Chapter 1 Getting To Know You
Vinyl & Octavia Living For the Moment
~Chapter 1. Getting To Know You~
It was a cold winters day in Ponyville. Though the sun was high and bright in the sky, the chill in the air was undeniable. The birds starting to sing out in their daily chorus to greet the dawn. But mixed in with the natural sounds, a slow steady thudding can be heard from a certain house. The windows rattling with an all to familiar for those who realized whom the home belonged too. Looking in through the window, you can clearly see a bright white mare, Her brilliant blue and cyan mane glinting in the light of the early sun. A bright glare being diverted from her eyes from her deep purple sunglasses, her trademark specs for whenever she intended to perform. Her head bobbing and her body moving rhythmically, though not truly dancing to the beat that shakes her home. She comes quickly to the window, throwing it open roughly and practically announces "Goo~d Morning Ponyville!". Her music filling the street acting as an alarm clock of sorts, since she repeated this ritual without fail daily, though the tunes would carry, you could practically set your day by it. But this was hardly the most interesting thing going on in the small town this morning. because as the window flew open, narrowly missing a charcoal grey head when the announcement comes, it rings obnoxiously right into a new resident's ear. making the poor mare stumble in shock, nearly falling over.
"Now why in the world did you have to yell that into my ear. That hardly seemed friendly." came a voice from now slightly below the window as the earth pony mare straightened herself trying to recompose herself. Straightening her raven black mane meticulously and adjusting her bow-tie which shifted slightly out of place. The alabaster unicorn just now noticing her tilted her head slightly trying to identify her before saying "Well good morning to you too snooty." receiving a scowl in turn from the slightly disheveled mare. "Good morning too you too." said the mare, not wanting to seem rude and deny the first greeting she'd received since entering the town. "but my name is not 'snooty' I would have you know.". The unicorn looked a little amused at this before clearly stating "Well Duh. I doubt there's anyone actually named 'Snooty'" as she chuckled lightly, "I mean, could you just think how vindictive their parents would be if they actually named their kid that? Talk about'a foal who'd get picked on in the school yard. But yeah, My name's Scratch, Vinyl Scratch, or as those in the know keep track of me, 'DJ Pon-3', maybe you've heard of me?". Vinyl's ears perked up a bit, hoping that simply introducing herself would impose a sort of recognition upon the mare, to no avail. "Sadly I have not, I'm not especially well versed in the the more... Rough cultures that you seem to affiliate yourself with judging by that racket pouring out your window.". Vinyl practically screaming in her mind ("Da Buck, did she just call my music a racket?!") her smile shifting in to what could be interpreted as a glare judging by the angle of her eyebrows. "But that aside, My name is Octavia, and I would actually appreciate you turning that down if you are going to try to say anything more please." Vinyl's jaw dropped at this, some random pony she'd never met before and apparently just got to town was telling her to turn down her music. ("Clearly, she needs to be told how things work around here") she thought. Holding up a hoof to gesture that Octavia wait just a moment where she was she darted back in, to presumably turn down the music. But much to Octavia's surprise instead of actually drowning out and nearly turning off as she had expected as the song hit a slow part and then bounced back even louder than before, the house rocking with the bass track.
Vinyl smirking widely at the look on Octavia's face as she grew more and more agitated with her for her antics. Both ponies practically having to yell to communicate from this point: "So October, what brings you to Ponyville?". "My name is Octavia, please get it right, and I will make sure not to remember your name miss Vinyl. So please try. Anyway, I'm trying to find a place I was looking to rent through this wanted add.". "Wanted add?", "Oh, yes, let me find that right now". Octavia started digging through her saddle bag, eventually pulling out a neatly folded piece of electric blue paper, various barely legible words requesting a roommate to share the rent of a 2 story 3 bedroom home in Ponyville, various musical indications showing on the paper. Having 3 requirements: 1, Must - Appreciate good music. 2, Should - be willing to pay half of each months rent, and 3, Absolutely Must - Be able to show the proper amount of respect. Vinyl quickly recognizing her wanted add deciding to entertain herself for a bit before letting Octavia in on the fact she posted the flier, and pretended to look at it quizzically. "Huh~hmm... Well, maybe Pinkie can help you figure out who posted it.". "Um, pardon, who is Pinkie? I am new here if you recall". "Oh right, well she's a pink curly haired pony who lives down that way. Just look for Sugar-cube Corner, you can't miss it, and I doubt she'll miss you, I'm honestly surprised she hasn't found you to 'welcome' you yet... But yeah, go check with her." "Oh, well thank you for your advice, I'll go do that right now, have a good morning.". Vinyl chuckled at this as she quickly says "Sure thing Aviator" as she closes her window with a slight slam, her music turning down, having been loud enough to even start to give her a bit of discomfort. Octavia groaned and grumbled "it's Octavia, where did she even get aviator from?" as she proceeded down the road to what looked like a brightly colored bakery.
