn't be the first time. Pretty mare gets liquored up, goes home with a rough date and gets pissy about it the next day. "

Octavia stared at her, mouth hanging open slightly. "That is terrible." She tilted her head, horribly curious. "Someone beat you up after a...um. A...roll in the hay?" She said, growing somewhat scarlet as she spoke.

Vinyl shrugged again. "Not really. She just broke my nose. Bitch." She stretched, breaking out into a yawn before continuing, "She bit off more than she could chew. Anyway, if that ain't why you're back whats up? You seemed pretty ticked off when you flounced out of here.

Octavia suppressed a sigh. “That’s…why I came back actually.” She said. “I wanted to apologize. I…reacted poorly this morning. You didn’t deserve what I said. “ she offered her a tentative half smile. “I had fun last night—“ She held up a hoof as Vinyl started to break out into a cheesy grin. “—before the alcohol fueled, uh, r-romp. I don’t even remember that.” She was definitely growing redder under her fur. “But I do remember having fun with you once the initial awkwardness wore off. And that’s not something I’m able to say often. Please, accept my apologies.”

Vinyl quirked a brow at her. The white mare chuckled and held out a hoof. “No harm, no foul. Gotta say, I’m surprised. Most snooty types I’ve met wouldn’t mare up and apologize for being that bitchy.” She said with a grin.

Octavia had to smile at that, tentatively bumping her hoof against the unicorns. “Well, a true aristocrat will always recognize and admit to it when they are in the wrong.” She said with a faux air of aloofness, before continuing more sheepishly, “And besides, I was, like you said, completely bitchy. I hope I can improve your view of the upper echelons of society somewhat.” She said with a small laugh, prompting an eye-roll and a snort from Vinyl. Then, Octavia did something she rarely ever did. She felt a surge of something well up within her, something a certain chimeric entity might call an “impulse”, and found herself saying:

“How about I make this morning up to you? Like, uh…” Octavia paused for a split second. It was Monday, so dinner was out of the question, and that left… “Lunch. Late lunch. My treat. I know a really nice pizza place near the castle. “

It was a tossup as to who was more surprised, Vinyl or Octavia. After a moment, Vinyl flashed a grin and nodded. “Free pizza? Buck yeah. I’ll never say no to that. Just, like, uh…” She paused and turned her head, trying to get a sneaky sniff in and failing. “I’ve been working on my gear since you left, so, like, gimme half an hour to shower and crud. You can come in and wait in the living room. Sound good?”

Octavia smiled, and shoved the little voice in the back of her head screaming that going on anything even remotely similar to a date with the pony she’d had a one night stand with was the definition of idiotic insanity into a box that she wrapped in chains. She owed her this, at least. Besides, it’s not like anything...vulgar would happen again.

“That sounds just fine. “

Chapter 3: Beans

Octavia gave a contented sigh as she lazily stretched out next to Vinyl. Still slick with the sweat of their most recent exertions, the earth pony smiled as she nuzzled the unicorn in the little spot behind her ear that she’d discovered, and the delightful noises it elicited, after their most recent date. Her smile stretched into a grin as she was rewarded with a squeak from the white coated mare, who then swatted at her with a pillow.

“You ain’t allowed to be all prim and proper in public if that’s how you’re gonna act here!” Vinyl protested, though she couldn’t help but grin at the grey mare.

Octavia chuckled, sitting up with a slight groan of protest and tilting her head to one side, neck cracking loudly. “As if you’re one to speak of proper behavior in the bedroom, Vinyl.” She said with an impish little grin. She seized the pillow in her teeth and smushed it against Vinyls shoulder playfully. She could hardly believe it—how casual she was with this mare after only two weeks of knowing her. Hells, this was the third time she’d gotten…intimate with her, if she included their initial meeting.

Vinyl smirked and pounced on her with another pillow levitated high, raining blows down on a helplessly giggling Octavia. Two weeks and five dates—not counting the drunken revelry that’d started it all—had the pair closer than either would’ve thought possible. The flurry of soft strikes came to an end with a panting Octavia beneath a grinning, triumphant Vinyl.

“Give up yet?” She said with a lazy little smirk.

Octavia stuck her tongue out before dramatically sweeping a hoof to her brow. “I do yield, oh stalwart foe! You have bested me, and I am at thy mercy! I can only hope you will not take advantage of such a poor maiden as mys-“ She was cut off by Vinyl squashing the pillow against her face with a laugh.

Vinyls comeback, whatever it may have been, was in turn cut off before it began by the bedroom door crashing open.

“’Ey Vinyl! Figured I’d pop in and get some revenge fer last week--” A voice familiar to both the ponies presently in Vinyls bed stopped short as its owner took in the little tableau before her.

“…Octavia?” said Brough Strings incredulously.

“Strings?!” Octavia squeaked, shoving the pillow aside as she felt her face start to heat up.

“Wha—you’re the mare Vinyl’s been so friggin tightlipped about?!” Strings stared. “Hells, this why I ain’t seen ya the last couple weeks?! “

“I can explain! It’s only the second time!” Octavia said, and promptly cursed her tongue for running ahead of her brain like that.

Strings looked like she didn’t know whether to laugh or look annoyed, which resulted in the most interesting facial expression. “Second time? Wha?”

Vinyl chose this moment to chime in. “Hey, wouldn’t this be the third? I mean, like, we got pretty snuggly at the movies the other day.” She said in a rather chipper tone.

“VINYL! You are not helping!” Octavia barked as her face burned. She rubbed at the bridge of her nose with one hoof, breathing out in one long, relaxing exhalation. Shifting to one side, she shoved Vinyl over to flop onto the bed and smiled at Strings. “I…never did tell you how the blind date turned out, did I?” she said apologetically.

Strings had finally settled on an emotion, and was giving Octavia the kind of grin that the refined mare remembered had always promised troubled back in their university days. “Nah, ye didn’t.” she said with a vaguely ominous chuckle. “But yeh are.” She pointed at the door. “Right, you two—get cleaned up, cuz yer buying me dinner and spilling the beans, both of ye.”

-|-

Twenty minutes, two hasty showers, and a short distance later, the three were tucked into a booth at Mareos Pizza. Octavia couldn’t suppress a sigh as Strings fixed her with a look. The server had taken their orders, and until the pizza arrived there was nothing she could use to put off the inevitable horror.

“So…how the hells you twos wind up together?” Strings asked eagerly. Octavia rubbed a hoof against her temple.

"Strings, do you have to talk like that?" Octavia groaned. "I know you're perfectly capable of proper diction and grammar!”

Strings snorted. "Wha? Want me talking high and falootin like youse? " She smirked. "Darling, while I can comport myself as a mare of class and elegance with the best of them..." She trailed off for a moment. "...thes's how me ma and da talked, and it's good enough fer me."

Octavia stared. "Strings, your parents are a mare from Trottingham and a stallion from Gloucestishire." She said flatly. "You have an accent that swings between at least ten different regional dialects from all the corners of Equestria and parts of the Gryphon Kingdoms, and you didn't start using it until that one girl broke up with you for not being pureblooded nobility.”

Strings opened her mouth to retort, but Octavia held up a hoof to forestall her. “Darling. I am not asking you to speak as an aristocrat. I simply want you to drop that annoying faux-accent down to more acceptable levels, yes?” She said, her voice as sweet as honey. Behind the sweetness was just the barest hint of bitter though, and Strings let out a sigh.

“Roi—right, yeah, fine.” She rolled her eyes, before leaning over the table and grinning at the two of them. “But you two ain’t off the hook yet. Spill! How in the nine hells did you guys wind up bangin?!”

Octavia suppressed another groan, and thought about how best to explain the situation between Vinyl and herself. “Well…honestly, the date was a disaster to start with. Just…awkward.” The mare shrugged. “I thought Vinyl was just one of your uncouth, overly boisterous and barbaric friends.”

Vinyl grinned. “Awww, that’s sweet. “

“…That wasn’t a—you know what, never mind.” Octavia said, rolling her eyes. “And she thought I was some prissy mare with my cello bow wedged as far into my colon as possible and Vinyl Scratch if you even start making some terrible innuendo, you will be wearing your drink as a horn cover.” She finished, glaring at Vinyl. The unicorn mare closed her mouth with a sheepish grin as Strings snickered.

“I guess I can see it. I did just ask ya to take her out so I could get laid.” She said idly. Vinyl blinked, quirking an eyebrow at Octavia, who shrugged again.

“Evidently you kept interrupting her alone time with Bass.” She said lightly. Vinyl just rolled her eyes at that.

“You coulda just told me to beat it.” She said to Strings, voice dry. The Mohawk wearing pony had the grace to look embarrassed.

“Yeah, yeah, enough about me though—if the date was going so bad, how’d you two wind up in bed?” She asked eagerly.

Octavia opened her mouth and paused. Oh, there had to be a way to save some face here…a way to work her way through this without revealing her little slip up! A way to—

“Tavi’s a horny drunk is all.” Vinyl said nonchalantly, drawing a horrified look from Octavia. “We got plastered at the bar, and wound up dancing between the sheets all night.”

Octavia heard Strings laughing, and continuing to laugh even as she fell out of her chair. She couldn’t see it, mostly due to the table she was glaring down at. Vinyl seemed to find it all amusing as hell though. "Oh yeah, she's positively frisky after a few shots." The unicorn continued. "Freaky even. Heck, you shoulda heard her! About round three, she started making all kinds of weird noises!" She snickered as Strings just kept giggling on the floor. "Mare, she got downright naughty! I remember when she brought out the--"

“Vinyl. Can you not share the particulars of that night in such a crass way?” Octavia interrupted through gritted teeth, struggling to contain herself. She could practically feel the smirk the unicorn was no doubt sending her way.

Schooling her expression carefully, the earth pony looked up to find that Strings had pulled herself back into her chair, and she forced back a blush at the snickers and looks being thrown her way from the pair.

“Hell, wish’n I’d known about that little weakness in college.” The punk pony couldn't stop a giggle escaping, though she managed to make a passable attempt at bedroom eyes aimed at Tavi.

Octavia rubbed at a temple with her hoof, sighing. “Yes, yes, get it out why don’t you. Anyway, that’s….well, that’s really it. I had a horrid over reaction the morning after our tryst, and took Vinyl out for lunch to apologize. It just…kind of led to another thing after that. And another. We’ve been on four or five dates I believe?”

Vinyl shrugged and made a vaguely affirmative noise as their pizza arrived, a thick string of gooey cheese already stretching from her mouth to the steaming hot slice. She swallowed, smacking her lips with a grin before nodding. “Something like that, yeah.”

