Heaven's Perennial

Octavia walked through the door with her head down. Another night, passed without so much as a hair out of place. In fact...

Grabbing the bow tie which hung to her, she pulled it off, the silk zipping lightly. As she sat at the bar, she set it down next to her nad laid her chin on her crossed arms. She set her bass down next to her and replaced her head, relaxing.

"Hey, Octavia, the same old same old?"

"...Yeah...", Octavia replied to the blue bar mare.

As the unicorn quickly filled the glass with seven different drinks, she turned to Octavia, shakign the contents in the air.

"Still feeling a bit down?"

"Yeah. Not a single violist like me, in this entire city..."

"Oh, there are plenty of violinists, harpists, and cello players."

"But none like me. I play all. My favorite being the double bass, the biggest and heaviest soul instrument of the four string name."

"Oh.", the bar mare poured the mixture into a glass.

Octavia took it, forkign over the few bits for it, and set it in front of her, watching as it stopped swashing and sat still, only to vibrate from teh center. Something heavy forcing it to.

It sounded like one of the players trying to extend a string off a cello too low. The horrible thrum was enough for Octavia to turn and yell at the horrible player.

Quickly turning her head, she stared at the scene of the many violists playing smooth jazz int eh corner, and her eyes widened.

It wasn't as she thought. Not one bit. A light mint green coated stallion, sleek and fine against the double bass he was playing. His hooves creamy mint, and what interested her more is that he was plucking the bass now, his bow having broken, nearby.

"Who is that?", Octavia asked.

"Oh, him? He's Harp Chord. Fellow asked to play here tonight. Though, I see he's not so good with a bow as he is with his hooves."

"You don't say...A bit jazzy for my taste but...He looks interesting."

"Well, don't sit there. Talk to him, or if you are too shy like that yellow mare to the left, you could finish your drink and leave."

Octavia turned around and saw Fluttershy, the mare which was aforementioned, but her face mostly red from a hard blush. She as staring at a glass of water, silent.

"I think I'll meet him.", Octavia decided, getting up.

Bringing her drink to teh table closest to the stallion, Octavia felt the vibrations even more as he pulled each string, letting the bass beat instead of thrum. It wasn't but a few seconds later when the song ended.

"Wow.", Octavia began, "I have never heard anyone pluck on a double bass. Maybe one of those new electric basses, but not an old fashioned double bass."

The mint stallion turne his head to Octavia and looked back to his instrument, readying to play again. The saxophone started playing at a low note, ranging to a high one that brough up a quick tempo beat.

"...Not very many people know how to do it right.", he finally responded.

"Well, you sure can do it. How did you learn?"

"...I play very many stringed instruments."

"Oh? Really? I do too."

"The cello, the guitar, the harp, the violin, the piano, and the double bass."

"I thought the piano and harp were not violas."

"They aren't, but they are stringed instruments."

"So, that's it?"

He missed a note and stopped momentarily, swearing under his breath as he resumed.

"...No, a few more."

"I play a few too."

"Well, do you know jazz?"

"I have played it before."

"Wanna try at it?"

"Sure, I've got my own double bass."

"Well then join when you want."

Octavia smiled and got up, grabbing her bass. Taking out the heavy instrument, she took the bow and stepped on stage next to Harp.

The music was simple, but Octavia could see a better tune to add to the smooth jazz. Silently playing her own version of the counter melody, she fit in like a missing note.

"Wow, that's actually pretty good. Where are you reading that from?", Harp asked.

"I'm...making it up...as I go...", she said, moving her hoof up and down the stock.

"Not very many ponies can do that either."

"What? Like you and plucking?"

"Yeah.", Harp smiled.

"My name is Octavia."

"I'm Harp."

"I know, Martha told me."

"Well, I didn't know."

"No need to apologize. A fitting name to your beautiful coat, I might add."

"Hmm. Never really thought of it that way."

"How do you keep it clean all the time? Dirt and grime must where it down."

"What do you mean?"

"I've...never seen you here, or in Canterlot before, for that matter."

"Oh, I'm just new here. Came from...Well, Fillydelphia."

"Oh?", Octavia stopped, allowing the lead to play his solo.

"Yes. Born and raised.", Harp answered her unspoken question.

"REally? You look nothing of it."

Harp smiled again, returnign to his part of the music as the song came to it's finale, and end.

"Well, I was different."

Harp picked up the broken bow and tossed it into the nearby trash can, setting his bass against the wall.

"Well, the night is still young, you wish to pass by a fancy restaurant with me?", Octavia offered.

"Mmm...I'd like that, yeah. Something good to end the day with. I'll pay for us both, so you don't have to waste anythign on a stranger."

"Really? Feels like we're already acquainted."

"So, where do you have in mind?"

"I was Thinking of Croissant's bakery. They make some delicious french bread and know how to make a wonderful salad."

"Sounds wonderful."

"Indeed, it does."

"I'll pack my bass and we can go."

"Alright then."

Octavia stepped down off the stage with ehr bass, replacing it in it's own case, where she had left it, then put it over her back once more.

Harp was already walking to the door, causing a bit of excitement from Octavia. She hurried over and stopped near the stallion.

"I don't really know where to go, though.", Harp confessed.

"Oh, it's not far, in fact, it's just across the road."

"Really? You mean that closed building?"

Octavia looked through the glass doors and saw the black windows of teh bakery across the street, then looked at the watch ont eh wall nearby.

"Aw, they closed already. I forgot to watch the clock. I'm sorry I got your hopes up."

"Oh, it's no big deal. I'll still walk you home if you wish."

"Oh...well, I'd like that."

Harp opened the door, "Mares first."

"Oh, such a gentlecolt!", Octavia walked out.

The two stopped just on teh side of the street and looked up at the full moon. The streets were all deserted, empty, and dark, the shops liniing the road all closed.

"It's beautiful tonight.", Octavia said.

"It is..."

"You seem upset.", Octavia looked towards Harp.

"It's nothing really. It's jsut that...I really don't think that this will even last long."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure about you, but I've been looking for someone to settle down with. I've been travelign for almost two months now, looking for the perfect spot to...just live."

"Well, I am almost the same. I'm as lonely, if not, more, than you are."

"But I'm not desperate.", he looked at Octavia with a serious glare.

"Neither am I, but we don't have to jump straight into anything. I'd love to see us closer, but that will be a while. How abotu you give me your number and we can schedule a date for this weekend?"

"Sure. I'd like that.", Harp smield warmly.