Octavia poked at the blob of electric blue and turquoise mane that was asleep on the couch. An empty container of cookies and cream ice cream lay on the floor. ''Hey,'' said the earth pony as Vinyl Scratch began to stir. ''Don't you want to eat a proper meal before we go?''
The unicorn opened her eyes, although it was impossible to see beneath her glasses. ''Go where?'' she asked with a yawn.
''You know it's the first Tuesday of the month,'' replied Octavia, annoyance audible in her voice. ''It's date night.''
''I don't get the point in this,'' Vinyl said. ''Dates are for ponies who are, well, dating. I think we're past that stage.'' She turned onto her side.
''I told you what that magazine said. Date nights help 'rekindle interest and strengthen bonds in long-term partners.' So how about we go to the movies?''
Vinyl groaned. ''Why not just order something pay-per-view? It's a lot cheaper that way.''
''That's not the same thing, Vinyl. We're supposed to be excited for this.'' Octavia picked up the newspaper from the coffee table to see what was playing.
''Aaaawww, The Polka-Dot Bunny!'' the cellist exclaimed. ''We have to see that.''
''Tavi, you can't be serious,'' Vinyl replied as she rolled off the couch and stretched. ''You expect me to sit and watch a cartoon for an hour and a half surrounded by snotty-nosed brats that stink like dirty diapers? Besides, isn't that movie a bit immature for somepony of your class and sophistication?''
Octavia ignored the latter part of Vinyl's statement. ''I feel bad for the kids,'' she said. ''They have to smell your putrid breath. But seriously, brush your teeth or you go nowhere.''
''Nowhere sounds good to me.''
Octavia's patience was growing a bit thin as she waited out in the apartment-building hallway for Vinyl. It wasn't like her to take so much time getting ready to go out. And when the DJ appeared wearing saddlebags, Octavia knew something was up. She had given them to Vinyl on her last birthday, and remembered the mare's exact words when she tore off the wrapping paper. ''Aaahhh Tavi, these are for prissy pants ponies like you!'' she said, then reached for another, hopefully more appealing present.
''And what are those for?'' Octavia asked suspiciously.
''Oh, just felt like dressing up for the occasion,'' Vinyl replied.
Octavia of course didn't believe that for a minute. She unfastened the latch on one of the bags to find it filled with snacks and cans of pop. ''Vinyl, you know you're not allowed to bring food into the theater,'' she scolded.
''But everyone does it, Tavi,'' Vinyl whined in protest.
''Delinquents do it, Vinyl. Are you a delinquent?''
As Octavia went to detach the saddlebags from her partner, Vinyl turned her head and playfully nipped at the earth pony's perfectly-styled mane. Octavia tried to hide a slight smile. ''Your antics aren't going to get you out of this one,'' she said. She removed the bags and placed them back inside the door as the unicorn sighed.
''You're no fun,'' pouted Vinyl.
The theater was crowded when the two mares arrived. As Vinyl struggled to squeeze through to a pair of empty seats without falling on top of anypony, she noticed how easily and effortlessly Octavia was maneuvering in front of her. ''If you wouldn't have spent so much time dilly-dallying at home, we could have gotten here sooner and had a better choice of where to sit,'' Octavia told her.
''They woulda just filled up around us,'' the unicorn replied as her hooves crushed lost pieces of popcorn.
The previews were just finishing as the two settled into their seats. But no sooner did the movie begin than a small foal started to cry. Vinyl gave Octavia an ''I told you so'' look as the colt continued to wail.
As the film progressed and Vinyl tried to tolerate the cheesy picture intended for the youngest movie-goers, she realized she had to pee. The DJ leaned over to Octavia. ''I'm going to the bathroom,'' she said.
''Oh no you're not,'' Octavia replied with as much frustration one could put in a whisper. ''I didn't pay eight bits for your ticket for you to run off halfway through the show. You're a big girl. You can hold it.''
For the next 15 minutes or so, Vinyl fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat as Octavia pretended not to notice. The unpleasant sensation had begun to grow from annoying to painful. Finally she leaned back over to her partner. ''I'm gonna hafta leave and not come back if I pee in this seat!'' she told her.
Octavia sighed. ''Fine. Go then,'' she replied. Relieved mentally but not physically, Vinyl squeezed her way back into the aisle.
As Vinyl Scratch made her way to the restroom, she wondered how she and Octavia had managed to stay together for three years. ''She's so bossy, so controlling!'' thought Vinyl. ''I can't eat anything good without her glaring at me! She even tries to tell me when I can pee, for Celestia's sake! How do I put up with her nonsense?''
Back in the auditorium, Octavia wasn't paying much attention to the film. ''How have we tolerated each other for these three years?'' she thought. ''She can be so childish, so irresponsible! She'd probably be in jail by now if it wasn't for me. How do I put up with her nonsense?''
The unicorn returned to her seat a few minutes later, feeling much better, and not at all regretting missing part of the show. She proceeded to finish the drink she made Octavia buy for her at the concession stand after not being allowed to bring her own. The earth pony grimaced. ''Sure, gulp it all down so you can run off to the bathroom again!'' Octavia scolded. Vinyl wanted to respond in a not-very-polite fashion, but thought it best to bite her tongue.
By this point, both ponies just wanted to go home.
''Tavi, the song's fine,'' called Vinyl as cello music flowed like water from the living room to the bedroom. ''Come to bed, alright?''
The earth pony decided Vinyl might be right for once. After finishing her piece, she carefully placed the instrument back in its case, and went to join her partner in the bedroom.
Vinyl Scratch lay in bed, an edge of the blanket tucked under her mane. Her glasses sat on the nightstand on her side of the mattress, offering Octavia her nightly glimpse at the unicorn's blood-red eyes. ''The song's perfect though, really,'' said the DJ. ''Do I lie to you?''
''Well....'' said Octavia with a hint of mischief. ''There was that time you told me Princess Cadence was your cousin.''
''Since then, Tavi. Since then.'' Even when she was being serious, it seemed to Octavia, Vinyl could make her want to laugh.
The cellist sat down gently on the edge of the mattress and pulled her bowtie over her head, slightly ruffling her mane. She ran a hoof through it to settle it back down more acceptably. Vinyl grinned. ''Why bother when it's just gonna get messed up while you sleep?'' she asked.
''Because, Vinyl,'' Octavia replied, lacking a better excuse for her behavior. The unicorn grinned again as the other mare curled up in bed, adjusting the pillow and blanket until they were just so. Everything Octavia did, it seemed to Vinyl, even her simplest actions, exuded grace and sexiness.
And in those few moments, both mares knew how they put up with each other's nonsense.