Octavia looked at her mushroom topped slice and poked at it idly with a fork. At least the worst was over. Strings knew. She tried to put the embarrassment and shame Vinyl’s casual reveal had kindled in her out of mind, but it festered. The sounds of pizza being eaten filled the air for a few minutes, but even when the two less than classical ponies at the table had finished she didn’t join in on the conversation, seemingly content with picking idly at the slice until it was a shredded mess.

The atmosphere grew a bit more tense as time went by, and she continued her silence, responding only in monosyllables or the odd noise or two, when she responded at all. Strings excused herself after a few more minutes of awkward silence, and still Octavia refused to respond to Vinyl, even as they all paid and left. String went one way, casting a few worried looks over her shoulder, while Vinyl and Octavia went the other.

It took nearly a block of stoic silence before Vinyl cracked. “What in the hell is your problem?!”

Octavia looked over at her, and Vinyl paused. She felt a chill creep up her spine as she recognized the look on Octavia's face--it was frighteningly similar to the calm, cool, poisonous look she'd had the morning after their first night.

"My problem? I have no problem, Vinyl. No problem at all. I am perfectly in the habit of revealing my bedroom habits and lack of control while intoxicated to dear friends and loved ones." She said calmly, before turning and simply continuing on her way.

Vinyl stared after her for a moment, seeming surprised, before she stepped in front of her and shoved a hoof into her chest. “What, your pissed at me for telling Strings what happened? Hell, what’d you want me to do, lie to her? Tell her the date went bucking perfect or some crap like that?” She said incredulousy.

Octavia gave her a frosty glare. “Of course I didn’t want you to lie to her! I just wished you’d shown some tiny modicum of tact, and not gone into every detail! Or at least phrased it differently!”

Vinyl snorted. “Oh, miss high and mighty doesn’t want her friend to know she got trashed and wound up in bed with someone. Real friggan surprise there.” She rolled her eyes, starting to turn away.

“Oh, as if you truly care.” Octavia sneered. “Well, Miz. Scratch, loathe as I am to disturb the precious bubble of grime you surround yourself with, but civilized ponies tend to care at least somewhat about the opinions of others! No, I do not wish anyone to know of the mistakes I made that night!” She snapped.

Vinyl stopped dead and glared at her. “A mistake, huh?” she huffed. “Well hell, guess that means you made the same mistake what, five times? Six counting the pizza?” she stepped forward, and prodded Octavia in the chest. “Or did you just mean hopping into bed with me?” She growled. She shook her head and turned. “You know what, you’re right, it was a mistake. Mistake ever thinking a mare like you could unwedge her head from her own flank and act like a pony instead of some spoiled brat!”

Octavia recoiled before stomping a hoof against the stone. "Well, if that’s how you fee--" She paused, staring after Vinyls retreating back, a horrible mishmash of emotions whirling within her. "I—You infuriating--Vinyl!" A note of plaintiveness gradually worked its way into her voice as she was reduced to stammering after the retreating pony.

She stood there for a few minutes longer, staring after the unicorn with a hesitant expression. Vinyl turned a corner, and Octavia seemed to un-knot from her tension the slightest bit. She heaved a sigh, and turned to start making her own way home.

She needed some practice anyway. A night alone with her cello would help calm her nerves. She could talk to Vinyl tomorrow, if the mare was even up to a civil discussion after such a disagreement.

She’d be fine.

Chapter 4: Ice Cream

Octavia opened her eyes, blinking blearily, and cringed from the sunlight that jabbed into her vision. Groaning, she rolled off the couch and stumbled into the bathroom. “Oh yes, prove you’re the mature one. Really mature. Drunkenly passing out is the perfect answer to insomnia.” She grumbled to herself, leaning against the wall and staring at the toilet for a moment. “Never should’ve opened that bottle from Stalliongrad.” She muttered, pushing a hoof to her mouth. She shuddered once, swallowing hard before she moved away from the toilet. “Lets not slip back into bad habits, Octavia.”

A loud knock drew her attention. She blinked blearily in the vague direction it had come from, wondering what had fallen over, before realizing it was the front door. She started and hurried to the sink, splashing some cold water into her face and trying to smooth her mane, before heading to the door. She wasn’t expecting anypony—had she missed a practice session? No, no, there wasn’t another until Tuesday, and it wasn’t Monday, so nopony would’ve come looking for her from--

Her thoughts came to a halt when she opened the door, and beheld the neon blue mane and the eyes that seemed a bit redder than last she remembered.

There was a moment of mutually awkward staring between the two mares, before both tried to speak.

“Hey, I wanted to say I’m sorry about earlier—“

“Oh! Vinyl, I’m sorry I blew up like that--“

Both stopped, and made the universal gesture for, ‘No, go ahead!’ to one another. There was another moment of tenseness, before Octavia held up a hoof. “I uh. I’m glad you came by.” She swallowed, running a hoof through her mussed mane. She hadn’t bothered with most of her usual morning routine when she’d woken, and felt like a tramp. “…Please forgive me? I shouldn’t have blown up at you like that yesterday. It was…just—“

Vinyl shook her head, cutting her off. “Nah, I’m sorry. You were right, I should’ve asked you or something about what to tell Strings, and not gone on like that. I uh, I guess I embarrassed you pretty badly, and—“

“No!” Octavia blurted. She rubbed a hoof against the side of her face and sighed. “Maybe…just. I don’t know. Maybe you went a bit too far, but…I over reacted. A lot. I was a total bitch.” She shook her head. “You didn’t—“

She was cut off by Vinyl’s hoof lightly booping her nose, going cross eyed for a moment. “Hey, before we start fighting about who was in the wrong in the last fight, how about we just both say we fucked up, and have awesome makeup sex?” Scratch said with a small grin.

Octavia felt one of her own start to grow in response, and nodded slowly. “If you insist. It does seem like a good idea. “ She stood a bit straighter. “Vinyl, I’m sorry I overreacted to the extent that I did yesterday. I may have felt a bit put off by your….uncouth way of explaining our situation, but I should have discussed it with you like a mature adult. “

Vinyl’s smile grew, and she matched Octavia’s stance. “Yeah. And I’m sorry for embarrassing you with Strings like that. Just, like, sex ain’t that big a thing to me, ya’dig?” She rubbed the back of her head, looking down sheepishly. “Shoulda figured it might not be the case with you. And uh…really sorry. Really, really sorry about the whole…mistake…and saying you had your head up your rump. That was out of line.”

Octavia shook her head. “My head was pretty firmly lodged there. Do you want to come in?” She stepped aside, gesturing to Vinyl to step into the foyer. The neon pony followed her to the living room, plopping herself down on Octavia’s couch and looking around, gaze lingering on a framed sheet of music for a moment before her attention wandered.

“Huh. Neat place.” She flashed a grin at the earth pony. “Why did we always wind up in my bed? Yours lumpy, or did you just not want me messing the place up?” She said impishly, sticking her tongue out at the mare.

Octavia rolled her eyes, but smiled at the playful little jab. “Oh,I imagine now that you’ve found my humble abode, it’ll be destroyed in a whirlwind of toaster pastries and empty beer cans.” She said dryly. She paused, looking thoughtful for a moment before asking, “How did you find out where I live anyway?”

Vinyl shrugged. She’d hopped off the couch and was examining one of the paintings on the wall, an impressionist landscape depicting a picnic in a thickly wooded area. “Asked Strings last night after Bass got off of work.”

The grey mare nodded. “Long as your not following me.” She said lightly. She trotted up and nudged Vinyl’s shoulder with her snout, directing her back to the couch. “Vinyl…please don’t be insulted when I as, as I swear I'm not trying to start another fight so soon, but you mention that sex isn’t that big a deal to you. Do you understand why I was so…put off by the way you explained that night to Strings?” She asked delicately, trepidation in her tone.

Vinyl pondered it for a moment before giving another expressive shrug. “I just figured you’re one of those ponies who thinks sex is a bigger deal than me, or thought I was making fun of you or something.” She said.

Octavia smiled. Honest, if a bit clueless. “I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t a minor part of it, but it’s more that…” She trailed off, before sighing and shaking her head. “A large part of it was that I felt a bit mocked, but it was more that, well…I dislike others seeing me lose control. It’s probably silly, but it hurt to think of a friend like Strings seeing me in that light.”

Vinyl’s eyebrow quirked up at that. “Huh. I…guess I can understand that?” She said, looking thoughtful. “Kinda. Maybe? Eh, I’m just used to ponies getting wild around me.” She grinned and stuck her tongue out at Octavia. “And mare, you get wiiiiild!”

Tavi snorted. “Oh, please. As if I could compete with your ilk.” She leaned over the coffee table and kissed Vinyl’s cheek. “You’re probably a bad influence on me though.” With a chuckle, she shifted around and perched on the couch next to Vinyl, leaning against her. “…Thank you for coming by.” She said softly. “Last night was a great deal harder than I anticipated. I felt simply awful after the fight. I could barely sleep.”

“It happens babe. I screwed up, you screwed up. “ Octavia felt Vinyl shrug. “I didn’t sleep too well either, though…that might’ve been more due to the coffee place I went to after work.” Tavi rolled her eyes, holding in a snort. “Still, I guess I just ain’t used to dating a serious mare. Most of the gals I’ve wound up in bed with were more like Strings. Part of my scene, you know?”

Octavia shrugged herself. “I can see that. Myself…I’ve rarely dated, to be honest. There was a brief thing with a painter six months ago.” She huffed. “Left me for a pianist.” She muttered. “And, well, I don’t think I’m quite use to…developing emotions for someone romantically. Especially someone like…well, you.” She said, cheeks faintly warm.

Vinyl cracked a grin. “Awww. You’re sweet.” She giggled, wrapping her hoof around Tavi’s waist.

Octavia stiffened slightly and looked up, eyebrow slowly raising as she felt Vinyl’s hoof settle in a very particular area. “You know, I wasn’t aware reconciliations and discussions such as this were an invitation to grope my flank.” She said dryly. She bit back a laugh at Vinys expression, and snuggled against her as the hoof began to move again. “Now now, I didn’t say stop darling.” She said sweetly.

Vinyl gaped at her for a moment, face slowly turning red. “How—how does a high class hoity toity mare like you make me blush like this!” She squeaked, sending Octavia into a hail of giggles.

“It’s always’s more effective when you’re not expecting it.” She said with a grin. “Speaking of, I believe you mentioned makeup sex?” She said archly, giving her a demure look. It might have been a bit spoiled by the fact that, from Vinyl’s angle, her face was upside down. Still, it allowed her to see the pink in her marefriends face turn to a bright red, which set off another giggling fit.

“You-You! Ah! How can you say I’m a bad influence on you?” Vinyl squawked, before dissolving into laughter herself. “Dang. Gonna have to give you a spanking if you keep this up.” She shifted over and grinned at Octavia.

