//------------------------------//
// Off One's Rocker 
// Story: Big Tavi Lil Tavi Cardboard Box 
// by All Art Is Quite Useless 
//------------------------------//

	As Octavia swept away the last remnants of plaster, which had fallen from the ceiling during yesterday's escapades, she breathed a small sigh of relief. She had been cleaning for almost five hours, and was looking forward to a brief respite. She would have given up and had a break much sooner, but she could not stand living around that level of mess any longer. 

Now, after the toils of her labour, the floor was visible once again, and any broken furniture, with the exception of the sofas, had been dragged outside to the front garden, ready to be taken to the tip. Octavia lamented the loss of their furnishings, knowing whatever they bought to replace them would be just that, a replacement, rather than the real, original items.

She had managed to order their remaining possessions, setting them out wherever there was space, and had began to take inventory of their losses, although she hadn't considered pricing yet, as it was not her concern. A large part of her couldn't help but feel guilt, as her actions were the direct cause of the small disaster. Vinyl instigated it. She harrumphed and skulked to the kitchen, digging around one of the loosely hanging drawers and finding a bottle of small pills, of which she took one. Dry swallowing had never been an issue for her, but after how much she had shouted yesterday, her throat was hoarse, and she thought it best to wash her pill down with water.

After she had sat, nursing her water for a few minutes, she decided it would be prudent to double check her room for signs of damage, although she was sure she hadn't seen any last night. She surveyed the scene and found nothing amiss, as she had thought, but panic instructed her to confirm it. Her eyes lingered on her cello briefly, and she considered picking it up, but thought better of it. She had been standing on her hind legs sweeping for hours, which took quite a toll on a pony, even one as used to it as Octavia. Thought of repeating that action made her hind legs quiver slightly.

Knowing that she couldn't practice and there was no more sweeping to be done, she headed back to the living room. Some ponies were 	content with having nothing to do, having time to sit comfortably and peruse their thoughts. This didn't appeal to Octavia, she was a mare of action, and could not abide sitting idly by waiting for things to happen, so she stood. 

When she stood, she did so without hesitation, but also knew she had no reason in doing so. She had nowhere to be, nor did she have anything significant to do. Anything she put herself to now would just be mindless filler, in wait of Vinyl's return. Why can I not just relax? Why do you deserve to relax?  Octavia paced back and forth, thinking about the house, which she had no reason to leave. She could eat, but knew she wasn't really hungry, she could resume sitting, but knew that would lead to more restlessness, she could clean, but knew she had already been through every room, except Vinyl's.

The thought gave her pause. As an unstated rule, neither mare went in the other's room very often, and never while they were gone. In truth, though they had lived together for over a year and a half, and generally got along quite well, they did not know each other especially well on a personal basis. At their current stage of relationship, one going into the other's room uninvited ran along the same lines of a violation of privacy, yet Octavia considered it anyway. Would she really mind? Her room is closer to the living room after all, and there's more chance it was damaged during the mishap. Plus, she's been out running errands, so she hasn't been able to tackle it herself, I would be doing her a favour, wouldn't I? Octavia considered these thoughts as she inched closer to Vinyl's room, feeling a slight guilt mixing in her stomach along with a small excitement to explore the domain of her curious roommate. You are trying to justify yourself. I am not, my reasons are perfectly valid! Keep telling yourself that Octavia.

Upon turning the knob and pushing the door open, an irritating task for earth ponies, she let out a soft, audiable gasp. I'm living with a vagrant. I must be. This place, it... it looks like a crack house! Well how I'd imagine a crack house looks at least. It's just so messy! Octavia couldn't tell whether the jumble of books, music sheets, blankets, empty bottles and miscellaneous items had been set that way by the shaking from yesterday, but she was shocked regardless. Her room had looked nothing like this, nothing had even fell down. To attribute all of this to Vinyl's speaker seemed more than a little generous in Octavia's eyes. 

Octavia still wanted to clean, more out of a sense of duty to the house, and a benevolent desire to save her roommate from disorder, but was unsure where to start. The first thing she did was collect all of the bottles, another difficult task for earth ponies considering the cylindrical shape of the bottles, and put them in a large refuse sack, to be taken outside for collection. Next she started on the books. She picked up a book on pyrotechnics first, and then a guide to intermediate level violin playing, both with several pages dog eared. Next, she found what looked like a tattered journal, and set it with the other two books. Too personal, there is no way I am opening that. Grumbling, realising the answers to all of her questions regarding the quirky mare she lived with sat in that book, she redoubled her efforts, wanting to finish her task before she got too frustrated with how clueless she really was.

The next book she picked up perplexed her, and she thought she had misread the title at first:Extrinsic Elements of Metaphysics. According to the synopsis, it was written regarding the seldom considered principles of existence, including where alicorns came from, and how it was that an alicorn could be made. The book also mentioned both spiritual and scientific exploration, as well as ancient history across the Gaia. Octavia was confused. Slightly so by the concept as well as the jargon, but she felt that was not what really boggled her. After a few seconds it hit her. Why does Vinyl have this book? Is this really the sort of thing that Vinyl reads? I always envisioned her reading dramas, action books, even comics would seem more fitting to her character than this. What even is this? Am I to accept that Vinyl is an intellectual now? She does not speak like one nor does she carry herself like one, it's simply preposterous. Then again, does that matter? I suppose not everyone wears their thoughts and opinions openly, I most certainly do not. But still... After finding several more books pertaining to philosophy, language, ethics and even a couple on engineering, she decided to pick up a book at random and attempt to sift through it. Reading something new would take her mind off things, she reasoned. But, she also wanted to decipher just what it was that drew Vinyl, a hyperactive DJ, to such things. 

