The Ultimate DJ

Vinyl Scratch laid on the couch and stared at the ceiling above. She made sure her head faced the blue wall: her side of the house.

She snapped away from the ceiling when the door opened.

"Good Morning, Vinyl. I finally bought the muffins and milk I promised."

Octavia walked in with a basket filled with muffins and milk hung on her right hoof, making sure she strode by the brown wall: her side of the house.

In response, Vinyl only gazed back, gave an understanding nod, then looked back up at the ceiling.

She didn't have her sunglasses on. She didn't have her headphones. She didn't even have the speakers played her favourite dubstep music. She only looked up at the ceiling.

However, when Vinyl is without her glasses Octavia could surely tell what was on her mind. Vinyl seemed to be at a war with herself, and by the gloomy looks of things, her doubt was winning.

"Vinyl, are you pondering something?"

Vinyl looked back at her to nod, then brought her eyes back to the ceiling.

Octavia still felt concern, but she knew that sometimes it was best to just mind her space. So she took one last glance at Vinyl to make sure she was okay.

"Vinyl, what's that?" She couldn’t help but notice that there was something wrapped in Vinyl’s hooves.

Vinyl Scratch knew that a conversation was on the rise, so she sat back up and levitated what she was holding to Octavia.

"Oh, is this another issue of DJs' Magazine...?" the magazine was opened to a seemingly specific page, so she read, "'The Ultimate DJ Contest'? Vinyl, are you considering to enter?" Octavia felt happy for Vinyl: she was never one to be active, so this might just give her an opportunity to make her special talent shine. Octavia regretted never looking into giving Vinyl the chance to explore her passion, so surely Vinyl must have been excited.

Vinyl shrugged.

"Oh, I see. You're weighing the pros and cons of whether or not you should."

Vinyl waved her hoof in a circle, tilted her head left and right, then finally gave a nod with a shrug.

"Well, let’s see the context first, I suppose," said Octavia as she read on, "Okay, it's in Baltimare, so it won't be that bad of a train ride. That many bits to enter? Surprisingly, we might afford it; it just means that supper will have to be cheap for a few months. Oh, Vinyl, look! The winner gets ten trillion bits and those who win in-- what’s this… loser’s bracket? So there is a miniature tournament to win if you lose the first time? Splendid! And you can still win quite handsomely there too!"

Octavia lowered the magazine. She wanted to show her excited expression to Vinyl. "Vinyl, why are you even considering this? I can hardly find a reason not to go! Even if you don't win the first time, at least we won’t return empty hoofed! Why ponder on this when it’s obviously possible!"

Octavia held eye contact for as long as she could, but Vinyl’s was waning. Eventually, Vinyl rolled her eyes and dropped on her back to turn her eyes to the ceiling again. Octavia wasn't exactly sure what it meant until Vinyl gave out a sigh: a sigh Octavia knew all too well.

"Oh, I see... you’re nervous, aren’t you?"

Vinyl nodded.

Octavia nudged Vinyl to scoot over so she could join her on the couch, with Vinyl sitting near the blue wall and Octavia closer to the brown.

"Vinyl..."

Vinyl looked away towards her wall.

"Vinyl, look at me,"

Vinyl hesitated before reluctantly turning her head. She made eye contact with her light pink eyes as Octavia looked into her red. Octavia could see not only worry but also the fear that Vinyl refused to admit. But Octavia knew Vinyl better; she could tell that Vinyl wanted to jump on this opportunity without a thought, but was too afraid to take a chance.

Octavia could at least relate to her problems: in her career she never really competed with her cello, but she did remember feeling quite nervous when she joined her first orchestra. What if she messed up? What if she wasn’t as great as she thought she was? Compared to regular ponies she was a master at the cello, but when compared to others who went to the same schools and practised the same art, she felt like an amateur.

But, as mentioned, she never competed. She at least at the luxury of second chances, but Vinyl wouldn’t have that. Her goal wasn’t to do just as well as the others for teamwork, her goal was to be the best. To win.

Vinyl broke her eye contact and brought her attention back to her wall.

"Vinyl..." Octavia shook her head and reworked her thoughts. "I'm your sister. I'll be there for you. No matter if you win or lose, I will still cheer you on. I promise."

Vinyl turned back to Octavia with the eyes of a little sibling looking up to their big sister, but she still seemed unsure.

"You should enter, Vinyl. I’m sure you can learn a lot from other DJs."

Vinyl heaved a sigh, then looked down and away from Octavia.

"Would some tea help?"

Vinyl nodded.