Who promptly set her eyes to ‘Bedroom’, and purred, “Do you promise?”

“…My marefriend is a pervert.” Vinyl said, deadpan. “YES! Luckiest mare in the world!” She hopped up on the couch, gesturing wildly, which had the side effect of sending Octavia tumbling to the floor with a squeak.

-|-

"Woah, this place is sweet." Octavia felt herself grow a bit warmer at the mares words, smiling as she looked round. She'd brought Vinyl to one of Canterlots public garden-parks, one she rather enjoyed during her commutes to and from recitals. Even in the midst of fall with the chill of winter around the corner, the air was filled with the scent of a hundred different blooms. The earth pony mare bent her neck, smelling a particularly succulent smelling blossom--only to notice Vinyl pull her head out of a bush, chewing on a mouthful of petals with a thoughtful expression.

Octavia blinked at her, mouth open for a moment, before she laughed. "Well I am glad you think so, though I didn't think you meant it literally." She said, pulling a puff-cheeked grin from Vinyl.

The unicorn swallowed and trotted over, butting her snout against Octavia's cheek. "Pff, you should know I'm always literal!" She said cheekily.

Octavia quirked an eyebrow at her. "Really? So you meant it literally when you said I made you see stars after the movie last week?" She said sweetly. She burst out laughing when Vinyl turned just the slightest tinge of pink, leaning against her and brushing her lips against the mares cheek.

She shifted back as Vinyl shook her head, mane flying round and grinned cockily at her. "So what if I did? You gonna come with me and turn my place into an observatory then?"

Octavia stared at her, quelling the urge to burst out laughing again. Her ribs still hurt from some of her earlier outbursts. “You’re adorable when you think you’re being smooth.” She said dryly, grinning at Vinyl. Perching on a bench, she looked up, sighing happily as a passing breeze rustled the trees leaves. Glancing over, she eyed the DJ she was dating. Her hooves bumped together a touch awkwardly as her thoughts turned contemplative.

“…Vinyl?” She asked, voice hesitant. The mare turned, swallowing what seemed to be an Iris as she trotted over.

“Sup Tavi?” She said easily. Her ears perked as she looked over the grey mare. Was it her, or did Octavia seem…tense.

“I…look, I’m not trying to start another fight, but I’ve been thinking…”

“Probably a mistake. “ Vinyl commented, mouth working without her brains input. There was a pause, before she smiled weakly. “Sorry. Bad joke. Uh…thinking about what?”

Octavia looked like she was choosing her words carefully. “It’s been a few weeks. Not terribly long, but earlier, when you mentioned your views on sex…what are we?” She looked, honestly, a little lost. “To be honest, I’m not terribly good at relationships, and the way ours started can hardly be considered typical. Between that, and what you mentioned before, I have to admit to a little trepidation.” She looked up at the swaying trees for a moment. “Not saying you see, uh, well, us as just sex or anything, but I was just hoping for some…I don’t know. Clarification? It’s probably silly to bring up, really.”

Vinyl blinked, looking a little shocked. Her mouth worked for a moment, before she tilted her head, silent for a long minute. “Honestly? I haven’t been thinking about it.” She shrugged and perched on the ground in front of Octavia, looking thoughtful. “I’ve hopped into bed with a lot of ponies, and mostly it’s just not a big deal to me. Fun, yeah, and sometimes a bit more, but I guess I’ve never really had what you’d call a serious thing. “

She smiled. “Hells, the fight we had yesterday woulda been the end of things for pretty much any of my other marefriends or the like. But…you’re, I dunno. Different.” She looked down, willing herself not to blush. “I have fun with you, like arguing about food and music and junk with you, and the back and forth is just awesome. Don’t really know how else to say it. I think about you a lot. You’re…eh, it’s corny, but you’re always on my mind, and I don’t really mind it. It’s...nice. ” Oh, she was blushing now.

When she looked back up, she was started to see tears in Octavia’s eyes. The apology she was about to launch into for whatever she’d done was stilled by the feeling of hooves wrapping around her neck. And the abrupt mouthful of neckfur probably didn’t help either.

“That’s probably the sweetest thing you’ve ever said. Thank you Vinyl.” Octavia whispered to her. "I love you too."

Both ponies sat there, snuggled against one another in the midst of the park, cheeks warm, and smiles wide.

Chapter 5: Strawberries

Octavia felt amazing. Three weeks since she’d used the three big words, and there hadn’t been any fights. She and Vinyl had been spending more time with one another, and they’d had no disagreements larger than what to eat, barring their tastes in musical selection.

Said musical selection being why she had plugs stuffed into both ears at the moment. Strings had gotten her into the latest club Vinyl was playing at to surprise her with a late night date. She sat at a table in the break room, waiting for Vinyl to come off of her last set, and resisting the urge to eat the small bouquet she’d brought. Skipping lunch for an extra practice session had not been a good idea…

The door opened and Vinyl walked to the little fridge full of water on the counter. She chugged nearly a whole bottle, coat shining with sweat, without seeming to notice the mare waiting for her, much to Octavia’s amusement. “Darling? I do hope you were intending on showering before bed tonight. Celestia only knows who’d climb between the sheets with you otherwise.”

Vinyl jumped like she'd just stepped on a nail before turning and tackling Octavia to the ground. "Tavi! You finally got into awesome music!" She squealed, hugging her laughing marefriend tightly.

Octavia pulled herself free and stood up, grinning at Vinyl. "I've always been into awesome music. Beethoofen is hardly amateur." She stuck her tongue out at Vinyl who just grinned back. "I came to walk you home, and surprise you with a bit of a treat. I hope you're not averse to that?"

Vinyl shook her head, kissing Octavia's cheek. "Why the hell would I be? This is awesome. C'mon, lets head out! Manager already paid me, and those flowers ain't gonna eat themselves!"

“So how was your night?” Octavia asked as Vinyl grabbed the flowers with her magic, and the two began to make their way out of the club.

“Not bad! Crowd was pretty bumpin, someone behind the bar actually knew how to mix a Manehattan without screwing it up, and I got to sic the bouncers on some idiot who tried to grab my flank!” Vinyl said.

Octavia stared, mouth working for a moment. “I’m sorry. What was that last part?”

The DJ glanced over at her as they approached the exit. “Oh, nothing. Some drunk kid who thought he could hop the stage and slap my rump. It happens sometimes, stupid bets mostly. Shoved him off the stage, and pointed the bouncers at him.” She snickered. “Old Red’s an ex-guard. He loves it when they try to fight.”

Octavia pushed a sigh back down, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “Long as everythings ok.” She said lightly as they stepped into the cool night air. Just some things she had to accept about her loves…lifestyle.

“Speak of Discord.” Vinyl snickered, looking at the alleyways opening. Octavia’s gaze followed, where she saw that a rather gangly looking unicorn stallion was stomping towards the pair, looking rather put out.

He stuck a hoof out, jabbing it towards Vinyl. “You! You dumb bitch, you got me banned! The fuck did you get the bouncers for anyway?” Octavia wrinkled her nose. She could smell the booze on his breath from here. “Dunno how to treat a stallion tryna show you a good time, eh?”

Octavia wasn’t quite sure how to feel about this. Overall, it seemed almost amusing in an annoying and vaguely obnoxious way. The amusement receded as he tried to step closer to Vinyl, growling, “Or are you wanna them think’s your too good for a colt?”

“Woah, dude. Back off.” Vinyl said, putting a hoof out and taking a step back. “Don’t make me get the bouncers again.” This seemed to enrage the colt. He lunged forward, punching Vinyl with an inarticulate yell.

Time seemed to slow down as she watched his hoof connect with Vinyl's shoulder. She watched her marefriend stumble back, falling over a trash can and sprawling on the concrete.

She wasn't aware of moving. She was just aware that abruptly she was in front of the stallion, on her hind hooves as if she were about to begin playing, but without her cello there to help balance.

She fell forward and pushed with her back legs, lashing out with her forehoof. She felt it crunch into the unicorns jaw, sending him spinning. She walked over as he scrambled back up to his feet, swaying, and grabbed him by the lapels of the ridiculous vest he wore.

She brought her head down, and there was a resounding crack as it impacted into his forehead, just below the horn. His eyes rolled back, and he fell over, limp.

Octavia took a step back, suddenly dizzy, and turned, stumbling slightly when she saw Vinyl staring at her, open mouthed.

"....Octavia! That was bucking awesome!" Vinyl laughed, trotting over. She didn't seemed bothered by the blossoming bruise on her cheek, just leaning over to nuzzle her marefriend. "Seriously, sweet moves! Where did you learn to fight like that?"

Octavia smiled weakly at her, standing on three legs. "I honestly don't know. I just...saw him hit you, and reacted." She swayed abruptly, and shook her head.

Vinyl frowned, reaching out to steady her. "Hey, woah, Tavi, you ok?"

Octavia swayed again, and decided that leaning against the wall was a very good idea.

"I do apologize Vinyl, but I suddenly have simply the worst headache, and I feel rather dizzy." She paused, and glanced down at her leg. "And I believe I've split my hoof. And possibly broken my wrist. Could you be a darling and fetch an ambulance?"

-|-

“Vinyl, I’m fine! You don’t need to—uhg.” Octavia clumped along with a cast around one hoof, grumbling to herself and resisting the urge to blush. Vinyl trotted beside her, a duffel bag of Octavia’s possessions balanced on her back. Mainly extra bowties. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” She muttered.

Vinyl grinned at her. “C’mon! It’s like a sleepover, but with makeouts. And it’s only for a week! Or two. Doc said you were all concussified, so I gotta make sure you’re ok!”

“I’m not an invalid! Besides, my wrist’s not even broken. It’s just a split hoof and a sprain!” Octavia protested.

“And! And a possible brain injurty! A battle injury you got defending me! What kinda marefriend would I be if I didn’t pamper you as much as possible while you healed?” She hummed. “Besides, now if I ever get a black eye or some crud like that defending you, you’ll have to return the favor! Mmmm. Octavia in a maid outfit….”

The grey mare in question rolled her eyes and snorted. “As if. And don’t give me ideas!” She threatened. “I agreed to stay with you until my wrist is better, but that won’t be long.” She grumped. “I will not be some free loader. I will contribute to the household chores, and help prepare meals.”

“…Well, I suppose you can use a microwave with one hoof.” Vinyl mused, causing Octavia to stop dead.

“You…don’t have any cookware at all, do you?” She asked, deadpan, getting only a shrug in response. Octavia facehoofed and immediately yelped, as she’d used quite the wrong hoof in doing so. “Oh…bother. You’re just trying to look out for me, and I’m snapping at you like a grouchy old maid.” She sighed, before sidling up to Vinyl and nuzzling her neck. “Thank you for inviting me to stay with you Vinyl. It’s very sweet, and I appreciate it a great deal.” She said softly.

