A Simple Scratch

by BradyBunch

Rating: everyone
Tags: Romance, DJ P0N-3, Human, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Second Person
Length: 1480

Introverts aren't made to be friends, even in a land of friendship. But one day, while you're relaxing in the park, another introvert appears. Inevitably, friendship blossoms.

As an introverted person who thinks talking naturally is unnatural, you're starting to think that maybe the land of friendship you appeared in isn't a place for you to make friends.

Vinyl Scratch might just be the pony to change that, however. While relaxing in the park one day with your headphones in and your sunglasses on, far away from anypony else, she comes up, and, incredibly, so do your emotions. She may have just scratched the surface on your reclusiveness.

Published 2019-07-16 13:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2019-07-16 13:10:01 UTC

Scratching the Surface

...Hey!

Hey!

Hey! Yeah, you, the big guy I've been waving at. Just wanted to say you got nice shades. Makes you look cool.

...Aww, thanks for liking my headphones! I had 'em since I was, like, ten. And they still keep ya pumpin'!

My name's Vinyl Scratch. What's yours?

Nice to meet ya! You're the new guy in town, right? The human everyone's talking about? Ppt. You gotta be. Who else but you?

Well, I noticed you don't get out much. And when you do, you always have those headphones in and those cool shades on your eyes. Just like me! What's the matter with ya? You shy?

How'd I know? Uh, dude, we're, like the same. Look, I get it. Interacting with ponies is strange and awkward. But you gotta do it anyway! For me it's just a general nod. That's usually good enough.

Yeah, I'm shy. Heh heh. Yeah, you'd think Fluttershy is enough for this town, right? But I've got her same issues. It's not that I hate ponies, I just kinda… hate talking to ponies. Except for when they're just like me. Then I just talk on and on and on and on. Ha ha ha!

You too? Aww! Yeah! Finally, an introvert I can be an introvert with! Let's both be lonely in the park, together!... Yeah, I don't know how that works either, but eh. I don't care.

Hey, move your butt. Make room for me. I want to sit next to you.

Ahh… sittin' on a tree's bark is one of those awesome things in life. You got your music in your ears, the shades on your face to block the sun, and you just chillax for hours and hours, bathing in imagination, until you get so hungry you can't stand it anymore, and you go home and pig out on chips and chocolate. And chocolate chips. Heh.

You too? Heheheyyy, lookee at the other big loser apart from me! You're a winner in my book, though.

What kinda tunes do you listen to?

Hey, that's cool. Me, I listen to hard dubstep. It's frickin' sweet to feel the buzzing in your chest and your head. It makes you feel powerful, doesn't it? You could take on the world with a heavy beat in your heart and an awesome track in your head.

I like it when the music rises and fades and then rises and fades, and then comes crashing in and rocks your body to the beat. It's so cool! And the way music can come in every kind of sound, too. Roars and whispers, fast and slow electric spurts, blips and blurbs of whirring power.

But the best part is, I am the one in control of it all. I sit at the table and I deftly maneuver these parts together to create the ultimate beat that'll drop your heads to the bass. It gives me a sense of… power, you know? Everyone needs to feel like they have power to do something. When I use my power for good and I see ponies smile and party and cheer to the stuff I do, it… I dunno, man, it makes me smile silly.

Pssht, sorry I'm rambling. You dig that stuff too?

Aww yeah! Anyone who digs that kinda stuff is the best kind of pony. Especially after they go through a lot of crap at work, you know? You want to feel transported to another plane, another state of being. There's nothing there but yourself and the world you create to the sound of music. And that's the only place I'd rather be.

Anyway, what do you like to do when you're not working?

...Mm-hmm. I do that too. You know what I also like to do? I like to keep to myself. Test out new subwoofers in my home. And experiment with making my own remixes of other pony music. Man, it's so awesome when other ponies inspire you to create work based on their preexisting stuff.

I also like to just… y'know, lie on my bed and look at the ceiling and ponder on the mythical secrets of the universe. Or listen to my music. Or I daydream about someone super hot that would wrap their arms around me and snuggle me in my bed. Man, pillows are no substitute for a cute pony. Pssh, how would I know? It's never happened. And it might not for some time.

Get real. Of course it won't. Guys only go for the cute girls like Rarity. They're flamboyant and so… out there. Why bother going out of your way to go for someone like me? I'm just a DJ who doesn't talk to anybody and who likes being alone--but I also don't like being alone if I have someone like you I can vent to.

You know how I'm feelin', though, right?

Good! I thought I was just rambling again. Seriously, Octavia can be a nice ear, but she rarely has anything good to say in return.

… You… don't have someone like that?

Okay, now that's a problem that needs to be fixed ASAP! Who do you need to talk to when you feel like crap? Someone like me, perhaps?

Uh, that was just a way to say I want to be that pony.

Look, you don't look so good. You say you're cool. But if I know you--and I do--you're probably bitter about something.

Ha! I get it. There isn't one specific problem causing your anxiety. It's an avalanche of other, little, minuscule crap just piling on you and burying you in stupidity. Take one problem out, and you're still left with a whole bunch of other stuff. It's never going to look like you'll ever get out. It's… crushing you. You want to get out, but you're choking on all this stuff and your cries are going silent.

… Hey, don't look so sad! Look, I'm sorry for talking like that-

...Hm. I-if you insist, then. I suppose it just… hit too close to home, huh?

You know what cheers me up? Hugging. Usually I do it with my pillow, because asking to hug Octavia is, like, super awkward. But I don't feel as awkward around you. Where other ponies make me weak, you make me feel strong. So… yeah, can I hug you?

*ulp!*

...I'm guessing that's a yes. Ha ha! Come here, you big old lug! Gimme something to work with!

So this is what it's like… Hey, can I stay like this? If it's not too awkward? Thanks. I… I like this feeling.

Mmm…

Man, I love you.

Uh, I said, um, I'd wub you! Like, I'd rub your hair like this and go wiki-wiki wowwww boom ba boom! You've got really nice hair for that.

Me too? Aww, thanks! You're so- hm? Yeah, yeah, you can touch my mane. Ahh… there we go. Muss it all up. I never brush it anyway.

A punk?! I… yeah. I guess you could call me that. Never got pierced, though. Maybe on the ears, but not my nose. Not even the belly button. Or the boobs. Ha ha ha ha! Look at ya! You just-...nah. Never mind.

Hey, hey, listen. Um… you're freaking awesome. I never thought I'd find someone as un-normal as I am, but here we are.

Yeah, I do think I'm repeating myself. Not my fault, though. Most of this is me rambling on and on about my interests, and the rest of it is me pathetically confessing my feelings. Heh heh.

...See? You feel the same way too! Why should we be ashamed?

Hey, I… I'm having my next gig on Tuesday at Lyra's birthday party. You hate dances, if I'm reading you right, but I was hoping you would come and we'd set up together and talk some more?

Of course you don't have to dance! It's a party, you do whatever the heck you want. Hang out with me onstage, if you really want to. Please? Pretty please?

All right! It's a date!

D-date as in, Tuesday, not, you know… that kind of date. It can be a date if you want to, but if not-

Yes? A real live date? Woohoo! I can't wait to see you there, dude!

Right, I get ya. One day at a time. For the moment, let's just… relax. The view is really pretty.

Wait, I'm pretty?!

Ha ha ha ha ha! Whoo!

Hey, I'm not laughing at you! It's just… wow. Thanks. You're awesome. I don't know how much else I can say it, but… yeah.

Ahh… I just want to stay here.

Do you want a taste of my music? We can listen to the music together. It feels more special that way.

Mmm…

...If I fall asleep, take me back to Tavi's place, all right?