Octavia sat on her sofa and opened a book titled: To Ancient Equestria and Back Again - A Guide to Etymology. Octavia began to read it page by page, although eventually her concentration waned and she started to consider why it was that she did not know these things about Vinyl. She is a very forthcoming mare, but only over silly, trivial things. When it comes to matter of consequence, I've come to expect either a badly timed joke from her, or a good listening ear. Honestly, sometimes I would prefer her opinions on things, and considering that she reads books like this for leisure, I'm sure there are more than a few interesting opinions floating around in that brain of hers.  Octavia closed her eyes in thought as she reclined, book in hoof. I suppose it cannot be helped. We both live busy lifestyles, there simply isn't enough time in the day to sit around speaking of serious and personal things. I mean, I would be surprised if she actually manages to get much reading done at all, considering how swiftly her schedule can fill up at times. Octavia sat, eyes shut, contemplating the complexities of her roommate's character, and the annoyance her lack of understanding continued to bring her, until the door closed, and she heard steps in her direction, followed by Vinyl's upbeat voice.

"Sleeping on the job again Tavi? keep it up and I'm gonna dock your pay." She grinned as she spoke. "What you reading?" She inched closer as she spoke, and upon seeing the book's cover appeared to freeze up, looking slightly alarmed, ashamed, and disgruntled at once. Vinyl quickly hid her look, partially covered by her shades anyway, and was thankful that Octavia had only recently opened her eyes, and didn't seem to notice her obvious discomfort. She tried to keep that same discomfort out of her voice as she spoke again. "What are you doing with that dusty old thing Tavi? I use it as a paperweight, I've never once considered actually reading it." She laughed a fake laugh as she spoke and put on her most convincing look, again thankful for the sunglasses marring her eyes.

Octavia flashed an annoyed face, which she took no time attempting to cover up, straight at Vinyl before rebutting. "Please Vinyl, do not insult me. Your books all have marks from obvious use, none of them are dusty, and some even contain notes in your hoofwriting! Why would you lie about something like this?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Tavi."

"Vinyl!"

Vinyl looked down as she spoke her next words, unable to meet Octavia's eyes, piercing as they were, weapons of her frustration. "W-well, I've never really thought about it, I suppose I'm just not comfortable discussing what I read, people assume things I guess." Vinyl looked around nervously before continuing in a lower tone. "People see me and they think 'Bass Pony', and honestly that's all I want them to think. It's just easier that way. I know that shouldn't include you Tavi, but hey, I'm hardly an expert on you either, am I? See, you're already looking at me in a different way, what if I wanted to just be seen like that, nothing more or less? The Vinyl you see every day is every single bit me, I just have some hobbies, okay?"

Octavia persisted in questioning Vinyl, not feeling that the explanation was satisfactory. "Still Vinyl, seeing this today has made me realise I still know nearly nothing about you. We are meant to be friends, are we not? Then why don't you tell me anything?" Octavia's voice was firm as she spoke.

"Of course we're friends Tavi, how can you question that? We've got this perfect little yin yang thing going on! My white coat to your black mane!"

Octavia paused in her inquisitions to regard Vinyl. "I'm sorry, 'yin yang'?"

Vinyl took on a scholarly tone as she resumed speaking. "It's an ancient Eastern Equestrian philosophy from before Celestia's time, in this case characterised by a circular ubiquitous symbol, containing the yin, and the yang. The yin is a dark swirl, representing femininity, darkness, and the trough through which things travel, be those thoughts or actions. On the opposite side, in equal size, the yang represents passion, growth and strength. The yang is characterised by a light swirl. When these swirls coalesce, they form the yin-yang circle. However, each of the components, yin and yang, have a piece of the other embedded in them permanently. They need each other. They are opposites, but they balance each other out. Although they are commonly seen as contradictory, they are inseparable also. We share the same elements as our colours, or so I think, at least."

Octavia continued to stare at Vinyl, eyes wide and mouth ajar in utter disbelief. She had realised already, earlier that day, that Vinyl was more than she let on, but she had just given Octavia a full lecture. "Vinyl, what just happened to you? One minute you are your usual self and the next 'hello Professor Scratch'? You were like an utterly different mare. I mean, where did that all come from? Why have I never seen that?"

Vinyl, having realised what she had done, once again found an interest in the floor, and sheepishly answered. "Well, you've never asked me a question like that before. I'm sorry, Tavi." Her voice cracked a little as she continued. "I think I'm gonna go finish up my room, the bits are there if you want to start budgeting, we've got 20,000 to work with, let me know if we need more." She placed the bag down and left the room at a fast pace, eyes glued to the floor all the way.

Octavia sat, dumbfounded at first, then bothered once again. Silly bint. She shook her head slowly. No, this is my fault. Why did I have to scold her so harshly? I could have been nice about it. But when am I ever nice about anything? Shaken by her own conflicting thoughts, she grabbed the nearest cushion and leaned back, half squeezing, half hugging it with a pout on her face. All the while she laid there, she considered what Vinyl had meant by her comment on yin and yang, whether she was just noting their colours, and had explained the concept because she was asked, or whether she really thought that they were like their colour's representations also. Thinking more on the subject just caused her discontentment to grow, so she squeezed away her concerns, briefly wondering if the cushion minded atall.