Chapters The Vinyl Scratch Tapes: Reunion Tour
Episode 1: Don't Let's Start
[Octavia is peering over her tiny glasses watching a tiny light blue colt, Trebel Clef, attempt to play the cello while standing on a stool.]
Octavia: Excellent! Your posture has improved since last session!
Trebel: Yes, ma’am. Um ... it is hard to balance on this stool though. Is there a smaller cello I can try to learn with, Miss Octavia?
Octavia: No no no, silly, there are no smaller cellos. You’re thinking of a violin.
Trebel: Um ... I’m pretty sure that there are --
Octavia: Besides! You must learn to work with the size and weight. It builds character. Now, let’s try Camptown Races from the top. 1, 2--
[Knocking.]
Octavia: Oh! One moment please. Now be sure to hold that posture.
Trebel: [Mumbling] My hoof is falling asleep.
Octavia: Now who could this be ...
[Door swings open, only for Octavia to be faced with ...]
Vinyl: [Talking extremely fast] Hey Octy! Boy you sure change addresses a lot! Anyway I heard about this new thing called ‘podcasts’ and I was wondering if--
[Octavia slams door shut, eyes wide. After a moment, one of her eyes starts to twitch.]
Trebel: Um ... do you want me to start Camptown Races or--
[Octavia shakes the colt by the shoulders.]
Octavia: YOU THINK I GIVE A FLYING FILLY ABOUT CAMPTOWN RACES NOW ?! [Pause. Deep breath. Lowered voice.] Sorry ... sorry. Um. Change of plans, Trebel. I think we’ll call it early today. You be sure to practice and we’ll meet back up again next week. At a location I will disclose to your mother later. Possibly under an assumed name. Now I’m going to need you to exit my house quickly but calmly out the back window, okay ?! Okay.
Vinyl: [From outside.] Hello? Octy? [Knock, knock. Door knob jiggles.] Yep. That’s some lock you got there. [Chuckles.]
Trebel: Um ... Miss Octavia? Who is that out there?
Octavia: [Whispering.] The past, Trebel. The past.
Trebel: Oh. [Pause.] Okay, cause it sounded like an actual pony--
Octavia: [Exasperated] Metaphor , Trebel, don’t you have a window to crawl out of?!
Author's Note
You may be wondering why I'm starting a sequel after thirteen years. And that's a good question and the only answer I can really give is "seemed like a fun idea at the time." Chapters are gonna be short and I'm gonna try to keep this updated as long as I can keep this interesting.
The Vinyl Scratch Tapes: Reunion Tour
[Octavia packs an absurdly large suitcase on her bed, hastily shoving in items with her hooves.]
Octavia: Alright ... collar, cello, cello case, mace-- both the spray and the metal kind-- antidepressants, train ticket ... Yes, that should be sufficient until this blows over.
[Vinyl trots into the room behind Octavia.]
Vinyl: Don’t forget your keys.
Octavia: Ah yes, thank you, Vinyl, that’s much-- FGDSCCWSLWEH !
[Octavia fully leaps several feet into the air and whips around.]
Octavia: YOU !
Vinyl: [Waves.] Hi Octy. Your back window was open.
Octavia: Ugh! [Mumbling.] Trebel, you little-- [Sharp inhale.] Hello, Vinyl. Just for awareness, an open window in my home doesn’t automatically mean ‘come in.’
Vinyl: Awwww come on. What’s a little breaking and entering between friends, eh? [Chuckles.]
Octavia: [Silence.]
Vinyl: ... not even a giggle?
Octavia: Why are you here, Vinyl?
Vinyl: I already told you! Have you ever looked into podcasts? There’s like a million of them! They don’t even need that much structure. A lot of them are just people talking about shows they watched!
Octavia: Vinyl ...
Vinyl: Hang on, I’ll get my phone... [Pulls out phone.] Okay look, this one’s just a few colts watching a cartoon or something. I uh ... don’t know what that is. Some kind of modernized reboot of a kids show from 30 years ago? Wow. You ever notice everything is a reboot or a sequel now?
Octavia: Vinyl .
Vinyl: No wait, look, two of the Elements of Harmony have a true crime podcast now! This one is really good! Here, listen.
[Vinyl hits play on her phone.]
Applejack: [On phone, frustrated.] Look , all ahm sayin’ is that ah have reservations about glorifying violence.
Rarity: [On phone]. Oh, it is not about glorifying violence, it’s simply an interesting historical subject to learn about. It’s just a hobby, darling, you don’t have to analyze everything.
Applejack: Ya’ll told me you were gonna have a nice lunch and then you just started dragging out recording equipment!
Rarity: We are having a nice lunch! We’re just also going to speculate about the Changeling invasion!
Applejack: Speculate?! WE WERE THERE!
Rarity: But what really happened though?
Applejack: WE KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED . Twilight knows even more than we do! Ya’ll could call just her on the phone!
Rarity: You know, I’ve had it up to here with you ruining my fun!
Applejack: Ah, here we go.
[Applejack and Rarity raise their voices and argue over each other to the point where what's being said is unrecognizable.]
[Vinyl pauses the podcast.]
Vinyl: See, that could be us ! Now, I don’t have recording equipment at home at the moment, had to hock a lot of it a few months back to make rent, but--
Octavia: VINYL ! Just ... stop, okay?! I’m not going to uproot my life to indulge in one of your zany schemes again!
Vinyl: Pfft, come on this isn’t that zany. Who knows, there might even be a new career for us in it--
Octavia: I already have a career! I teach music now!
Vinyl: What?! [Groans.] I mean, I know you’re a great teacher, but you know you’re meant for better than that.
