Heaven's Perennial

Octavia hurried back and forth, moving everything into it's spot, where each instrument would fit, then hurriedly turned from teh set, and made her way into teh living room. Her apartment was small, meant for one pony. But it was perfect. No other pony could hear through teh thick walls, and she had a decent room, in a decent complex. She was out of sight of where most of her fans would look, but somepony occasionally shows up, askign for something from her.

This time, as she opened the door, she was met with a surprise.

Instead of another annoying fan, she found Harp. He was groomed and wore a leaf green bow tie.

Octavia was as equally prepared. She even wore her violet bow tie, which sat on a black collar with a golden vinyl lacing from teh center, out.

"Harp, uhm, I didn't expect it to be you..."

"Oh, I'm sorry then, did I come too early?"

"No, you're on time, just, I didn't tell you where I lived."

"Oh, yeah. This red mare told me. I was walking with her for about five minutes, all the way from where I lived. I told her I saw you running into the bakery at the Realms and Peech intersection as we came into the sight of it."

"Oh, well...thank you. But it's still a little unexpected. So, I take it you're ready?"

"Yeap. So, shall we go now?"

"Indeed.", Octavia stepped out, closing the door.

After they walked out of the complex, Octavia stopped to scan the area quickly before continuing.

"Why so suspiscious?", Harp asked.

"Well, it's a bit embarrassing to say, but I have a stalker. I've been trying to find him, but I can't. I suspect he's a well trained unicorn."

"Ah, magic expert. I've had a stalker once. But she stopped after I told her I did not love her."

"Hmm. Easy for you to say. I still have yet to even see my own stalker."

"Have you told the police?"

"Can't, yet. I don't even know who it is. They need at least something."

"How do you know you have a stalker, anyway, if you ahven't seen him?"

"Again, he's a well trained unicorn, he told me telepathically. I literally wet myself that day, but luckily, I was home. I locked all the doors, shut all the windows, turned off all teh lights, and called Scratch. She stayed with me all night."

"Scratch? You mean that white unicorn that hosts those wild raves?"

"Yes."

"Have you been to one?"

"Yes, a few, actually. She tells me when she finds some new classical cover techno songs. They sound lovely, but still have that wonderful jolt that Techno gives you."

"Wow, I've never heard anypony say something like that."

"Well, I may be the first."

"You said that the restaurant was at Peech and Cove?"

"Yes."

"We're here.", Harp stopped jus tin fron of the building.

"Oh, I didn't notice..."

"Well, as you said, it wasn't far from your apartment."

"It wasn't...but...It was a walk too short."

"Well, conversation does that. So, stalker?", Harp opened the door.

"More like one of my bigger fans that is too shy to approach me. He scares me but it's been going on long enough to where I just dismiss it easily. When I foudn out, I didn't leave my apartment for a week."

"Wow. So, since it's a fan, you aren't that scared anymore?"

"Oh, he still gives me the creeps, I jsut can't stay inside an apartment forever. So I force myself out."

"Well, we need to get a table."

"Oh, right."

Octavia approached the host mare and she looked up from teh podium.

"Hello, welcome to the Salad Caesar."

"Ah, yes. I made a reservation for two yesterday."

"Name?"

"Octavia."

"Yes, here you are. Follow me, please."

The host mare levitated the clipboard from it's place and walked through the restaurant, leading Octavia and Harp to a table which was in the more quiet area of the place. As they sat down, the host mare held out a pen, ready to write.

"What would you like to drink this evening?", she asked.

"I'll have a glass of Four-Seven-Four brand wine."

"And you sir?"

"I'll have the same."

"Good. would you like to order now? Or decide after I return with your beverages?"

"I'd like to wait, you, Harp?"

"I'll wait."

"Fine then. I'll be back with your beverages in a moment.", the host mare smiled, leaving.

"This is really fancy.", Harp pointed out.

"Oh, yes, the Salad Caesar has been here for ages, and not once lets up on it's posture. They work hard, but for a good reason. Not very many ponies that come here are much different from the upper class. Only proper mares and gentlecolts. It's a wonderful dating spot, too."

"You don't say."

"Oh, yes. Indeed. I actually met Scratch here, but, I'm not one for toher mares."

"Is she?"

"Oh, no. We met here, both stood up by our own dates. Weg ot to talking and soon, we were friends. Good friends, to be exact."

"Hmm. That explains a few things. So, what kind of music do you prefer?"

The host mare returned with the beverages and placed them each next to the two.

"Now, do you want to make your order?"

"Oh, sorry, just give us another minute.", Octavia apologized.

"Oh, alright then. I'll be back in a minute to take your order then."

Teh host mare left again.

Octavia picked up the menu and looked through the few pages, trying to find a specific dish, and found it. Harp, on the other hand, chose the dish displayed on the cover.

