Author's Note

We're alive! Mostly

First, we're really, really sorry for the delay. It was kind of a bit funny.
First, psp was sick. Then I was sick. Then christmas, and then we were... dealing with this chapters topic.
I thought: Yay, I love this topic, we can do it in four days.
Sadly, I learned again, that exactly those topics, while easy doing and explaining in private,
are much more difficult to implement in a story.

We hope you have fun!
Expect updates a bit more frequent again!

Food and Smalltalk

Chapter Ten: Food and Smalltalk

I can’t say I panicked.

I am way too cool to panic. I never panic. I am the epitome of chillness. Chillity. Whatever. However, I must admit I was… erm, taken aback?

I mean, who would ever have thought that Tavi, out of all mares, would have such a kink? I looked at the collar and, weirdly, incomprehensibly, wondered if it would look good on my neck. If Octavia would like to put me on a leash and-

“Vinyl, where is my jewellery?”

I yelped and dropped the collar on the floor. Big mistake.

“Vinyl… what is… oh, my…” she stammered, eyes locked at the collar laying on the ground before me.

“Tavi! I’m sorry! I was just searching for your jewelry and-” I started, but she quickly glared me down.

“Shut up,” she hissed. “It’s time we put up some rules, my pet.”

Shivers ran down my spine as she looked down at me, looking me over like I was her property, her plaything. It was hard to cope with this harsh change of personality.

“Since you like to invade my privacy, we make a few rules,” she continued, then smiled, her voice growing soft. “I think you already noticed that I have a… strange other side to me.” I nodded and her smile grew. “Maybe… yes, I want you to be my pet.”

“I…”

“You don’t have to say yes right now, but let me explain everything,” she said, cupping my muzzle with her front hooves. “Being my pet means that you will obey me as soon as that collar sits around your neck. I’m not much for the pain, but I can get pretty forceful.” she paused and sighed. “For that, we will have a safeword. Hoofboard. It’s a part of my Cello and I won’t use that word in daily language, neither do you, I suppose. If I do something that goes over your limits, say it, and I will stop.”

“Oh, Tavi…” I grinned, shivering internally at what was happening. “You have no idea about my limits.”

“Don’t overestimate yourself,” she growled back. “Doing such things can and will lead to injuries if you take them lightly. Consider my earth pony strength, use the safeword if you have to, I won’t think less of you!”

I gulped. “Okay.” Pondering, I added, “Erm. Okay, Mistress?”

Octavia squinted at me. “We’ll have to work on your manners, my dear Vinyl.”

“What do you want me to do?” I asked timidly.

She smiled. “I can’t really have you wear this in public if we’re not at an event, but I want you to be my pet this evening for dinner. You will do what I say and when I say it. I promise that it will be light stuff since we will be in public.”

I raised my hoof questioningly. “Can I ask a question, Mistress?”

Octavia rolled her eyes at me. “Yes, Vinyl. Go ahead.”

I smiled at my lovely, bossy marefriend. “Do I get a good rutting after dinner if I behave properly?” I yelped soon after as her hoof struck my flank.

“You will get release and pleasure when I say so, Pet.”

“Y-Yes, Mistress!” I stammered back.

“Good pet. Now, how about we get ready for our dinner?” She smiled radiantly, while I subtly wished to misbehave, just to feel that pleasant sensation on my flank. It was a burning, sweet pain that I seemed to enjoy so much.

“Yes, Mistress. What do you want me to do?”

Octavia grinned.

***

“This queue is huuuge!”

I rolled my eyes at Vinyl’s antics as we stood behind an older couple, a beige earth pony mare and a brown unicorn stallion, not far - but not near either - from the entrance to the restaurant. Which was, thankfully, in our hotel.

Why would anypony expect a luxurious restaurant to be somewhere but inside an equally luxurious hotel eludes me. While Vinyl was groaning and moaning (which was, to be frank, turning me on just a little), the queue advanced a few steps forward.

“Okay,” Vinyl said with sudden determination, stepping aside. “I’m gonna jump this queue.”

I growled, catching her by the hoof. “Aren’t you forgetting something, Vinyl?” I hissed right into her ear.

“Nope.” Vinyl shook her head. “I don’t think so. I mean-”

“Do you need me to put the collar on you in public so you behave?”

