Pump Up The Volume

Vinyl and Octavia walk towards the small centre of town. "So, Vinyl, what are you studying?" Octavia asks.

"Electronics, music, biochemistry, and psychology." Vinyl answers quickly.

"Oh. Well, I'm studying anatomy and physics." Octavia says. Vinyl looks at her with a look of confusion on her face.

"I thought you would have been studying music, too. Do you play anything besides the violin?" she asks.

"Yes! I play the cello. I'm paying for my tuition by playing in the Equestrian Orchestra. Youngest member."

"Don't be offended, but I'm not a big fan of classical. I prefer house and electronica." Vinyl says, running a hoof through her hair.

"It's just beeping and whirring noises to a rhythm. It's not music, it's a foundry recorded on a tape!" Octavia says bluntly.

Vinyl growls. "Never say that. It's supposed to create euphoria and shake ponies to their cores. Classical is just to make rich bastards laugh at how insignificant other classes are." she says.

They arrive at the bar. Vinyl walks in. She sits down at the bar next to a blue mare with her head on the bar. Vinyl looks at the bartender. "Gin martini, my good sir." she says. A moan from beside her confirms that the mare is still alive. Octavia sits on Vinyl's other side. She looks at the blue mare.

"Is she alright?" Octavia asks.

The bartender nods. "She's just drowning her sorrows. Something about getting dumped by her significant other. What'll it be, miss?"

"Chardonnay, please." Octavia says. The bartender gives both of them their drinks.

Vinyl nudges the blue mare. She lifts her head and says, "What do you want?"

"Are you okay?" Vinyl asks her.

"No... My marefriend dumped me." the blue mare says. She groans. "Bucking bitch doesn't know what she's missing."

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry." Octavia says. She moves to the mares other side and puts a foreleg around her. "Tell us what happened."

"Well, I came home one day and Parasol wasn't there. I found a note on the fridge saying she was leaving me, and I've been in this bar ever since..." the blue mare says. Tears start rolling down her cheeks. She rests her head on Octavia's shoulder. "What's wrong with me? I can't stay in a relationship for anything..."

Octavia smooths out the mare's hair with her hoof. "It's okay... We're here... What's your name?"

"Colgate... My name is Colgate." the mare says. She's calmed down somewhat.

Octavia smiles. "We'll help you, Colgate. Here." Octavia hands her a small card with the address of their dorm room on it. "Come over if you need some help. We've got beds, if you need a place to relax." Octavia gets up. She finishes her Chardonnay. "I'll be back, I've got to find a restroom." she says, walking to the back.

Vinyl smiles. "Colgate, we'll try our best to get you through this."

"Thank you. You and your girlfriend are very nice..." Colgate says, wiping her eyes.

Vinyl looks at her, confused. "Girlfriend? Girlfrie- Oh, Octavia? Oh, no, no, no! We're not dating!"

"So, you're single?" Colgate asks.

Vinyl nods. "Yeah."

"Good." Colgate darts forward and kisses Vinyl. Vinyl, shocked, pulls away.

"What the hay? What is... I taste mint. You taste like mint." she says, somewhat flabbergasted.

"Is that a good thing?" Colgate asks, trying her best to sound innocent.

"Actually, it's rather nice..." Vinyl says. "Like I just had some Altoids or something..."

"It's not just my saliva that tastes like mint..." Colgate says. A slight seductive twinge can be heard behind the drunken slur.

"Are you hitting on me?"

"Is that a bad thing?"

"My place, ten o'clock." Vinyl says, nodding. She finishes her martini and walks to the restroom. She waits until Octavia walks out.

"How's out little love-struck friend doing?" she asks, flicking water off of her hooves.

"She's coming over tonight for some... Therapy."

"Oh god, you invited her over to have sex? What the hell, Vinyl?" Octavia groans.

"Not sex. Therapy."

The next morning

Octavia opens her eyes. They are bloodshot from lack of sleep. She gets up. She looks at Vinyl and Colgate, cuddling together in Vinyl's bed. She gets out of bed. She pulls the covers off of Vinyl's bed. "Come on, get up. We got classes today."

"Go away, can't you see I'm giving Colgate therapy?" Vinyl says, snuggling closer to Colgate. She kisses Colgate's ear. Colgate giggles.

"Slut." Octavia mumbles, picking up her book bag. "Just remember that you need to get up by nine. Your classes start then."

"Whatever, mom." Vinyl mumbles. Octavia walks out the door.