"Ah, they still server the Old Caesar's Salad. The old owner of this place made it herself, seasoned it with spices and served it with tomatoes on the side. I used to come here alone just to taste it. But..."

"But what?"

"The recipe has changed, it's a little more bland, and they jsut pour the diced tomatoes on top."

"So, it's no longer the oriinal recipe."

"Well, it's b it less tasteful, but the same."

"Well, I'm just goign to have what's onthe front, ratatouille."

"Oh? It seems like a middle class dish, but is made like an upper class dish, wonderful."

"Really? I've never had it."

"Well, here is your opportunity, and here comes the host mare.", Octavia pointed out.

The host mare smiled to the two and held the clipboard up, ready to write.

"Should I take the order now?"

"Yes, please. The Old Caesar's salad for my mare, and an order of ratatouille for me."

"Is that all? No side dish?"

"No, thank you.", Harp responded.

"Alright then, you're food will be here momentarily.", the host mare left.

"So, what was I saying? Before she came in teh second time."

"You were asking about what kind of music I prefer. I like what is straight from the heart, the soul, and shares a sense of one's soul with another."

"Wow, I never thought of it that way. I prefer something which could fit a story, like a hero, or just, it feels like it gives one power to play it."

"Oh, so you play for the feel?"

"Yes."

The waiter arrived with two plates, one steaming, the other not, and set them down for each.

"Your meals, sir, madame.", the stallion bowed, trotting off without as much as a thank you from the two.

"I'll leave him a good tip.", Harp declared.

"No, let me. You're paying for the entire thing."

"Oh, fine. You can pay. Though, I really should. It just makes me feel like I'm being cheep."

"Well, I do have a considerable amount of bits, and you said that you were new here, traveled alot."

"You're right, I don't have a lot of money, but I make enough."

"Well, still, thank you, and I will be unwilling to be refused for paying the tip to teh waiter. He was a bit impressive. Did you notice the plate he had ballanced on his head?"

"It was a big plate.", Harp took a bite of his ratatouille, "Hard to miss."

Octavia simply got a mouthfull of the salad and tomatoes which covered the top, leaving her nose covered in a red thin sauce. Dabbing her snout dry, she smiled.

"It's even better than last time. Maybe if they would put teh tomatoes on teh side, now."

After they both finished their dinner, the waiter came by and dropped teh pad ontot eh table for them.

"How much did you plan to give him?", Octavia asked, opening her coin purse.

"About twenty bits."

"Good, cause I was thinking thirty five."

"I wouldn't have been abel to pay that much without skipping a bill...", Harp confessed.

"Uhm, I never foudn out where you lived."

"I live in a small apartment complex on teh edge of Canterlot."

"Oh. That explains it. They are expensive there. The one I ahve was less to stay in for a month than a day in one of those money farms."

"Wow, I guess I made a poor choice."

Harp stood and Octavia did too.

"Shall we?", Harp asked.

Octavia nodded and he lead her out of the restaurant, stopping outside.

"Well, while it was short, I ahve to say, it was sort of fun."

"Why not spend a bit more time together?"

"Well...I don't have much money but..."

"No, I mean, wec ould play together. Just you and I."

"Oh? Where? My apartment? Or yours?"

"I get too mny complaints. They eve said that if they heard anotehr note from any instrument, they would throw me out."

"Then why don't you come to my apartment, and we could play there."

"I like that idea."

"It seems like you are just trying to..."

"Oh, no. I am telling teh truth. You could ask my land lord."

"Oh."

"Yeah. So, shall we?"

"Sure."

Walking back home together, the short trot was silent. As they entered the apartment, Octavia sighed, looking at the small living space.

"What?"

"Nothing. LEt's play. I'll get my cello, you can play my bass."

"I can play your bass? Sounds lovely...."

Octavia smiled and opened up the storage closet, removing the smaller shaped instrument.

Readying the bow, she waited till Harp had the bass ready. He didn't have the bow held properly, and in fact had the tip of his hoof on the area which was nearly coated in wax. Octavia began playing, starting soft, then beginning a strong note pursuit. As she got to a full melody part, Harp joined in,  playing a pluck tune that harmonized with octavia's.

She could hear him more, though not by loudness, by the feel. He was playing from the feel. Something he was good at, so far.

Harp could do the same. Just as she explained, she prefered music fromt eh coul. And she was right. Harp could feel the power in her streaks, each note, each change in pitch, each flurry. She was in sync with teh vibrations as much as her soul was made from music.

Harp stopped playing and closed his eyes, listening to her as she played continuously on her own. then as she stopped at a rest, he felt her press her lips to his. It was like they were mentally connected at that moment. He could feel her heartbeat, she could feel his. Wha the thought, she heard, what she thought, he heard. Their hearts both fluttered like butterflies, both in love.

He was perfect o her, and she, perfect to him. The mare he wants to settle with. The stallion she had been searching for. It was like a dream come true...