//------------------------------//
// McMare Johnson College of Music 
// Story: Musical Preferences 
// by Lunae 
//------------------------------//

Octavia settled comfortably in her new bed in her new dream school, McMare Johnson College of Music. She'd been dreaming of coming to this school for years, and it had finally happened. She sighed in glee and hopped off the soft bed. She trotted to the corner where she had already set up her cello and began playing the sweet sound. It traveled through the room and into Octavia's ears. She gently closed her eyes and continued playing, letting the music calm her.

I wonder where my roommate is. She's rather late, thought Octavia, a pony who hated when others were late.

As soon as she finished that thought, a blast came from out in the hall. Dubstep was forcing its way into Octavia's ears, and she did not like it. She tried to wait it out, thinking it would go away after a while but it only became louder as the door opened. Standing in the doorway was a unicorn mare with a short blue striped mane and tail with a white coat. Purple glasses were covering her eyes and a single music note was on her flank.

The white mare set down a large speaker and her luggage. She dragged the suitcases to the bed next to Octavia's and turned the volume on her speaker down.

"I'm Vinyl Scratch," she said.

Octavia blinked and introduced herself. "My name is Octavia."

She nodded. "So what kind of music are you-- oh."

Vinyl broke off when she saw the cello in the corner. "Classic?"

Octavia nodded her head, replying, "Yes. And you're into electro?"

"Dubstep, specifically."

Octavia nodded. This was going to be hard, living with a pony that liked to walk around blasting Dubstep for everypony to hear. 

Octavia watched as Vinyl Scratch collapsed on her bed and started snoring almost immediately. Octavia realized how tired she was at the sight of Vinyl sleeping soundly. She did the same but instead of sleeping, laying awake for hours.

She thought about how her classes would go and how she'd bear living with Vinyl. What if Vinyl was an absolute lunatic? Surely she'd be able to get a different roommate...maybe.


~


Octavia awoke groggily at six AM, much to her dismay. Couldn't she get any sleep? Oh well, she thought. At least I can occupy myself.

She trotted to the corner where she had set up her cello, carefully stepping over Vinyl's speaker. She began to play the sweet, soothing music. Octavia let her eyes fall shut, carefully listening to every note that she brought to life.

"AHH!"

Octavia dropped the bow from her gray hooves and looked wildly around the room. Vinyl had gotten out of her bed and was staring with wide maroon eyes at Octavia.

Octavia furrowed her brows and inquired, "What are you screaming about?"

Vinyl's eyes remained wide as she said, "Th-that!" she pointed a white leg at Octavia's cello. "What is that?!"

"A...cello?" replied Octavia, stilled confused.

"I don't like it," Vinyl stated simply.

Octavia rolled her purple eyes. Clearly, it would be tough living with Vinyl. She picked the bow up off the pale gray carpet and began to play the sweet music again.

"Stop it."

Octavia frowned. "Why?"

"I just can't stand that calm music."

Octavia replied calmly, "I don't care much for that Dubstep of yours, as a matter of fact."

It was Vinyl Scratch's turn to frown. "I haven't played anything yet. At least inside this room."

Octavia glared at Vinyl and she glared right back. They continued that for a few seconds before Octavia decided to be the more mature pony. 

"Just go back to sleep."

"Not with that...thing playing."

"Fine. I'll go to sleep too."

So they both did. 


~


Octavia woke up to a loud beat shaking her bed. She snapped her eyes open and angrily looked about the room, searching for the source of the noise. She found it instantaneously, as Vinyl had her speaker set on top of a desk and had connected it to a laptop. 

"What is this?!" Octavia shouted, though she could barely hear herself over the loud music.

"Deadspace! Oh yeah!" Vinyl yelled.

"Deadspace? Are you crazy? Nopony is even awake right now!"

Vinyl simply pointed to the alarm clock set on the nightstand between the two beds. It was 9:30. 

Octavia's eyes widened before shouting, "I'M LATE! I'M LATE ON MY FIRST DAY! Oh Vinyl, why didn't you wake me!?"

"I didn't know when your first class started!" Vinyl called.

Octavia ran to the speaker, turned it off, and gathered her things.

"Hey! I was listening to that!" Vinyl glared at Octavia.

Octavia ignored her and rushed out the door.

Octavia trotted down the hall, surprised at how many ponies were playing their music just as loud as Vinyl. From country music to hardcore metal. She cantered into the elevator at the end of the hall and jogged in place as it brought her to the ground floor much too slowly.

Octavia headed out the front door and into the street, finding her first class of college at her dream school.