Red began to creep up Vinyl’s neck as she sputtered slightly, flustered by the mood shift. “I uh…I guess the painkillers kicked in or something, but…yeah. I mean, it was cool, and you were defending me and all, and the doc did say you had a concussion, so I was worried about you and junk, so, yeah, I figured, uh, and we could hang out more, and maybe—“ she babbled on for a bit until Octavia shut her up with a kiss.

A few moments later, the two mares were smiling bashfully at one another. Octavia leaned over, snuggling against Vinyl, silent for a long moment.

“If I’m staying for a full week, we’re buying some cookware tonight. I refuse to eat every meal out of the microwave or toaster.” She mumbled. “You’re getting culinary lessons tonight. If you’re good, you can lick the bowl.”

Vinyl grinned at her, opening her mouth.

“And if you make some crass pun about that phrase, you’ll be peeling potatoes instead. By hoof.” Octavia grinned at her, nibbling her ear. “If you’re very good, I might see about buying some extra whipped cream and strawberries as well.” She whispered in Vinyls ear. “You know. For…pancakes.”

Vinyl stared at her before blowing a raspberry. “No fair. You get to make all the dumb sex jokes you want!” She complained.

Octavia arched an eyebrow. “Darling, I do not abuse the privilege. You, on the other hoof, cannot go more than five sentences without referencing my rump.” She said dryly.

“Well, can you blame me? Look at it!” Vinyl smacked Octavia’s cutie mark, drawing a surprised yelp from the mare. “Look at the jiggle!”
If looks could kill, Vinyl would have been a smear on the wall behind her.

“Vinyl!” She hissed. “What—that—we are in public you degenerate brat!”

Vinyl blinked at her, before looking around at the extraordinarily empty section of street they were in. “Oh, sorry. Don’t want anyone to see us making out.” She said with a voice dripping sarcasm. She darted in and kissed a now very wide eyed Octavia, who didn’t have the wit to pull back until Vinyls tongue had done a lap around her own.

“I! You!” She stammered, face bright red even through her grey fur.”Ahg! The things I put up with!” She grouched, before pushing a hoof in Vinyl’s chest. “You, Miss Scratch, are on potato duty tonight!” She growled, before turning to limp off towards the DJ’s home as fast as three legs and a cast could carry her. Still not fast enough to escape the laughter bubbling up behind her.

-|-

Octavia marveled at the fact that she’d survived five whole days under Vinyl’s care. She marveled even more at the spread the DJ had prepared for lunch. It had taken a single day and a pair of fires, but Vinyl was, shockingly, extremely adept at cooking. She could follow a recipe with ease once she knew the terminology—though she still had the most annoying habit of referring to cooking implements by childishly made up names—and had shown a knack for tinkering with them with surprising results.

The grey mare was just now looking at the results of such tinkering. A tall sandwhich crafted of a luxurious sourdough, piled high with a variety of grilled or roasted vegetables, with an avocado whipped mayonnaise, and three different cheeses, cut in half. It lay on either side of a small bowl of a creamy tomato soup, and, just before that, was a mound of potato chips. Home made, home fried, home spiced, potato chips.

Octavia took a bite of one, and chewed slowly. Cajun spice, with a hint of garlic.

“...Vinyl? Are you sure you weren’t secretly replaced by a changeling that used to be a world class chef?” Octavia called into the kitchen. The mare in question poked her head out and grinned.

“Maybe! But if I was, would I tell you?” she quipped, before trotting out, floating her own sandwich behind her. “Besides, this is just until I find wherever you stashed my poptarts.,” she said, crunching down on a few chips, tossing her apron aside in a wadded up bundle.

Octavia rolled her eyes. “And as I’ve said, you won’t. Because I threw them away,” she said dryly. “Half of them were over a month past their expiration date!”

“Bah! They don’t expire, they just age, like blue cheese! Which is amazing, by the way.” The DJ looked thoughtful. As thoughtful as somepony can look with their mouth stretched around a sandwich sized more for someone triple their size can at any rate. “Think I’m going to sprinkle some on the pasta I’m making tomorrow night. Mmm. Grown up mac & cheese is the bomb!”

Tavi paused. “Tomorrow? Oh…dear. Vinyl, I’m sorry but I won’t be able to join you for dinner tomorrow night.” She said apologetically. “I have a standing event that I must attend. It’s a weekly kind of thing. Perhaps you can save the pasta idea for Tuesday?”

Vinyl shrugged. “Eh, sure. So, where’re we headed tomorrow?” she asked, slurping at her soup.

Octavia coughed delicately. “Not…not we, darling. Just myself. I’m afraid it’s a very private affair, a sort of members only situation. You understand, right?”

Vinyl swallowed and grinned. “There’s not a club I’ve found that I can’t get into with the right mindset. And copious amounts of bribes to whoever’s got door-duty. I’m sure I can get in. Gotta take care of my hero mare!” she said with a cheesy expression that Octavia was sure she’d copied from some comic book.

Tavi shook her head. “No. I really must insist. When I say it’s a private affair, I mean that in the strictest of senses. It’s not your kind of event anyway. I’ll be fine, Vinyl, it’s only for a couple of hours. Perhaps we can go out afterwards? See a movie?”

Vinyl quirked an eyebrow at her. “I guess, yeah. What kind of place is this? I can’t say I’ve heard of any high class clubs that are that strict. I mean, this ain’t some freaky Nightmare cult, huh?” She chuckled.

Octavia snorted. “Hardly. It’s simply a gathering of…like-minded individuals.” She looked down at her plate as she spoke, nibbling at her sandwhich.

“Yeah? How so?” Vinyl asked.

“It’s…not something I’m at liberty to speak of, really,” Octavia said quietly, eating a chip. “Please, Vinyl, let it be. “

Vinyl paused her eating, swallowing a mouthful of sandwhich and giving Octavia a look she couldn’t seem to meet. “…Tavi, seriously. What kind of thing is this?” She asked. “Some, like…it’s not some weird noble pony sex masquerade or something, is it? I mean, how're you gonna play with a busted wrist anyway?”

Octavia sighed. “No, Vinyl, I promise it’s not a sex-anything. I really…really can’t tell you though. Please, drop it,” she said quietly, playing with her food a bit.

“You’re kinda weirding me out Tavi. Like, why can’t you tell me? Do you not trust me or something?” Vinyl asked, sounding a bit hurt.

“Wha—no! Look, it’s just something I can’t talk about. It’s nothing that out there or anything, I just can’t—Vinyl, please just drop it.”

“Look, I don’t think it’s too friggan weird for me to be asking about this stuff!”

“I’m not saying it’s weird! I’m just asking you to drop it!” Octavia was starting to sound annoyed, a bit of heat in her voice. “This isn’t about you, Vinyl! This is just something private, that I cannot, and do not want to discuss!”

“Well why not? “ Vinyl snapped. “Look, I get it, I’m hardly the responsible type, but I worry about you, and just wanna know you’ll be somewhere safe!”

“I will be! Honestly, drop it! Trust me, I’ll be fine!”

“Trust you? You won’t even tell me something this simple!”

Octavia opened her mouth, and stopped mid word. She leaned back in her seat and took in a single deep breath, followed by another. “Vinyl? I’m not having this argument with you.” She said quietly. “I am not discussing this, and I am not revealing where I am going tomorrow. I am sorry, really I am if that hurts you, but it’s not something I am comfortable or able to speak of. Now, thank you for lunch, but I think I’ll be heading home for now. We both need to cool off.” She stood, starting to head towards the front door. “If you like, we can meet for lunch Tuesday. I’ll see you then Vinyl.”

Vinyl heard the door click shut before she could think of a retort.

Chapter 6: ...

Vinyl could, if she tried, be sneaky. The mare had donned a dark grey jacket to held hide her bright white fur, and a cap helped to squash her hair down enough to not be instantly noticeable. Replace the purple shades with a pair of regular looking glasses from a costume shop, and she might pass as just some random pony to a casual glance.

Still, she was taking few chances, staying well back from Octavia. She made sure to keep the mare in her sight at all times, and did her best to just blend in with the crowd. She had to admit to herself though, this was weirdly fun! She felt like a secret agent. She had to remind herself that secret agents did not hum their own theme songs. Even if they were really catchy.

Vinyl hadn't slept well. After Octavia had left she'd just sat in silence, before heading out, trying to work out her frustrations with a good bit of exercise--namely, headbanging at a club or three. She'd wound up staggering home sometime before dawn, and collapsing into her bed--alone. She'd woken with a plan. Or, at least, as much of a plan as Vinyl ever had.

Vinyl paused midstride when Tavi stepped inside a building, one of the community centers set just off one of Canterlots parks. Huh. Was this where she practiced with her band, or whatever? She stepped in after a few minutes, looking around curiously. Well…she didn’t hear anything…

Vinyl started trotting along, keeping her hoof steps as quiet as she could. A sign next to a stairwell drew her eye, and she read through a little list of what rooms were where, and for what. Rec room, game room, Meeting rooms A-Z, blah, blah, blah. She heard a door slam shut up the stairs and grinned. “Alright, lets see what’s up.” She purred to herself.

She crept upstairs, glancing down the hallway. A few lights had burned out, which let her see the light leaking from under one particular door. She studied it for a moment: a sign read, ‘EDA Meeting’, with smaller script underneath reading ‘No Judgement’. Vinyl felt her eyebrow creeping up, and the first stirrings of unease in her stomach.

Scratch could hear voices within, but couldn't make anything out. . The unicorn glanced to the side, and bit her lip. There was a door right next to this one…maybe there was an air-vent she could crawl through or something? Awesome spy ponies did that!

She stepped into what proved to be a closet, and felt a moments elation when she saw an air vent perhaps halfway up the wall. The elation ended when she realized she’d be lucky to fit her head through without losing an ear…assuming she could undo the grating at all. Still, she could hear better in here…actually make out the words! A mare was speaking.

“…that pretty much wraps up the news. Now, I don’t see any new faces, so before we start the circle, does anyone have anything to share with the group?”

Another mare’s voice piped up. She sounded quite a bit younger than the first. “Hi. I uh…Um. I know it’s just my third meeting, but I just wanted to say thanks. You all have been a big help, and, um, I-I think I can beat it with you all.” Beat it? What? “I’m still afraid of telling my mom, but I haven’t had any episodes since last week, which is the longest it’s been for…uh. For awhile.”

Vinyl felt her stomach twist again as the sound of hooves clapping against the floor was heard.

