[Vinyl is at the best local hotel her money could buy, which unfortunately for Vinyl’s checking account and credit report meant it wasn’t a very good hotel at all. It ranks somewhere between ‘servicable’ and ‘future crime scene.’.]

[It is the most luxurious lodging Vinyl had stayed at in years, as she was relating to her best friend Spitfire over the phone.]

Vinyl: [Speaking into phone] Yeah Spitfire, this place is great, I’m right near the ice machine!

Spitfire: [On speaker.] Okay! That’s ... greatttt, Vinyl. Uh ... you mentioned something was living in the walls?

Vinyl: ... yessssss, but its quiet now so I think it’s just the one thing. That’s a huge improvement from the motel I stayed at my last DJ gig.

Spitfire: ... the one at the elementary school?

Vinyl: Junior high, thank you very much!

Spitfire: You still probably shouldn't have traveled for that.

Vinyl: Hey, it was ninety bits and I got my pick of anything from the book fair.

Spitfire: Hm. What book did you get?

Vinyl: Didn’t, used it to get a comically large pen. I figure it was a good investment, since I’m always losing pens and that one's too big to really have that be a problem.

Spitfire: You never showed that to me.

Vinyl: That’s because I lost it the next day. But nevermind that! Can you believe my plan worked?

Spitfire: [Sigh.] You mean the plan to track down Octavia to get her to start a podcast with you?

Vinyl: Right!

Spitfire: The plan I told you you absolutely shouldn’t do because she was pretty clear when she broke up with you not to try to find her?

Vinyl: R-right!

Spitfire: The plan that comes off as ‘desperate’ at best and ‘literally just a crime while still being desperate’ at worst? That plan?!

Vinyl: ... well when you put it that way, it almost sounds like a stupid thing to do.

Spitfire: Vinyl. Honey. I love ya, I really do, but every day I’m more and more amazed you haven’t been arrested yet.

Vinyl: Come on... [Nervous chuckle.] These-- these are just lovable shenanigans and flaunting authority, I’m not an actual criminal or anything.

Spitfire: [Flatly.] You better thank Celestia that she didn’t just call the cops on you. I’m your friend and even I wouldn’t have faulted her for it.

Vinyl: Ughhhh, okay fine, maybe I need to put more thought into like--

Spitfire: Literally any of your actions?

Vinyl: No. Well that too, but like also, you know ... how my actions affect ponies’ boundaries that I care about.

Spitfire: [Sarcastic.] Praise Celestia, she can be taught!

Vinyl: Kiss my flank.

Spitfire: [Quickly] Yeah, you’d wish.

[There’s a knock at the door.]

Vinyl: OH! That’s probably her.... unless it's the police.

Spitfire: Memorize my number from your Contacts list in case you need to use me as your one phone call.

Vinyl: I already have it memorized.

Spitfire: [Sing-song voice.] You’re ly-ing.

Vinyl: I-- okay you’re right, I am, I’ll get on that. Later girl.

[Vinyl hung up the phone. There’s another knock at the door.]

Vinyl: Be right there!

[Vinyl opens the door with her unicorn magic, only to find Octavia standing there.]

Octavia: Oh um ... hi Vinyl. Hope I’m not... interrrrrupting anyt-- is there water dripping somewhere?

Vinyl: Probably. Um ...would you like a seat? You can sit on the water bed!

Octavia: That’s just a damp mattress.

Vinyl: Eh, tomato, tomahto.

Octavia: I’ll ... stand. [Sigh.] Alright ... I’ve had a long think about this and ... I think that maybe, yes, I would like to .. tentatively try to do this podcast with you--

Vinyl: [Pumps hoof.] Score! Who’s desperate now, Spitfire?

Octavia: Pardon?

Vinyl: Nothing! But yeah, this is great! I’m so excited--

Octavia: But! Only if we set up some ground rules first.

Vinyl: Oh... yeah, cool, of course.

Octavia: First! If things get weird at any point, I’ll have to walk away and I want you to actually respect that.

Vinyl: Fine, of course. [Pause.] Annoying you doesn’t count as being weird, right?

Octavia: No Vinyl, I’d never make you make a promise I know you couldn’t keep.

Vinyl: Sweet! Okay done.

Octavia: Second! This is just a hobby for me. We will need to work around my music classes because I don’t want to leave any of my protégés high-and-dry.

Vinyl: [Snicker.] ‘Protégés.’ You could have just said ‘student,’ you don’t have to get all thesaurus-reader to impress me.

Octavia: [Grumbles.]

Vinyl: You just said being annoying is on the table, I’m within my rights! [Serious.] But yeah, that’s totally fine. I wasn’t kidding when I said I know you’re a good teacher.

Octavia: ... oh. Well... thank you for understanding. [Clears throat.] And third, and this is most important... I want you to promise you’ll ... take care of yourself. Please.

Vinyl: [Snicker.] Whaaaat, what are you talking about? I’m doing totally fine.

Octavia: Uh. Yeah. Do you want me to list off reasons why I don’t believe that or should I just gesture to this whole hotel room and start there? I sent you the addresses of several places better than this.

Vinyl: Yes, but only this place had the rustic charm that I appreciated.

[There’s scratching from inside the wall.]

Octavia: IS SOMETHING ALIVE IN THERE?!

Vinyl: What’s with all these personal questions?!

Octavia: Vinyl.

Vinyl: [Sigh.] Okay okay, I’ll ... [Deep breath.] Yeah, you’re right. I’ll work on it. It’s been a rough couple years.

Octavia: [Awkwardly.] Dooooo you need some money or--

Vinyl: What?! No no--

Octavia: [Talking over her.] Cause if you do it’s really not--

Vinyl: No, we are not doing that. I’m not a charity case--

Octavia: It’s not charity. It’s just ... helping someone ... in a small amount of need.

Vinyl: [Pause.] [Incredulous.] That’s what charity is.

Octavia: Okay maybe a little--

Vinyl: Nope. Nuh-uh. Putting my hoof down. It’s fine, I got it handled, the equipment and money issue I will handle on my own. It was my idea, I’ll get it together. Alright?

Octavia: [Sigh.] Alright, but just ... keep my offer in mind. You don’t always have to be so prideful.

Vinyl: I don’t need to be so prideful? You do remember who you’re talking to, right?

Octavia: [Sad laugh.] Yeah ... I guess you’re right. Alright. [Claps hoofs.] So pending equipment, we have a bit of a plan. Boundaries set. I’m ... actually a little excited about it.

Vinyl: Me too. Yep, just like all times, locked and loaded, we’re ready to go.

Octavia: Now then ... what kind of podcast are we doing?

Vinyl: [Long pause.] Uhhh ...

Octavia: Vinyl. You did have like... actual ideas on the content right?

Vinyl: UHHHHHH ... I had ideas about what life would be like after I actually made the content, does that count?

Octavia: No.

Vinyl: Okay then no I don’t.

Octavia: [Snort.] Let’s just-- we’ll just workshop some stuff tomorrow.

Vinyl: Yeah, good idea, we’ll circle back, yeah.

Author's Note

So this is the end of the first little Starter Arc here. I'm glad you've all seemed to enjoy it so far.

The title for this chapter are song lyrics from a song called "Baby Take My Acid" by Lincoln and Penelope Scott. All the other chapters so far have just been straight up song titles I thought fit the vibe of the chapter. This song probably most fits this whole arc. I just thought using that specific song title might kinda imply some very different stuff went on in this chapter than what actually does lol.