Taking in the cheerful sights and immaculately maintained snow covered structures of the cozy little town, getting vague general greetings from those she passes, most of them in too big a rush to get out of the cold as she finally arrived. Seeing an open sign on the door, she trotted in, and looked around to see who was available. an Orange slightly wiry stallion behind the counter pulling a rack of muffins out of the oven and placing it down slowly before turning to see who was at the door. "Oh hi there, welcome to Sugar-cube Corner, where we greet the elite we meet with sweets to eat, How may I help you?". "Oh, well, actually, I'm looking for somepony here, I believe I was told her name was 'Binkie' or something like that ? Would she happen to be available by any chance?". "Binkie?... hmm well, I've never met anypony by that name, but maybe Pinkie Pie can help you.". "Oh, it was Pinkie, my mistake, terribly sorry." "No problem, let me see if she's up yet, she had kind of a long night". Mr. Cake turned and walked over to the stairs, calling up the stairway "Hey Pinkie, we had someone new in town just walk in, and she asked for you, you up?". A loud gasp and various obscured banging and crashing sounds echoing down the stairs before he voice rang out "Just one second, I have to find my confetti cannon.". Octavia looked quite confused at this statement practically whispering "... confetti cannon? There is no way that's what I just heard is it?".
Mr cake turned back to look at Octavia and casually re-approached her to ask "So then miss...?", "Oh, my name is Octavia sorry to have not introduced myself earlier.". "Octavia, very nice name, so Ms Octavia, is there anything I can get you while you wait for Pinkie to come down?". Looking around briefly, and the smell finally registering in her nose, she pointed to the muffins just pulled out of the oven, "Could I buy a few of those please?" "Sure thing" he said as he turned, whipping open a paper bag with his mouth and carefully placing them in slowly looking back over his shoulder to ask "How many would you like?". She thought for a moment "half a dozen should do I believe". Nodding, the orange stallion turned back and finished filling the bag, curling the top, and putting a small strip of tape to keep the top closed. "There we are, half a dozen muffins, that'll be 3 bits if you please.". She lifted the saddle bag off her back, placing it gently on the ground digging out 3 small yellow coins placing them on the counter and placing the paper bag in their place. "Thank you very much sir, and if it isn't too rude to ask, may you please tell me your name?". Mr Cake looked a bit confused, then realized that he hadn't introduced himself "Oh, sure, forgive me, My name is Carrot cake", "well then Mr Cake, thank you for your service", "You're very welcome" he said looking to the stairs again before yelling back up them "Pinkie are you ready yet?". The response came almost as quickly as shuffling could be heard outside "Yep, I'll be right down", Mr cake nodded and said "Well, if what's about to happen is what I think, you may want to wait outside for just a bit.".
Octavia a little confused simply nodded and proceeded to head back outside in to the slowly brightening but still cold day, when a vibrant pink pony appeared next to her, conceivably out of nowhere making her eyes go wide in surprise. Both mares smiling slightly, then Pinkie's smile growing full blown as she says "well you must be new, because I know Everypony around here and I've never seen you before. And if I've never seen you before, that means that I haven't thrown you a welcome party yet, and if I haven't thrown you a welcome party yet, that means that you haven't had a house warming party either. And that means I have so much to plan, but first..". Pinkie pulled a bright blue brightly painted thing out from behind her, though Octavia couldn't tell from where since no track marks appeared in the snow when she did so. And then a cart with various designs you'd expect to see at a young foal's birthday party plastering it's walls. It appeared to be some manner of cart though. Octavia looked nervous at the two sudden additions and raised a hoof up to ask "Um, actually I have something..." as she is cut off by Pinkie's welcome song, tuning into a rather impressive song and dance number that was clearly rehearsed several times. Octavia's hoof fell back to the ground and saw pinkie turn the cannon in her direction and as she pulled the string, a large volume of what looked like some sort of light peach paste came flying out and as the doors opened on the cart, the smell of burning paper wafted by making Octavia cough in surprise. "Oops" Pinkie said, giggling wildly, "I must've put the cake batter in the cannon and the confetti in the oven... Again" as her giggling continued, Octavia wiped the batter from her eyes and flung it aside before asking "You have done this to other ponies?". Pinkie looked over to her again "Yeah, but only a couple, Only one of them really thought it was funny thought. Octavia's eyes rolled her eyes subtly and looked back "I wonder why?".
