The Chance To Say

"Wow, so he watched the whole thing happen? That's gotta be super rough."

"It was rough for everpony there. And the hospital was even worse. I don't even know what happened before Tavi and I got there."

"Probably was worse. That might be something you'll have to ask him when he's feeling up to talking about it."

"Yeah, it is."

The wind outside was rather cold for the season, and Vinyl thought about how she maybe could've waited until tomorrow to talk.

"Well, we're here."

"Wait, really? We've only been walking for like, five minutes."

"Yep. Right here. You wanna come in for a drink? Maybe talk about this a little more?"

"What about your roomie?"

"Hell, she won't mind. She'll either be asleep right now or she'll join in."

"Alright, sure."

The two mares walked up the stairs to Hail Toss' apartment. Hail Toss fiddled in her coat pockets and frowned.

"Damn it all. Hey! BrickLayer! I locked myself out!"

"Hold on!"

After a few seconds, the door opened, revealing a red maned earth pony.

"Oh, who's this?"

"Vinyl. She's a friend from rehab."

"Alright. Just don't be gettin' the girl back into the stuff alright?"

"I'll sure try."

The three mares giggled at their jokes, and walked to the living room. The décor was simple, sophisticated, but had touches of odd glamour or decorations that almost didn't fit. As they all sat down on separate pieces of furniture, BrickLayer cleared her throat.

"So, Vinyl, you were in rehab too? Mind if I ask for what?"

"I was an alcoholic."

"Damn, that sounds rough."

"Well, it was. But, I'm thankful I had ponies like Hail and Tavi there for me."

"Hail and who now?"

"Tavi. Octavia Melody."

BrickLayer leaned back in her seat and smiled.

"So that's where I know ya from! You've recently been in the hospital with Skyline Breezer and WaveMaker haven't ya?"

"Oh, yeah, yeah I have. How did you-"

"I met WaveMaker when he was in the hospital waiting room. My idiot brother was in there. How is WaveMaker now? I heard the news."

Hail Toss and Vinyl looked at each other, both with frowns. Hail Toss sighed and looked back to BrickLayer.

"He's....coping. In some way."

"And by that you mean?"

"He's repressing it. That's what it seems like."

"Yes, and it's definitely going to come back and bite him. It's always healthier to talk to somepony. Maybe we should suggest a therapist for him?"

"Maybe."

Vinyl looked at the clock, reading that the time was ten thirty-two.

"Well, I should maybe get going."

"Aw, are you sure? The night isn't over yet, Octavia's in Ponyville for the night, and BrickLayer and I have three unopened bottles of wine in the fridge."

"Are you seriously asking me to stay here and drink with you guys even though you and I both just got out of rehab?"

Hail Toss looked at BrickLayer, who shrugged, then turned back to Vinyl and nodded.

"Well, can't say no to that."

The rain was now gently falling in Ponyville. Nothing more than a mist, but still enough to be noticeable. Octavia shivered slightly as she made her way down the street towards Lyra and Bon-Bons house.

"Really didn't think about the rain. Should've brought an umbrella."

She eventually reached the doorstep, only a few minutes after her and Vinyl parted, and knocked.

"Who is it?"

"It's Octavia."

A few seconds after Octavia called out, Lyra opened the door and smiled.

"Hey Octi! What brings you by again?"

"Well, I was actually just in town doing some wedding shop-"

"Ooh! Ooh! Come in! Bonnie will love this!"

Lyra giggled and ran back into the house, using her magic to shut the door behind Octavia.

"Bon-Bon! Tavi's here!"

"Coming!"

"So, tell me, what'd you buy?"

"Well, I didn't, we just looked."

"Wait, we? Well where's Vinyl?"

Vinyl looked up at Bon-Bon, who had entered the room with the question.

"Well, she, she went home."

"Went home? Why did she go and you stay?"

"Did she not want to stay?"

"Well, no, it was more my idea."

"Why?"

"I know how much she hates all the fancy wedding dresses and such, plus I figured it would give me a chance to bring you girls along. I also promised Derpy I'd take her with me."

"Well, I guess that's true. Derpy could actually be good to tag along. I mean, she's the only one out of us four who's had any marriage experience."

"Good point Bonnie. So, should we run over there and get her? Still got lots of time left today."

"Sure, let's go."

"Ooh, what about this one?"

Derpy held up a ruffly dress in it's protective plastic wrap and showed it to Octavia.

"Oh, I don't know, seems a bit flashy."

"What about that one?"

Derpy pointed to a one peice wedding dress with an a-line skirt. Octavia walked over to it and got a closer look.

"You know, I actually feel really good about this one."

"Want me to go get the lady?"

"Yes please."

Derpy smiled and trotted off to go get Rarity for Octavia to try the dress on.

How in the hell am I going to get Vinyl to try on a dress?

"You needed me darling?"

Octavia looked to the purple maned mare that had strutted into the room and smiled.

"Yes, I'd like to try this one on."

"Alright, let's go to the fitting room then"

Octavia followed Rarity into a room a few metres from where they stood, and Rarity pointed her to a small area sectioned off by a curtain.

"If you need any assistance, just ask dear."

"Thank you."

Octavia smiled as she entered the room and closed the curtain behind her.

