Vinyls, Pants, Octaves, and Expensive Tastes

Soft music played throughout the courtyard.  Posh aristocrats stood around chatting about whatever it is aristocrats chat about, and playing games of croquet - which is probably the only game that is considered dignified enough for high-class ponies.

“Enjoying the evening, Miss Scratch?”

Vinyl glanced behind herself to make sure she and Fancypants were out of earshot of all the other ponies present at the garden party.  She removed her monocle with her magic and, tucking in into her collar, said, “Well, you know what I think of this kind of company.  But it is quite a beautiful evening.  And this party – if you can call it that – is always a nice opportunity to visit the castle gardens, is it not?”

“That it is.”

They both sipped their glasses of punch.

“How do you put up with all this... nonsense, Fancy?”

“Sometimes, my dear Vinyl... I ask myself the same question.”

They shared a chuckle, and after that, a moment of companionable silence.

“The punch here is really good, though.” Vinyl said, idly swirling it around in her glass before taking another sip.

“Well, even if I can not quite control the company, I can at least make an attempt to control the refreshments!  Say, have you tried any of those little sandwiches I'm having served tonight?”

Vinyl shook her head.

“Well then, we shall have to remedy that at once!  … Hi, waiter!” he called.

A waiter walked over, balancing a dainty silver tray containing small, bite-sized sandwiches in one hoof, two of which Fancypants took in his magic, passing one to Vinyl.

Vinyl, after a moment of savoring, said, “Simply divine!” in a voice mocking the infamous tone that Canterlot aristocrats are known for.  Neither of the two used or, for that matter, liked the aristocratic accent, but poking fun at it had become something of a running joke between them.  Fancy chuckled, and Vinyl giggled.

“You know, you really ought to let me do a DJ setup at one of these things sometime.”

Fancypants laughed.  “Aha!  Yes, that would certainly be entertaining.  I can only imagine their reactions.”

Vinyl just giggled once again.

They both looked out over Canterlot.  From their elevated position in the castle garden they could see the entire city spreading out before them, bathed in the soft waning pink and orange hues of the sunset.

“This city is truly amazing.” Vinyl said in wonder. “I never tire of looking out upon it.”

“Verily.  I could not think of a better place to live.”

“Have you ever lived anywhere else?”

“No.  I was born and raised here, and this is where I shall stay.”

“Ever been to any other cities?”

“I've been to Trottingham, Manehatten, Baltimare, and Chicacolt.”

“And what were those like?”

“Trottingham was charming as could be, though I hear the crime rates can be a bit taxing at times.  Manehatten was rather dirty, but had its own sort of rough charm.  Baltimare was quite pleasant, but not much to write home about, and Chicacolt was fantastic - many interesting landmarks there.  How about you?”

“I've toured a couple of those cities, but was never very impressed with any that I visited.  Canterlot is as good as you can get, so I suppose I'm a bit spoiled in that right.”

“That right and many others.”

“Yeah'huh, look who's talkin'!”  After a moment, Vinyl continued, “Have you ever visited any of the smaller country towns?”

“No.  There isn't much business to be found in the small towns, so I've never found any reason to.”

“You should.  They're perfect vacation spots for ponies like us.  A few months ago, I DJ'd for a fashion show in Ponyville, the town down there,” she pointed to small cluster of lights in the valley beyond the city. “Most charming little place I've ever been.  There's something incredibly pleasant about those small villages.  Everypony knows everypony else, and there isn't any real hierarchy and popularity chain.  It's all just friends among friends there.  Like one big, friendly, welcoming family.  It's... refreshing.  As much as I love Canterlot, it can get a bit tiring at times.”

Fancypants gave a knowing nod. “It certainly can.  Perhaps I shall visit this Ponyville sometime, then, since you recommend it so highly.”

“If you do, I recommend dropping everything else.  I mean, don't go there with a suit and a million bits to spend.  Just take your monocle and enough bits to buy a room at an inn and three meals a day.  That's the best way to experience it in full.”

“Live the lifestyle of the average pony, eh?”

“Yep.  The ponies there really make you feel like you fit in seamlessly.  I came back to Canterlot feeling like a new mare after my last trip.  I miss that sort of group-friendship when I'm home.  That sort of thing doesn't exist in cities as big as this.”

“I believe you said you DJ'd for a fashion show in Ponyville?”

“Yes, for Rarity Belle's presentation to Hoity Toity, in fact.  That mare who's been becoming so popular as of late.” She raised her eyebrow at Fancypants and took another sip from her glass.

“You don't say?”

“M'hm.  Funny thing, though; All the outfits displayed at the show were disgraceful.  To this day I still have no idea what went wrong with her.”

“Hm, that's odd...  Everything I've seen from her is absolutely spectacular.”

“Which is why it's so confusing,” agreed Vinyl.

“You say it was a presentation for Hoity Toity?  I seem to remember he endorsed her.  How did that happen, then?”

“From what I heard she and some close friends of hers held a private fashion show at her boutique the day after, and that one went much better.”

“Interesting.”

Sip.

“I sometimes consider just completely moving out to Ponyville," Vinyl continued, "'Cause, you know, I wonder, where would you and I be if not here?”

“I've thought of that a couple of times myself.  I guess... if I wasn't where I am now, I'd be a musician.”

“Really now?”

“Yes.  I've always had a deep love and fascination with music, and to be able to write and perform my own work for the masses... It must be a thrill.”

“You've got that right.  What instrument do you think you'd play?”

“Hm..." Fancypants put a hoof to his chin and thought for a moment. "...my mind immediately goes to the piano, but I've always thought string instruments would be interesting, so perhaps a violin, or guitar.”

“Octavia knows how to play the violin.  If you really want to learn, I could ask her to set aside some time to teach you.  It's not as if she doesn't have free time, after all.”

Fancy spent another moment in thought as he looked out over Canterlot, the sun having almost set by this time.  “...You know what?  Sure.  Why not?” He smiled.

Vinyl beamed in return. “I'll talk to her.  This'll be fun!  You're a creative guy – I'm interested to see what you'd write if you let yourself go.”

“I look forward to it!”

Vinyl nodded. “Welp, my glass is almost empty.  I'm gonna go get a refill.  Say, I don't have anything to do tomorrow.  You wanna get lunch or something?”

“There's a quaint little cafe that just opened at Golden Point Plaza that I've been wanting to try.  How about you bring Octavia along and we have breakfast there?  Usual breakfast time?”

“Sounds good.” Vinyl raised her glass. “Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

The two glasses clinked together, and Vinyl, with one final sip, set her monocle back in place, nodded to Fancypants, and headed for the punch bowl.

Author's note~

Still in the very early phases of honing my writing abilities, so any in-depth critique would be very heartily welcome.

Thanks for reading!