Pinkie then licked Octavia off quickly, somehow leaving her dry afterword and swallowed all the cake batter, leaving the grey mare standing in confusion wondering how she could fit so much in that little mouth. "Yes, well..." Octavia started, "I actually came to ask you something about where I was looking to live here Ms Pinkie." "Pinkie sat down, seemingly not noticing the snow's chill on her as Octavia dug through her saddle bag once more pulling out the flier and handed it to her. "Oh yeah, so you're looking to move in with Vinyl huh? That's great she's so much fun, I get her to help with the music at my parties all the time, she's so energetic and..." Octavia interrupting this time, "Wait, did you say Vinyl? as in the same Vinyl who sent me over here to look for you after practically knocking me over this morning with her obnoxious noise that barely counts as music?". Pinkie smiled, "Oh, so you two have met already? That's great, well I hope your interview goes better than the last few who tried. She's been turning down other people for a while now. I wonder if she really wants a room mate even. But you know what, I bet you'll do just fine, you seem really nice.". Octavia looking a little annoyed said "Yes, well, I guess I know what I needed to find out now. Thank you very much Ms Pinkie." "Oh Please, just call me Pinkie or Pinkie Pie, like the rest of my friends do, no need to call me miss or anything.". Octavia nodded at this "Very well then Pinkie, thank you for your assistance." "Okey-dokey-lokey" Pinkie said before starting to bounce back inside "See you later Octavia"as the door back into Sugar-cube Corner closed behind her. Octavia was confused "did I ever actually tell her my name?" she questioned aloud and turned to go back to Vinyl's house.
As she walked, Octavia started wondering to herself why Vinyl would send her off like that, thinking that she probably just did it to get some laughs at her expense. Hoping this wasn't actually the case, she finally arrived back at the house in question and knocked on the front door. As it swung open to reveal Vinyl, the white unicorn smirked and said “Sup Oktoberfest, nice to see you back, though I thought you'd be back sooner than this, have that much fun with Pinkie?” sarcasm and implications saturating her tone. Blushing lightly at the insinuation she merely responded with “Ugh, how many times will I have to tell you that my name is Octavia, no variations.” “Whatever, you gonna come in outta the cold or what?” Octavia nodded and walked in slowly, noticing right off that everything seemed surprisingly clean. Not quite as immaculate as her former home in Manehattan but cleaner than she expected. Vinyl shut the door behind her with her magic keeping close to Octavia. “So li'll miss uptight, since you came back, I'm guessing you're serious about moving in here, but I gotta know, why Ponyville? I mean, I looked you up while you were out, you had a rockin' career back in Manehattan. So why move out here to the middle o' nowhere?” “Well, a lot happened back there, and I ended up wanting to have somewhere more relaxing, where nopony would know me immediately and I could just be myself.”, “Oh, you must be talking about that weird stalker thing in the news from out there. I'm guessing that they were stalking you?” “Well, yes, unfortunately.” “Say no more, but anyway, your share of the rent is 25 bits a month, and we'll get to the bills when that comes around in a few weeks, but yeah, we'll get to that later. Welcome roomy.”
Octavia had been expecting much more resistance to meet her than this and couldn't help herself, she had to ask: “You mean you aren't going to throw me out like the others? It is really this simple?” “Pfft, filly please. The others who were trying to move in I had reason to get rid of, but I always gave them their chance.” “Oh, I see well, thank you for giving me a chance then. I'll be sure to give you no reason to throw me out as well.” “Cool, so yeah, go ahead and make yourself at home, my room is upstairs, yours is just down the hall, if you need anything just let me know. And since it's your first day, I won't make you cook, but we'll alternate meal duty each day kapiche?” “Yes, I understand, thank you, I'll go unpack, the rest of my stuff will be here in a few days, so if somepony comes please let them in.” Got it, later Octagon.”. Octavia groaned at the latest failed attempt at her name, starting to unpack, setting her cello case in the corner and hopping on the bed, having traveled all night and into the early morning, laying down for a short nap, feeling strangely secure here in the surprisingly spacious room as she drifted off to sleep.
~ End Scene~