Vinyl’s change in demeanour was swift and pleasant to observe. Immediately, she gulped, then nodded meekly and stood by my side. “I am sorry, Mistress. I will behave.”

“That is a nice pet. Do it right and I might even give you a reward later,” I smiled gently.

“I live to serve,” was Vinyl’s reply.

I cringed. “But you also don’t have to overdo it, lest we act suspicious.”

“Yes, Mistress.” Vinyl nodded, looking at her hooves. “May we jump the queue, please?”

“We may not. How do you even plan on doing this?”

“I will use my fame to get us through?”

“Your fame?” I chuckled and licked my lips. “Right now, my dear Vinyl, you are nothing but a slave.”

Vinyl nodded. “To you, Mistress.” She smiled at me radiantly, making me forget the status quo for a moment. “But they don’t know that.”

“But we do.” Frankly speaking, I wanted to bust through the queue myself, but dignity came first. However… Using Vinyl to do that… Not to mention that she didn’t mind it herself… “But you know what, as a gift for good behaviour, I’ll allow you to jump the queue.” I nodded to Vinyl. “Yes. Go, and use your fame or whatever you want to get us through.” I grinned, sensing a show. “I command it.”

“Really, Mistress?” she asked me with wide eyes.

“This once. Go on,” I urged her.

Vinyl trotted over past the ponies in the queue, disregarding the stares and the loud hissing directed at her. I could only marvel at how my wonderful marefriend didn’t even gift them with so much as a glance, going directly to the security pony in front of the doors. Full of curiosity, I followed the white mare to the entrance, now receiving the same stares and hissing. Not that I cared.

“Who do you think you-” the security stallion began, but took off his shades (what a laugh, shades at night!) upon seeing my mare in front of him. “DJ Pon-3?” His face split with a grin. “My kids are big fans of yours.”

“Well,” Vinyl smiled in return, “I wonder if your foals would maybe like a signed CD or two… And in return,” she carried on before the stallion could interrupt her, “you’ll allow me and my Mis- marefriend inside, without all the waiting and queueing.”

“I don’t really know…” The security pony began, tugging at his collar uneasily.

“Oh…” Vinyl’s eyes drooped visibly. “I see. Well, poor foals, not getting a signed CD from their idol…” She looked up expectantly.

“Okay, okay.” The stallion sighed and waved the two of us in. “That better be two CDs, I have two kids.”

Vinyl winked. “You got it!” As soon as we were in, she whispered, “See, Mistress? Everything for you.”

I smiled in appreciation. “That was both fascinating and more than a little evil. I guess somepony will be getting a reward if she keeps her best behaviour.”

“A reward? What reward? Can I-” I stopped her with my hoof on her muzzle and a soft glare.

“Now is neither time or place to talk about that. For now, let us have dinner and see what this will lead to. Agreed?”

“I really hope it will lead to sex,” Vinyl mumbled, but trotted after me obediently.

I chose the table in the alcove by the corner of the hall, if only because it provided us with the privacy I wanted for this dinner. Sitting down, I noticed, with a tiny smile, that Vinyl was holding the chair for me with her telekinesis.

“Your first positive point, my dear Vinyl,” I practically purred.

Just as I thought, that got her attention, a smile clearly evident on her muzzle. She looked like a puppy that just received their first real and thorough petting.

“Of course, mistress!” she replied quietly as I sat down before quickly sitting on her own place. “Can I order what I want?”

I thought for a bit and opened the fancy menu, reading over it. To my rather annoying surprise, I found a page full of the greasy stuff most ponies seemed to enjoy. Hayfries, Hayburger and all the like.

“Vinyl, page seven is forbidden to you. Read it and you will lose points. Order from it, and you will get nothing today,” I said sternly. “And no you may not ask why,” I quickly added as she opened her muzzle with a questioning look.

“Of course, Mistress,” Vinyl swiftly amended her behaviour, scrutinising the second page of the menu, which contained various starters. “Um, Mistress?” Oh, again with the puppy eyes!

“Yes, Vinyl?” I asked patiently.

“I can’t understand a single word of these fancy dishes.”

I nearly burst out in laughter. Sometimes, Vinyl was just too unbearably cute. “Don’t worry, Vinyl,” I addressed her warmly, “I will choose something very delicious for you.” I looked through the menu briefly. “Sesame soba sounds good,” I muttered to myself.