“I’m glad to hear that Lily,” said the first mares voice. “If you like, you can share some more of the past week in the circle. Speaking of, if no one else has anything? No? Ok, pull your cushions up everypony!”

It wasn’t long before they continued.

“So, Lily, you said the last week has been good for you? Would you care to tell us a bit more about it?” said the first mares voice.

“Yeah. Um. I don’t really know where to start, but…uh. Hi? I’m Lily, if you haven’t met me before.” The mare sounded young and shy. “I’m here for…um.” There was a hesitance to her tone.

“It’s ok. This is a safe space to discuss our issues.” Coaxed the first mare soothingly.

“…Yeah.” Vinyl heard a breath. “I-I started coming here because of bulimia. I would eat a ton, and then p-purge. It’s been going on for almost a year, and a friend caught me. She made me start coming here, and, uh. I uh.” Vinyl imagined she could see her little uncomfortable shuffle. “I didn’t really want to. But the first meeting started to get to me, and it got me thinking. The second one…I broke down. I t-think most of you were here for that. And I haven’t…haven’t had an episode since. T-there’ve been some close calls, but I remembered you all,and—“

Vinyl could hear the emotion in the mares voice. “A-and I managed to avoid binging, or purging for a full week. It’s the longest I’ve gone, a-and I just wanted to t-thank you all.”

Vinyl felt…weirdly numb. She could hear movement, and soothing voices comforting the younger mare. She’d followed Octavia here. There was no way, just no way! She had to have messed up. Tavi was probably upstairs or something. Practicing a recital with her lame band, not in a group for ponies with, with issues!

“Thank you for sharing with us Lily,” said the original voice. “It means a lot, and we’ll all stick with you as you fight.”

Vinyl had turned toward the door, intent on leaving—she had half convinced herself that Tavi simply couldn’t be here—when the mare continued.

“Miss Philharmonic? I believe we’d just gotten around to you in the last session?”

Vinyl froze solid as a voice she was intimately familiar with echoed out of the air-vent.

“Yes, Miss Glitter. Hello, everyone. Octavia, if we haven’t met before. I’ve been attending meetings regularly for quite awhile, and I’m happy to say that it’s been over a year since I last had any real incidents. I did have a somewhat nasty hangover one morning a few weeks back, but I think I’m of sound mind enough to chalk that up to over-indulging during a date, rather than backsliding.”

She sounded so…calm about it. Vinyl felt numb. She took a step, and through distraction or happenstance, her hoof bent just wrong as it came down. She stumbled, crashing against the metal shelves lining one wall—sending a shelfful of cleaning products and buckets crashing to the ground as she sprawled out the door. She scrambled to her hooves, a bucket clattering away as she struggled not to fall again.
Shit. Oh, shit. They must have heard that. Her heart hamered in her chest as she raced down the hall, slamming the door to the stairwell open just as she thought she heard a door behind her.

-|-

She’d spent the entire run home trying to convince herself that she was in the clear. That she’d imagined it or something. That she’d made a mistake, or hit her head, or, or anything really.

The DJ had almost managed to convince herself of it after she’d gotten home. Even managed to calm herself down enough for a bit of rational thinking, enough to start planning out a way to maybe, kind of, sort of, bring this up around Tavi without losing her marefriend. Or her head.

She was so wrapped up in trying to figure this whole situation out that she almost missed her front door opening. The white mare looked up just in time to see her marefriend step inside and gently close the door with a soft ‘click’.

The sound was strangely loud. Vinyl felt tension creeping up her spine as her marefriend simply stood there, staring at the door.

“…H-hey, Tavi, whats up? Did you're snooty thing let out…uh. Early or some…something?” she said, trying desperately to avoid what she knew, in her core, was coming. Octavia said something, too quiet for her to hear. “…What? I didn’t…uh. Didn’t…hear…” She trailed off as Octavia turned around, and looked at her with a strange, bitter expression.

“I said, 'I saw you'.”

Vinyl felt her heart stop for a moment. She fought the urge to start shaking. “I. I uh. You. Oh.” She tried to think of something, anything to say, but nothing was coming. “I—shouldn’t have—“ she stammered.

Octavia held up a hoof for silence, which she was granted. “…One thing,” she said quietly. Her voice was…weirdly calm. Vinyl took an instinctive step back. Oh. This was bad. This was bad.

“Just…one thing. This one thing. One thing without you in it. One thing. And you just…could…not let go.” A hiss of venom entered her voice near the end there.

“…Octy, I’m so—“ Vinyl tried to speak.

Octavia intteruped with a growl. “Shut. Up. For once, shut up. Just shut up. I don’t care. I do not care, Vinyl! I don’t care how sorry you are. You knew. You knew I didn’t want you coming. You knew this was important to me, that it was something private. You knew because I told you.”

She took a step forward and Vinyl almost flinched. Her eyes blazed, jaw set tight when she wasn’t ranting, stalking back and forth now as she spoke. “I told you. I told you. You knew this was important to me you. You little- I told you this wasn’t for you, and you just had to know. Had to stick your ass in you bitch.”

At that, Vinyl did flinch. Octavia rarely, if ever, cursed—and never at her friends. Even during their fights, Vinyl couldn't remember her falling to this level. “O-octavia, I-I didn’t know--” she said, trying helplessly to salvage this train wreck.

Not the right thing to say however. Octavia whirled, eyes blazing, and stabbed a hoof at Vinyl, snarling, “Of course you didn’t know, because I never fucking told you!" She stalked closer, thrusting her hoof against Vinyls chest—the white coated mare cringed back helplessly. “Damnit, If I’d wanted you to fucking know I would have fucking told you, you fucking bitch!” She kept pressing closer, snarling into Vinyl’s face now.

“Well now you know. Now you know I how utterly fucking screwed in the head I am. Are you happy Vinyl?” She shoved the DJ back against the wall, “Now that you know how messed up I am, is your fucking curiosity satisfied!” She turned away, ignoring the apologies Vinyl was trying to stammer out as she paced.

She turned on her again, growling out, “Or do you want more. Here, have some more. I have an eating disorder! I was a fat little pig when I was a child, a disgusting sow and I was so ashamed when mother had to hire a coach to make my fat ass exercise that I just. Stopped. Eating.” She was panting, seething now, waving her hoof in Vinyl’s face with tears of anger streaming from her eyes. “And whenever I did eat, well, couldn’t have that, so I just got rid of it! I starved myself for years, until I was a damned skeleton, but it was never enough, and I finally had to be taken to the hospital because I fell over at band practice and couldn’t even get back up and I woke up in a hospital room, and I nearly died and, and, and--” And she just…collapsed. Like all the rage simply left her, like a deflated balloon. Crumpled to the ground and started to sob.

Hesitantly, Vinyl slid down and awkwardly wrapped her forelegs round her marefriends shoulders. “…Octavia?” she said softly.

“That was three years ago.” She whispered between hiccuping sobs. “It took nearly a year to get to the point where I could eat solid food. And another year of t-therapy on top of that to s-stop p-purging.” She sniffed hard, pressing her face against Vinyls neck. “And I didn’t want you to know you stupid brat. I didn’t want you to know. “ She sniffled again. “Why did you follow me?”

"...I was worried. And...kinda hurt that you wouldn't tell me. It was dumb, and selfish, and I shouldn't have. I'm sorry." Vinyl said softly. She pulled Octavia up and over to the couch, and held the sniffling mare close. "I'm sorry, Tavi. "

Chapter 7: Waffles

For a few blissful minutes Octavia existed in a state of fog in that wonderful place between reality and sleep. For a few minutes, the day before hadn’t happened, and her life was normal. She was a normal filly, with a normal life, a normal…ish marefriend, and a normal dark secret that she’d share when she was ready. For a few minutes, she was happy.

Then she finished waking up.

Octavia lay there for a few minutes, curled up in her bed. She didn’t remember getting off the couch, but she was tucked in under a warm comforter. And she was alone. She curled up tighter, fighting back tears as she tried not to think of the possibilities, of why Vinyl wouldn’t be there. Tried not to think of pink elephants…

Stifling a sob, she pulled her breathing back under her control. She scrubbed at her eyes with the back of a hoof, and shuddered once, breathing slowly.

You knew this could happen, Tavi. You knew she might not understand. Knew it might…cause problems.

She sucked in another breath.

She’s probably just…freaking out. Maybe. Or trying to figure shit out herself. Give her some time, some space, and approach her later. Be smart about this. Be cautious. And…be ready. Because she might not want to stay.

Octavia took in another steadying breath. She was starting to feel a bit more centered, a bit calmer. A bit more in control of herself. She pushed herself upright.

Ok. A bit of meditation. Focus, and center yourself, Octavia. Focus. Breath. Foc—

She was kicked out of her mental quietude and what little balance she’d re-achieved when the door to her room burst open and a mostly white unicorn stepped in. Mostly white due both to her neon mane, and several spots of what looked like singed fur along her sides. And what looked suspiciously like a glob of syrup soaking into her flank.

“Hey Tavi! Sorry, thought it’d be ready before you woke up. Uh. Sleep well?” She had the kind of nervous smile on her face that Octavia couldn’t remember her ever sporting before. “Good dreams? Like, maybe the marshmallow on—nevermind! Anyway! Uh. “ She trotted in, a tray floating behind her.

Some part of Octavia’s mind, not currently numbed by surprise or depression, was astonished that there were no months old toaster pastries on the tray. Instead, there was a decent stack of waffles, a bowl of the frosted corn flakes Vinyl had insisted on buying instead of the regular kind, and a pair of glasses, orange and white liquid contained in either.

Octavia stared, mouth open slightly, at the tableu before her long enough for Vinyl to start twitching, and her smile to start looking more and more strained.

“I uh. It…I. “ The Dj stammered, before her head drooped slightly. “I’m sorry,” she said, voice quiet.

“…What?” Octavia was surprised she had managed to respond.

“I’m sorry for last night. I…I shouldn’t have pried the way I did. It was dumb, and really, really stupid. I shoulda understood you and, and junk, and…please don’t be mad?” She looked up at Tavi with eyes swimming with worry and tinged with just a bit of fear. She looked pathetic, honestly, and part of her mane was still smoldering.

Octavia stared at her wordlessly for a long moment, eyes wide. It wasn’t until Vinyl started to fidget that she moved—first, she licked her hoof and gently patted out the last bit of smoking hair on her mane, before she carefully set the tray aside, and threw her hooves around Vinyls neck, dragging her onto the bed. She buried her face against the white neck and did her best to muffle her sobs, though she was sure some escaped.

“Tavi? T-tavi, uh. You ok?” Vinyl mumbled, hugging her gingerly. “Please talk to me babe. This is…kinda freaky.”