Octavia: I’m not ‘meant’ for better, I already had better, we were all on top of the world for years, it was good, and now I’m done. I don’t need anymore excitement. I had quite enough of excitement with, oh I don’t know, the jazz fusion tour--
Vinyl: [Annoyed.] OH YOU HAD TO BRING THAT UP! You know, like two-thirds of those shows killed, it’s not my fault the Canterlot elite didn’t like strobe lights and got all sensitive about it.
Octavia: [Normal speaking volume.] Vinyl, it made Soarin’ crash into a brick wall.
Vinyl: Y-yeah, but he was fine !Like Spitfire says the fake teeth look so good you can’t even tell! Besides, that was like ten years ago, you really gonna hold that against me?
Octavia: Vinyl, it’s not just that . It’s not any one thing. It’s just .. events like that, the excessive spending, the bad investments, that year you thought the quartet should pander to the ringtone market, all the everything that happened in Las Pegasus--
Vinyl: Okay sure, we can legally never go back there again, but it was still a good time!
Octavia: The wanting to party all weekend every weekend , the blowing through rent money which is astonishing considering how much money you used to make--
Vinyl: Rent is a social construct made to persecute me specifically.
Octavia: --and like ... [Frustrated laugh] just you being able to do all that and always getting out any real consequences for any of it because you’re so charming and ... yes, you also have done things, AMAZING things, for me, I know that! And you really can be fun! Like when we had wine with the quartet and ended up inventing swing.
Vinyl: HEY I WAS NEVER INTO-- oh “swing music,” you mean “swing music.” Yeah, that was a fun afternoon...
Octavia: It’s-- it’s like you think just cause you’re able to do those things that it makes all the not-great things okay! And for a while I thought that too but ... [Sits on bed.] It just gets ... tiring. It’s a rollercoaster.
Vinyl: [Pause.] [Whispering.] Rollercoasters are fun...
Octavia: Only because you know you get off at the end and then be safe. I don’t want to ride one forever . I couldn’t, even if I wanted to! [Deep sigh.] We’re not in our twenties anymore, Vinyl ...
Vinyl: ... I know ... I’m sorry. [Pause.] I mean ... I do try. I can try to do better.
Octavia: I know you try. But you’ve been trying for almost a decade .
Vinyl: Okay well... okay, forget all that. I wasn’t even trying to get back together anyway.
Octavia: Yeah . Sure.
Vinyl: [Perking up.] Unless you’re offering to, in which case that was totally my plan the whole time.
Octavia: [Snicker.]
Vinyl: EH! [Giggles.] EH! You laughed, I got you!
Octavia: [Snicker.] No, you didn’t. Please. [Clears throat.] Please, no jokes.
Vinyl: Aw, but that’s what I’m good at.
Octavia: [Silence.]
Vinyl: [Groan.] Alright fine ... I mean ... really, that wasn’t why I was here. I just wanted to ... start a podcast--
Octavia: Cut the crap.
Vinyl: Okay fine! I guess ... [Lowers voice.] I just ... missed you. Uh. Not like ‘missed you’ like that! Well maybe a little ... but ... I just wanted to... talk to you again. Just ... you know ... I miss that. It’s ... lonely.
Octavia: [Gently.] Come on, you-- you have lots of friends, Vinyl.
Vinyl: I do, just not, you know ... ones I can talk to about anything that matters. Well, Spitfire a little, but you know ... even that’s not the same. I dunno ... I thought if I had a reason to see you that might be better. Something like the good old days. Something that seemed fun.
Octavia: [Flops backwards on the bed.] [Exasperated.] Vinyl, I know it’d be fun . You’re always fun. That’s not the problem. It’s that when it's time to get serious I’m afraid you won’t be able to, and I’ll get upset and angry and resentful and I hate being like that and ... then it won’t be fun anymore.
Vinyl: [Quiet.] No ... I get it. I’m sorry that I’m ... the way I am.
Octavia: Vinyl, don’t be like that.
Vinyl: I should go. [Gets up.]
Octavia: Wait!
Vinyl: What?
Octavia: I’ll .... give me some time to think about it.
Vinyl: Oh! Um ... [Nervous laughter] Wow, okay, that’s great --
Octavia: About the podcast. And talking again. Not about-- [Clears throat.] Anything else--
Vinyl: Right-right of course, yeah I knew that.
Octavia: Right. Good.
Vinyl: Great! [Awkward pause.] I willllll leave you to that then.
Octavia: [Laugh.] Yes. Great. Thank you.
Vinyl: This was nice.
Octavia: IIIIIIII spent most of this time yelling at you, that’s nice for you?
Vinyl: [Snort] Are you kidding? [Opens door.] This is just like old times.
Octavia: [Yelling after Vinyl.] Finding that comforting is deeply concerning!
Vinyl: Sorry, won’t be looking inward about that! See you, Octy! [Closes door.]
Octavia: [Pause.] [Long sigh.]
Vinyl: [Opens door.] So uh, yeah, sorry if this messes up your pathos, but uh… do you know where I can find a good hotel? I took a train to get here and did noooooot think any of it through at all—
Octavia: [Slightly annoyed.] ... I will text you a few addresses.
Vinyl: [Quickly.] Awesome, perfect, thank you. [Closes door.]
Octavia: … dear Celestia, I’m losing my mind all over again …
Author's Note
Did you really think I forgot about the tradition of every season's second episode getting REALLY real all of a sudden?
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The Vinyl Scratch Tapes: Reunion Tour
Episode 3: If You're Not Doing Anything, Can You Still Call It Trying to Get Better?
[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.