"Alright Octavia, just try it on, you're not deciding yet, calm down."

Meanwhile, back in ManeHatten, the three mares in the apartment had been playing truth or dare. They had already gone through several glasses of wine each, and it was now Vinyls turn to ask.

"BrickLayer, truth or dare?"

"Uh, dare, dare."

"Alright, I dare you, to kiss Hail Toss."

"What?"

"C'mon, it doesnt mean anything! Besides, it's a dare!"

BrickLayer looked at Hail Toss, who shrugged and put down her glass.

"I mean, it's a dare."

"Oh you ow me double rent after this shit. You lead it then."

Hail Toss smiled and quickly leaned in and planted a quick kiss on BrickLayers lips, making an over-exaggerated kiss noise at the same time.

"Alright, that wasn't too bad now was it?"

"Speak for yourself! I swear you had your mouth full of saliva. Jeez."

BrickLayer looked at Vinyl, who was laughing and trying to keep the remainder of her wine in her mouth.

"Alright miss smartass, truth or dare?"

"Oh I'm not an idiot, truth."

"Why do you love Octavia?"

The room went so silent that you could practically hear Vinyls eyelids shoot open.

"Well, I, I don't really know. I guess it's just one off those relationships where you just know you're with the right pony."

"Little philosophical for you Vinyl, but I'm pretty sure you're wasted so whatever."

"Hail, I used to be a DJ, this is me sober."

The three mares laughed and drank the remaining alcohol in their glasses. Hail Toss was the first to look at the clock, and also the first to stand up.

"Well, I think I'm set to hit the hay. I call the bed tonight!"

"Hell no you don't!"

BrickLayer jumped over the end of the couch and followed Hail Toss into the one bedroom. After a few moments of noise, Hail Toss pushed out of the room and the door was shut behind her.

"She always wins the damn room."

Hail Toss and Vinyl both drunkenly chuckled as Hail Toss walked back over to the couch.

"I mean, we got the guest bedroom, how's my place sound?"

"If it's got a bed, it'll be better than this ratty old couch."

"It does."

"Sweet. Hear that BrickLayer? I'm getting to sleep in a bed!"

Instead of a response, all the two other mares heard was a loud snort and sheets ruffling.

"Yeah, she's out. Onwards?"

"Yep."

Hail Toss grabbed another bottle of wine and the keys from her coat pocket before walking out the door behind Vinyl.

"Better lock it, she wouldn't wake up if a cow broke through the window and stole her pudding."

Vinyl laughed at Hail Toss' ridiculous attempt at logic.

"What?"

"That made no sense."

"Shuddup, I'll say what I want."

Hail Toss took a swig of the wine and stumbled towards the stairwell. She stopped atbth e top and looked down the stairs, then back to Vinyl.

"Where's the elevator?"

Vinyl chuckled again and pressed the button on the console beside the elevator door.

"C'mon ya drunk, let's go."

When the two got down to the lobby, they looked out the glass front doors at the pouring rain.

"Well shit."

"That, that wasn't supposed to happen. Well, won't get any more went if we wait!"

Hail Toss ran out of the building, alcohol bottle still in her wing, leaving Vinyl to question what she had said once again.

"Again, that didn't even make sense!"

Vinyl ran out into the rain, just a few metres behind her friend. The rain instantly matted down her mane and tail, but she laughed at Hail Toss regardless. Hail Toss wrapped one hoof around a light pole and took another drink from the bottle. As Vinyl walked over, she chuckled.

"You know you can get a drunken disorderly doing this, right?"

"Shut up! I'm having fun, and that's what matters! Take that ManeHatten! And you fair madam!"

Hail Toss descended from the light pole and started talking in a horribly fake accent.

"You must save the even fairer princess from the castle of dangerous things."

"Hail Toss, can we just get home?"

"Nein! We have to proceed, to the castle of danger!"

"C'mon Hail, let's-"

Vinyl couldn't finish her sentence before Hail Toss grabbed her and pulled her to her, kissing her deeply on the lips. Hail Toss had her back to the light post, and her head hit against it slightly as Vinyl pushed away from her.

"Hail Toss! What the hell?"

"I'm, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me, I just..."

Hail Toss sighed and hung her head.

"I'll just go back home."

As Vinyl watched Hail Toss walk away in the rain, three different feelings came to her; nausea, from the thought of how Octavia would react; Hurt, from the act itself; and Anger, from how Hail Toss could do such a thing.

"She's, she's drunk. It was a mistake. I should..."

As they were not far away, Vinyl could see Hail Toss go back into her apartment from where she stood. A small glimmer on the ground caught her eye as she went to turn around, and she levitated it to herself.

"Hail's apartment key?"

Vinyl looked at the building in contemplation for a moment, then turned and started walking away. As Hail Toss stumbled out of the elevator and over to the door, she went to reach for the keys she kept in her coat, but realized she wasn't wearing it.

"Was I carrying my keys? BrickLayer! Open up!"

As Hail Toss knocked on the door, the realization of her fault hit her, and she slumped down against the door. Drunk, soaked in rain, and trying to process how badly she had screwed up; not only her life but Vinyl's, Hail Toss gently wept as she curled into a ball against the outside of her apartment door.