Octavia sniffled, and managed to hiccup, “I thought you’d left. Thought you were…the thing…too big or something. Or, or just leaving.” She was barely coherent and knew it, but couldn’t make the words flow and march in the right order any better. She felt Vinyl stiffen slightly before she cuddled against her, forelegs wrapped tight around Octavia.

“That’s…nah. No way.” Vinyl nuzzled against her head gently. “Like…hell. Tavi, I ain’t gonna say it’s not…I dunno, weird, or something, but I’m not leaving. Not for…this. Not you.”

Octavia sniffled and hugged her tighter for a moment. “I love you Vinyl.” She said softly.

“I love you too, Tavi.”

-|-

Octavia chewed a waffle slowly. The tears were gone, though she still felt somewhat fragile. But she hadn’t been about to let the breakfast Vinyl had made for her go to waste. Honestly, even if it had tasted like free range grazing land, she’d have eaten every bite. That it was delicious was just a fringe benefit.

Vinyl fidgeted next to her, nibbling a syrup soaked and dripping mess of a waffle herself, and kept shooting Octavia an odd look. A bit of an emotional wreck at the moment, but Octavia was composed enough to read the questions Vinyl was fiercely suppressing, and her marefriends desire to not make her uncomfortable or badger her for information only made her heart ache in an entirely different, and positive way.

She swallowed and considered for a moment before saying, “I was rather overweight as a child.” She ate another bite as Vinyl started, shocked at the answer to a question she hadn’t asked. She held up a hoof to try and forestall Vinyls protests, but it was a second too late.

“Tavi, you ain’t gotta talk about this. Like, I’m curious but I don’t—“

“Vinyl?” Octavia smiled at her. “It’s ok. I’ve shared it enough in group, and…I suppose I should trust you enough now, after…well, this morning.”

Vinyl fell silent, mouth slowly closing, before nodding once. “If you want to, I guess.” She said slowly.

Octavia nodded back. “Yeah. Anyway…yeah. I was pretty chunky. I’d hole up in my room with a Shakesmare compendium and a bag of fried oats, or potato chips, or some such just about every afternoon. I was never very athletic, and it got rather bad in my early teens. I think it might have influenced my parents decision regarding my instrument. Maybe they thought I’d lose some weight if I was hauling a cello around all the time.” Her voice went a bit dry near the end before she chuckled.

“It didn’t work out that way. It just made me pant that much more anything I had to climb a flight of steps or two. Anything above the third story was an epic struggle indeed.” She shrugged, taking another bite of her waffle and spearing a bit of strawberry along with it. “So, my parents decided I needed a personal trainer, for the good of my health.” She looked up at the ceiling for a moment as memories tried to lay siege to her emotional balance.

She pushed them down with long practice and sighed. “Honestly, they were probably right to a degree. My weight was out of hand, and my diet was absolutely horrible.” She couldn’t hold back a bit of a smirk. “Even worse than yours when we first met.” she said, unable to resist a bit of prodding. She got a mature response: Vinyl stuck her tongue out and threw a syrupy strawberry at her head, where it stuck.

Giggling, she snagged it and popped it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Anyway, they hired this mare. They always wanted the best for me, you understand, so they hired an athlete who’d made it to the Equestria Games in her youth and regularly trained talented athletes. Unfortunately…”

She shook her head. “Ms. Glory was not the best choice for a young mare with no athletic experience and whose view of healthy foods at the time can best be described as 'less than excellent'. I’m sure she meant well, but she laid into me like I was one of her full time students and was not shy about letting me know when I failed to live up to her expectations. “ A pause. “Which was pretty much all the time. And she was quite explicit in exactly how I was failing.”

Vinyl opened her mouth, but Octavia shook her head. “No worries hon. Just let me finish, and we can take turns calling her a bitch.” She said with a small smile. “There honestly not a whole lot more to it anyway.”

She looked upwards, gathering her thoughts, and said, quietly, “At the time, I didn’t deal with criticism very well. Not with my music, and certainly not with my weight. As it was, my response after awhile was a sort of nervous breakdown. I stopped eating almost entirely, and when I inevitable broke down and binged on all my favorite foods…well. I’d do practically anything to avoid another scolding from Ms. Glory, another diatribe about my lack of self control and laziness.”

She gave a short shrug, an returned her gaze to Vinyl. “From there, it….well, just spiraled out of control. The rest, you know or can probably put together from my little outburst last night.” she smiled slightly, looking down. “I’m…it’s not something I’m proud of, of course. It’s not easy to talk about. But…thank you for listening.” she said softly.

Vinyl sat, silent for a long few moments as she absorbed the tale Octavia had told her. She leaned over and nestled against the mare. After another moment, she finally spoke.

“If I ever meet that mare, I’m gonna buck her in the face as hard as I can.”

Octavia rolled her eyes, though she thought it was a bit sweet. “No worries, darling. My parents let her go when I lost the majority of the weight. They didn’t start getting suspicious about my problem until I was rail thin enough to make a professional model look positively chubby. Even then, it wasn’t until my…ah. My hospital visit that they forced me to start getting counseling.”

“Thanks for telling me all this,” Vinyl said, staring at her syrup soaked waffle with a curiously thoughtful expression on her face. “Just. Wow.” she mumbled, nibbling her food. “You said even Strings doesn’t know?”

Octavia nodded in response. “I haven’t told anyone other than the group before you. I always felt…too ashamed, you know?”

Vinyl quirked an eyebrow at her and said, tone as serious as it could be, “I don’t think I know the meaning of that word.”

Octavia blinked, and burst out laughing, giggling helplessly. "Of course you don't. " she snorted. "Why would you?" She smiled at Vinyl with a shake of her head. She looked up, and sighed. "I'm lucky to have you."

Vinyl grinned at her. "Yeah. We're both pretty damn lucky. "

Chapter 8: Sandwhich

Octavia nibbled at the sandwhich Vinyl had brough her, mind a bit elsewhere as her marefriend tinkered with the back of one of her speakers. She chewed slowly, thinking over the past few days. Unfortunately, her thoughts were interrupted by an abrupt and intensely unpleasant sensation beneath the bandages around her sprained hoof. She glared at the cast, and bit her lip as she tried to rub her other hoof against it. Sadly, the minute amounts that she managed to shift the cast around only served to further irritate her skin. She looked around, trying to find something to wedge under the cast—a fork, maybe—to scratch at the maddening sensation. Or, perhaps, a chainsaw to lop the offending limb off.

Some minutes later, she was interrupted by the sound of Vinyls laughter. Octavia glanced up and found the unicorn giggling helplessly. Looking back down, she thought for a moment about the display she was presenting.

Octavia had bent a wire hanger into a crude scratching implement, and was using one hoof and her teeth to vigorously jam it under her cast to try and reach the itching skin.

She…supposed it might look a tad ridiculous.

Coughing delicately, she stood and stowed the hanger away, before smiling at the still giggling Vinyl. “Ah…darling, I have a bit of an itch. I don’t suppose you have any spells that might help?”

Vinyls horn lit up despite her giggling like a school-filly, and Octavia almost fell over the abrupt cessation of agony that was an un-scratchable itch. She almost purred. “Thanks.” She murmured, sighing in relief.

Untangling the deformed wire hanger from her hoof and setting it aside, she flopped back onto the couch and eyed Vinyl for a moment.

“So…do uh. Do you want to meet my parents?” she asked, the words just kind of tumbling out.

Surprisingly, Vinyl didn’t spew the soda she was drinking everywhere. She did have a hard time swallowing before she coughed and stared at Octavia, actually pushing her shades up to look at her.

“Uh. “ Was her only reply at first, followed by an eloquent, “What?”

Octavia looked down, a bit sheepish. “Sorry. That was…kinda a bit much to spring like that. I mean, after last night, and this morning….” She trailed off, before looking up at Vinyl with a small half-smile. “I don’t want to hide anything from you. And, well…we have been dating for awhile, and neither of us knows much about each others family, and I thought it might be nice and all, and I know my story might paint them in a negative light but they are good people, though we are a bit distant right now, though that might just be standard drift, and I’m babbling, aren’t I, am I babbling, I’m just a bit nervous about the idea, not that you aren’t lovely but my parents would expect me to date someone of, of, oh deer theres no way to end that sentence that isn’t insulting is there, I—“ She was cut off by magic clamping her jaw shut, much to her relief.

After a moment, Vinyl released her jaw with a wry smile.

"You are way too high strung, Tavi." She shook her head, chuckling, before flashing her a grin. "Yeah, if you want me to meet them, sure. I guess it won't be too bad. Maybe they'll have embarrassing pictures of you as a baby or something."

She perched on the couch next to Octavia and nuzzled her neck lightly. "And if they don't approve of me, eh, good. I'm a bad influence, and you know it." She stuck her tongue out at Octavia who just rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure they'll think you're just lovely, deer. Albeit flamboyant." She said dryly, back in control of herself. "I'll get in touch with them. How about this weekend? They should be free then."

Vinyl shrugged. "Nothing really planned, so sure. Sunday would be better--not nearly as much of a chance of a last minute call in to DJ. "

Octavia nodded, leaning against her special somepony. “I suppose it was inevitable anyway.” She murmured. “They do try not to bother me, but mothers will be mothers.” She sighed, before raising her voice an octave. “Darling, if you’d just put yourself out there, you’d be swimming in stallions! Or mares. We don’t judge.” She hugged another sigh before glancing at Vinyl, who was trying desperately not to laugh.

And failing.

“Oh, get it out of your system Vinyl.” She said with a snort, prompting Vinyl to burst into giggles. Again.

“Sorry! Just, wow, that’s like something out of a bad sitcom.” She snickered.

Rolling her eyes, Octavia thumped Vinyl’s side with an elbow. “Oh yes, and I suppose your mother is simply the paragon of “cool”, hmm?” She said. The giggles stopped immediately, and Vinyl looked up at the ceiling with a scowl.

“Yeah…not talking about my mom.” She grumbled, flopping over onto her side and taking up as much space on the couch as she could.

Both of Octavia’s eyebrows rose at that. “Ah…can I ask why not? Surely she can’t be that ba-“

She was cut off by Vinyl raising a hoof. “Not. Talking.” She growled. “I don’t get along with my family. Like, at all. It’s a whole thing.” She snorted. “And she’s pretty far from being anywhere near cool. “

Octavia blinked before nodding slowly. “Alright, I…well, I suppose. I can’t fault you for that, I know how straining family relationships can be at times. Just…” She hesitated for a moment, before walking over and kissing Vinyl’s cheek. “I love you.” She said softly, prompting a light blush from the unicorn. “I hid things from you, things I was scared of, but I’m never doing that again. Don’t think theres anything you can’t share with me, Vinyl. I’m with you through anything.” She smiled and nuzzled against her marefriends neck, earning a slight squeak from her.