Vinyl blinked at me, wide-eyed. “Is it like when I say sesame and something opens?”

“What.” I blinked back.

“Nothing, Mistress.”

I shrugged and waved for the waitress. Who, if I may say, was an unbearably cute mare. Not that I have eyes for anypony but Vinyl, of course. But still, the fact has to be noted. “Good evening,” I greeted the cheerfully pink mare. “We’ll have one sesame soba and one cajun pasta.”

The mare nodded approvingly, as if my taste satisfied her. “Anything else for you, ma’am?”

“Not now.” I shook my head. “We’ll retain one menu.” With a sigh, I put the menu down as soon as the waitress departed. “So, my dear Vinyl…” I drawled. “What can you tell me about yourself?” Seeing disbelief in her eyes, I shrugged. “What? It is a date, albeit a strange one, so it is only natural I would like to know more about my marefriend.”

“I actually thought we could start with you?” she quickly replied.

“Vinyl, I asked you first, so you start. No bailing out on this,” I said sweetly.

“Alright, alright. As you already know we nearly live next to each other. I’m the famous DJ-Pon3, rockin all the concerts, bars, clubs, yada, yada, yada.” She stared at me for a few seconds until I gave her a quick glare. “There's not much more to tell, jeeze!”

“I am sure there is,” I insisted. “Your family. Where you went to school. How did you pick up DJing, by the way?” I showed genuine interest. Indeed, how does one go for such an occupation?

“I, uh.” Vinyl’s eyes quickly shifted from me to the menu and back to me. “There is nothing to say.”

“Vinyl!” I glowered.

“Fine, fine! My mother is Photo Finish, I don’t know my dad and I went to school in Canterlot!”

I stared blankly at her. “Did you just make that up?”

“What? NO!” she yelled, drawing the heads of more than one pony.

“Vinyl, don’t make a scene, this was a mere question!” I hissed back.

"I didn’t lie, you could ask for the student list in Canterlot Castle.”

“Student list?” I asked and she nodded. “Canterlot Castle?” She nodded again. “Don’t tell me you went to Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns?” I snorted, unable to hide my amusement.

“I actually did!” Vinyl didn’t look offended by my disbelief. It was evident this wasn’t the first time that fact of her life had been questioned. “Did you know they have different departments when you reach ninth grade? I chose the Arts department because Mom wanted me to become a famous photographer who would be able to take magically altered pictures of models. But I kinda…” She rubbed the back of her head. “I kinda drifted off towards Music. I play the violin!” She grinned at me.

I was very, VERY thankful I wasn’t drinking anything. (Which reminded me that we still hadn’t chosen the wine for the evening.) Because I would have spat it out immediately. “You play the violin?” Okay, I was ready to believe the Canterlot story, but this… This was… ridiculous.

She flashed her eyes at me seductively. “Would you like me… to maybe play it for you someday?”

I gulped and nodded, mesmerised by her eyes. “Yes. Yes I would.”

Thankfully, the waitress arrived before we started kissing in public. Before Vinyl could dig into the meal, I lifted my hoof, drawing her attention. “Vinyl~” I cooed softly. “You will eat when I tell you to.”

The white mare gulped and waited, looking at me expectantly. I didn’t lower my hoof in the slightest, instead taking my time savouring my own meal. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Vinyl gulping down unwanted saliva. She opened her mouth, but I shook my head. “Nu-uh.” I sighed, taking a glance at the wine list. “Ah, that’s one delicious meal, don’t you think so, Vinyl?”

“Y-yes, Mistress,” Vinyl said obediently. “Even though I would agree more if you allowed me to taste it.”

“Oh, but Vinyl,” I continued in a voice too sweet for my own good, “How will you learn how to wait before I devour you tonight if you cannot wait for me to devour my meal?”

Vinyl’s eyes widened and her mouth fell agape slightly. To think about it, I would really much rather devour Vinyl than the meal, and, frankly, I couldn’t wait until we got to my room. So, with a sigh, I pushed the plate away. “Okay, I am full. Now, eat quickly - but not like a savage - and let’s get out of here when we’ve had our wine.”

Vinyl didn’t need to be asked twice.