“…Yeah, ok. Just…not right now, ok Tavi?” Vinyl mumbled. “It’s a good day so far. Tomorrow? I know you’re probably really curious and all, but I think declaring a one or two day moratorium between big emotional breakdowns is understandable, huh?”

Octavia smiled and nodding. “Sounds perfectly rational to me darling.” A slight pause. “Perfectly rational, and very well spoken. Moratorium?” She quirked an eyebrow at Vinyl. “Who are you, and what have you done with my wild, crazy, limited vocabulary marefriend?” She asked in a deadpan tone.

Vinyl snrked. “Hey, I can know big woods too! You’re not the only one with access to nerd-books!” She stuck her tongue out before squawking as Octavia pounced and bit her ear firmly.

“I’ll show you who’se a nerd!” Octavia mock-growled, followed by a strangled yelp as the two rolled off the couch and onto the floor with a thump. “Ah! Ow! Vinyl, get off my mane!”

“Hah! Now who has the upper hoof, nerd?!”

“EE! Vinyl, do NOT bite me there--EE! Ahah! Stoppit!”

-|-

The sounds of two mares rolling across the floor, wrestling and tickling one another, continued for some few minutes, moving around the floor of the living room, until there was a resonant “thunk” as something dense struck a wall, knocking a frame from it with a crash.

There was a moments silence.

“Vinyl? Are you ok? That sounded like you hit your head pretty hard…”

“Eh, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it Tavi. Mind helping me clean up?”

Octavia pulled herself up. “Of course darling. “ She nudged Vinyl onto her hooves and grabbed the frame from where it had fallen. She looked over it, inspecting for damage as she moved to return it to the wall. “Hmm. Doesn’t look like it’s broken, glass is intact. Bit of a scuff, but nothing-“

She stopped dead mid-sentence, staring at the bottom corner.

Inside the frame were a few loose leaves of paper covered with musical notation.

That, in and of itself, wasn’t too surprising. Octavia had a few framed bits of notation herself, mostly sentimental pieces from her old shows.

No, it was the signature, elegant loops and whirls in the bottom right hoof corner, that had shocked her into silence.

“Vinyl! Why do—is this—is—why do you have sheet music signed by Ivory Keys?!” She gasped, heart thumping as the name brought up memories.

She didn’t see Vinyl stiffen, though the frustrated sigh drew Octavia's attention to her again. The DJ glanced back at her, magic plucking the frame from Octavia's hooves and hangnig it back up. "Mom gave it to me when I got my own place, something other than posters for the wall." She said begrudgingly.

Octavia stared at her, mouth slightly open. "Your mother? Is she a fan, or, o--" She was cut off by another sigh.

"I really didn't want to talk about this today." Vinyl muttered, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She took a breath and looked at Octavia, speaking louder. "No, not a fan. My mother....is Ivory Keys."

Author's Note

I figured it was time to give a shoutout to Maskinos, the one responsible for helping me edit this and proofreading for my copious mistakes. Thanks! Go check out her stuff. It's awesome!

Here's one of hers I recently finished reading, and it's just damn fun.

Chapter 9: Olives

Octavia looked from the framed sheet of music to her marefriend and back again before cracking a smile. “Really, Vinyl? Oh, come on. You can’t expect me to fall for something like that.” She giggled, replacing the piece on the wall. “I’ll hardly judge if you have some guilty pleasure for classical music. Celestia knows that I’ve managed to enjoy one or two of the frenetic maelstroms of noise you’re partial to.”

The smile faltered when she turned from adjusting the frame and took in her marefriend’s face. She still had her hoof at the bridge of her nose, glasses pushed up, looking intensely annoyed.

“…Vinyl? It…you weren’t joking, were you?” Octavia said quietly, prompting a quick, terse head shake from the mare.

Octavia opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but…nothing would come out. She didn’t know what to say.

Ivory Keys was her marefriends mother. Ivory Keys. One of the most respected classical pianists alive, and rumored to be a mere stones throw from being declared a living national treasure for her talents. A unicorn who was just at home playing with her hooves as her horn, and who had absolutely shut down critics of her abilities by playing through a Pegasus opera with a horn inhibitor on for the full four hours.

One of the mares who had inspired Octavia to take up music as a child, one of her few solaces in life for a long time. One of the people Octavia viewed as a hero, as someone to aspire towards, and someone she could try to model herself after. A mare who it could easily be said had changed Octavia’s life.

And she was dating her daughter.

Who, evidently, had some serious familial problems.

“…This is going to be an awkward conversation.” Octavia said quietly, promptly another silent head bob from Vinyl.

There was a long moments uncomfortable silence before Octavia squared her stance and nudged Vinyl’s shoulder. “Well, it’s one that can wait for another day. We agreed on a moratorium, and I’ll hardly press against that after last night.” She said, trying to push her voice towards ‘Cheerful’ and managing to land in the near vicinity.

Vinyl gave her a surprised look before grinning. “Thanks.” She said, the normally exuberant mare’s voice just a touch subdued.

Octavia smiled and trotted over, bumping her hip against her marefriends. “Darling, we just finished with my own personal drama. We have to take a break before we dive into yours.” She said with a chuckle. She felt warmer inside when Vinyl grinned in response to her attempts at humor. She grinned at a sudden wicked urge.

“We’ll table this, say, until after dinner with my parents?” She said casually, and enjoyed watching Vinyl’s train of thought come to a screeching halt. “You did say Sunday would be best, yes? I’ll make sure of it. Sunday at seven. Don’t worry too much about it darling, I’ll make the reservations.”

She hummed, moving about and sweeping a few of the other belongings they’d knocked over up here and there, ignoring Vinyl mouthing her own last word.

“Woah, hey, Tavi, this won’t be, like, some hyper fancy thing, will it? Cuz, uh, I know I was cool about it but meeting your parents is gonna be weird and stressful enough, and I don’t want to worry about which fork is for which kinda salad, ya dig?” Vinyl babbled.

“Oh, of course not darling.” Octavia said serenely. She waited for Vinyl to relax, counting to three in her head. “I’m sure something low key will work. You won’t need a formally tailored suit—semi formal will be just fine. I’m sure you can pull together a suitable outfit for, say, Chez Manger Vraiment Cher, yes?”

She allowed herself to enjoy Vinyls horrified expression at the name of the third most expensive and second most snobbishly Prench restaurant within the city of Canterlot for a few seconds before she burst into giggles. Vinyl looked shocked for a moment before she started to pout.

“So not funny.” Grumbled the DJ as Octavia gently nuzzled her cheek.

“Oh, it was hilarious.” Responded her lover with a chuckle. “You’re just mad you didn’t think of it first. You’d have piped up about taking us out to your favorite pizza joint, or that one diner that always smells like grease.”

“Hey, you leave P. D.’s House of Butter out of this!” Vinyl paused before snickering. “But yeah, that woulda been funny.”

Tavi chuckled and kissed her cheek. “We’ll go to a decent local place. No worries, you won’t have to wear anything uncool or even, shock and horror, formal.”

-|-

Octavia suppressed a sigh. “Did you have to wear the goggles?” She asked, a touch of exasperation in her tone. Neither pony was dressed up beyond what they normally wore, for the most part. Tavi had brought out one of her favorite bowties, while Vinyl had done…something with her mane. It was mildly less spiky than usual? Tavi couldn’t really tell exactly what was different, just that it was. And, of course, her ever-present purple sunglasses.

Vinyl shrugged. “Hey, this place has those funky lights that mess with my eyes. It’s either wear these or spend the whole night squinting.” She said mildly.

They’d arrived just a touch early to their destination for the night, Jardin d’Oliviers. It was hardly the height of refinement, but it was a rather decent little place, one of several that had been popping up throughout Equestria. At least partly because of the sheer number of breadsticks they threw at customers.

(That last is not an embellishment. Before the Terrible Incident of Crusty Tuesday, it was quite literal.)

“I miss when the bread was fired at us.” She said with a sigh, ripping a breadstick apart and starting to scoop the fluffy interior into her maw. The two sat at a table set aside in a semi private little nook. It struck a nice balance between being open enough to hopefully curb any shouting or emotional outbursts, but not so open as to curtail potentially sensitive conversation.

Octavia rolled her eyes. “Just because you think flying food tastes better doesn’t mean—“

“Hey, that’s not me, that science!” Vinyl interrupted. “It’s totally, like, a fact that food that’s flown through the air tastes better!”

Octavia snorted. “That is not scientifically sound at all, and you know it.”

Vinyl snickered and ripped another breadstick in half. “Hey, just sayin’. If someone could figure out a way to magic some pie to mach two before it hits my tongue, I think it’d taste better is all.”

The cellist rolled her eyes. Halfway through the action she froze as she spied a very familiar pair of ponies.

Her parents had arrived.

Vinyl cued into the body language and looked around. Her heart was thudding surprisingly loudly. Celestia’s teats, she wouldn’t even be able to hear them over this racket…

A white coated unicorn with a vibrant sky blue mane leaned in and kissed Octavia’s cheek as she pulled her into a tight hug. “Darling! It’s so good to see you. It’s been simply ages.” She smiled at Tavi, and Vinyl felt a little piece of herself ache with jealousy.

“Mother, Father. It’s so good to see you both too.” Octavia said with a smile, half standing to return the hug and peck her father on the cheek. He was a dark purple pegasus with jet black mane who shot Vinyl the most intensely curious look she’d ever received.

The two settled into their seats and gave their drink orders, leaving the four in silence for a moment. Octavia saved everyone from the awkwardness of a quiet dinner by clearing her throat. “I’d like to introduce you two to my marefriend. Mother, Father, this is Vinyl Scratch. Vinyl, these are my parents.”

Vinyl managed a smile. She honestly could not remember the last pony she’d been with that had gotten to this stage. Maybe that zebra from college? She did not remember being this terrified back then, but she had been moderately drunk. OH crap she was supposed to say something!

“Hi! A pleasure to meet you two. Tavi’s told me a…uh. She’s said some very good thing about you!” Holy fuck, Celestia’ teats, seriously Vinyl?! You know precisely two things about them! You don’t even know their names! Oh, hey. Segue! “Though I don’t think I caught your names?” Yes! Go me! Distract them from the stupid I said.

The stallion was still fixing her with that studying look when he spoke. “Summer Breeze. A pleasure, I’m sure.” His voice was just a touch scratchy to her ears.

“Star Sapphire. So, how did you meet our daughter, Miss Scratch?” She asked, sipping her ice water.

Octavia froze for a moment. Visions of Vinyl regaling her parents with their initial night of debauchery filled her with horror for a split moment as the DJ opened her mouth, just in time for the waiter to interrupt and take their orders.Stuffed mushrooms for Tavi, alfredo pasta for Vinyl, ratatouille for dad and spiced curry for mom.

“A mutual friend set us up on a blind date.” Vinyl said once the waiter had left. Yes! Good. No embarrassing Octy. Just the bare bones. Maybe bend the truth a bit—OH! “Your daughter was kind enough to ensure I got home safely after drinking a bit too much during the dinner.” She said with a self-deprecating chuckle. Hah! Nice—wait, shit, you just said you got drunk on your first date with their daughter! Ahhhg. Oh shit her dad made a face. Did pursing your lips make a face? Whatever, he didn’t look happy!

Octavia slid in then. “Honestly, I think we both over indulged that night. It was actually a rather dreadful affair, but for some reason we clicked afterwards. Fortunately, it seems to have been a single outlier. Otherwise, we’ve had the best of times together.”

Her mother was giving them both a small smile and glanced over at her husband. “Remind you of any of our earlier date’s darling?” He returned her smile with a tight one of his own before returning his attention to Vinyl. Who was rapidly starting to feel like one of those mounted butterflies.

“So, what do you do for a living, Miss Scratch?” he asked. She froze, trying to think of anything else to say besides ‘drop the beat’. It was all that was running through her head. Thank Celestia their orders arrives, and she had a minute or two to think while chewing on a bite of pasta.

“Where were we? Oh um, right.” She gave him her most winning smile! “I’m a musician, though of a different specialty than Tavi.” No need to hide it, they’d just ask anyway, don’t draw it out Vinyl! “I’m a DJ, and I compose some of my own music as well.” She took a bite of her grown up macaroni and cheese. It was a very neat bite, which did not drip cheese down her chin.

Octavia fiddled with her napkin a bit as her parents drank in that information. They were very minor aristocracy, and she knew they’d never set foot in a club like the ones Vinyl played at.

“How…exotic?” Her mother said, just a touch questioningly, but Octavia shot her a look of gratitude nonetheless. She was trying not to be judgmental, and the earth pony appreciated it.

“That doesn’t seem like the most stable career.” Her father, on the other hoof… “How do you know you’ll be successful?” he took a bite of his stew before continuing. “I’m an artist, and I know full well the dangers inherent to such a position. All it takes is one bad run of luck.” Another bite. “I almost went under. Had to sell some very old furniture. If I hadn’t run into Octavia’s mother at the right time, her connections couldn’t have kept me afloat until I got to my hooves again. A few clubs not hiring you could start a downward spiral.” A third bite. “Unless you intend to simply mooch off my daughter.”

Vinyls mouth was half open. It had been for some time, as she readied herself to answer his fears. Sadly, she had been a bit too shocked to get a word in edgewise, something shared by most everyone at the table. Until the last sentence at least.

“Father.” Octavia’s voice was low and tightly controlled. “I would speak with you. In private.” She stood up then. “Now.” And glared at him until he moved. Leaving Vinyl alone with Octavia’s mother.

Silence reigned at the table, with Sapphire occasionally taking bites from her curry.

Vinyl was not used to feeling like this. Nervous. She'd never had these feelings before, never been so hyper aware of where her hooves were, her horn etiquette, the way she spoke, or what she was looking at.

Hence why she was now staring at the mildly gooifying cheese soaking into her vegetable pasta. She kinda wanted to try making it herself when she and Tavi got home. If they got home.

She’d give almost anything for this silence to break. When Octavia’s mother stopped mid bite though, she didn’t know what was coming.

"...I miss my daughter, you know." Said the mare who had her in such a state. Vinyl looked up, a bit startled--thankfully, the glasses hid it. The white coated mare had a strangely sad smile as she poked idly at her own dish, pushing the sliced and sauced vegetables around. Vinyl opened her mouth, but could think of nothing to say.

"This is the first meal we've shared together in..." Star sighed softly. "Almost a year, I think. And the last was a Hearth’s Warming Feast. Not exactly a family meal."

The mare looked up from her plate and Vinyl was shocked to see tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. "I trust you know of the, ah...the issues she had?" The mare asked in delicate tone.

It took Vinyl a minute to catch on. "...Oh! oh. The um. The eating...and hospital thing." She said.

Star nodded, and looked down at her plate. "You must think me a monster, then." She shook her head. "I..." her voice hitched. "Miss Scratch, may I speak plainly for a moment?" she asked, her voice fragile. Vinyl could only nod.

"I knew something was wrong." she said, barely louder than a whisper. "I saw the way she just...shrank. Her plate was full at the end of nearly every meal. And she pushed herself so hard, but I told myself I was overthinking it. Reading too much into innocent actions. That everything would...work out." She sniffed.

"My daughter almost died because of our mistakes. And I failed to see what she was going through, the entire time." She'd given up on the pretense of a meal, and was staring down at her crossed forelegs now. She shuddered, giving another sniff, and looking back up with that same sad smile.

"We haven't had anything approaching a family moment since she got out of the hospital. And I wonder if, perhaps, I deserve this as punishment, but.." She shook her head. "I'm rambling. I’m dreadfully sorry, I shouldn’t be dumping this all on your, I just—I-"

Vinyl shifted over and put a hoof atop the mares, eliciting a surprised look. "I...I'm not very good at this, but really..." She tried for a comforting smile. "I can't say it's no big deal, because it really is, but, like, you should really say all of that to Octy. I know she cares about you all a ton. Like...uh." She searched for a moment and grinned as something occurred to her. "Like, really, if she didn't want to have you guys in her life, would she really go through all of this to introduce me to you two?"

The smile grew just a little less sad. "I...yes. I suppose you're right. You know, I've never heard her take that tone with anyone before. Especially not her father or myself. Seen her defend anything other than her love for music like that. Ms. Scratch, it's obvious that my daughter cares a great deal for you."

"You are...not at all the kind of pony I expected Octavia to choose, but..." Vinyl blinked behind her glasses as a hoof slid around her shoulder, hugging her close. "You make my daughter happy, and for that I can never thank you enough." Star let her go and the DJ rocked back in her seat, cheeks burning.
“I um. Uh.” Vinyl stammered, trying to flash her trademark grin, but her cheeks burned too much to move properly! “Thanks. I…I just love her, you know?”

The minute they were tucked away where nopony could see them, Tavi whirled on her father. “How dare you! You do not get to sit there and speak to the mare I love like that! How do you question her skills, or insinuate that she’ll fail in such a fashion? Especially considering your own history, that you as much as admitted to! That entire little speech of yours was beyond rude father, and that last sentence crossed the line. We are going back to the table, and you are going to apologize to Vinyl the instant we do! I’ll have you know she is wildly successful in her circles as well, and—“

Octavia wasn't quite sure what she'd expected when she'd laid into him like that. She'd never spoken to her father in such a manner before, but she angrier with him than she’d ever been before in her life.She had not expected him to interrupt her diatribe with a tight hug. Or for him to shake when he did so.

"...Father?" She said, her voice having dropped the harsh whisper for a gentler approach.

"I'm sorry." He murmured. "I'm sorry. I know you care about her, and I'm sure she's a wonderful mare, but I--I." he sniffed, and she had the horrible gut-wrenching feeling that she might see her own father start crying in the middle of a restaurant.

"Dad--"

He cut her off before she could continue. "I hadn't seen you in months. I keep up where I can, and we love your letters, but it's just not the same." He pulled back and fixed her with a gentle look. “I worry about you, out on your own, and…” he trailed off, sighing. “And I might have gone overboard. A touch over zealous. I just wanted to make sure she was a pony worth my daughters love.” He ran a hoof through his mane and sighed. “I was out of line. I’ll apologize.”
He glanced up and gave her a little half smile. “Forgive an old stallion his mistakes?”

She blinked at him, thrown a bit for a loop. That was…huh. Ok. “You always said you’re not old until you’re a grandad.” She said, somewhat thoughtlessly. The look he gave her then made her own eyes widen. “Not that that’s a thing! Yet. At all! We’re not—I’m not, she—“
He held up a hoof and his smile grew wider. “Let’s stop before we both have to unwedge a hoof from our mouths.”

A few minutes later, back at the table, he sat and offered Vinyl a much more sincere smile than before. No comment was made of any potentially puffy eyes, though that may have been due to masterful use of concealer.

“Miss Scratch, I believe I—“

She cut him off with a raised hoof. “I make anywhere from a one to five hundred bits a show, and average about three thousand a month. I’m probably in the top ten most requested DJ’s at the moment, if not the top five, and my reputation has been increasing steadily for several years thanks to a lot of effort I put into it. I have two songs out in the radio circuit right now, though I admit they’re on the niche stations, and I’m in negotiations with two record companies regarding a possible album deal. None of this is taking into account the rising trend of my style of music, and how demand for it is rising.” She grinned at him. “I make enough for Tavi to mooch off of me and do nothing but play her cello for the next ten years if she wanted. I would never take advantage of your daughter.” Don’t say ‘unless she tied herself up again’. Don’t say it.

He stared at her for a long moment before nodding slowly. “I…had intended to apologize in any case, but thank you for correcting me. I apologize twice over then—once for doubting you, and the second for my rudeness. I hope we can move on from this amiably?”

She smiled and nudged Tavi’s shoulder. “Yeah. I just figured awkward first meetings were a family tradition.

-|-

Octavia and Vinyl looked up at the stars as they peeked out, settled next to one another on a park bench.

“So…” The cellist started, a touch unsure of herself. “That went…surprisingly well.” She gave her marefriend an appraising look. “You make that much? And what’s this about a record deal?”

Vinyl nodded and nuzzled the side of her neck with a smile. “Mm. I like’em. And yeah. It’s just preliminary talks.” She nibbles Octavia’s ear, enjoying the little squeak she got. “I meant what I said. You could spend the next ten years playing your cello. I’d be happy to support you.” She flopped her neck down over a blushing Tavi’s. “What were you and your mom talkin’ about?” She asked, settling her chin on Tavi’s neck.

“You.” The cellist smirked as Vinyl twitched, somewhat glad to change the subject. “They want to have you over for dinner sometime, at home. And she wants me to come by more often.”

“Mm?” Vinyl considered it for a moment, thought of her own mother sliding into the back of her head. “Sounds like a good idea, I suppose. But I’m cooking.” She pecked Tavi’s cheek. “In a few weeks, anyway. Once the heart attacks stop.” She teased.

Octavia nudged her with a snort of laughter. “Please.” She sighed. “Still…that went well. I think they like you.”

“Yeah?”

The two cuddled together on the bench, soft smiles on both their faces. “Yeah.”

Author's Note

Thanks again to Maskinos for helping me with this and a big thanks to Boulder for prereading and helping me with all the crap my eyes skip over for some reason!