The door was adorned with a light purple treble clef, above that, the number “416.” Octavia pressed a small silver key into the lock and gave it a turn before pushing the door open and stepping inside. The apartment was not terribly large, nor was it particularly cramped. The main room that all others were attached was large enough to accommodate comfortably; a couch, bookshelf, and of course her prized cellos, next to a modest sound system with record player. There were two cellos in the room, one sat in it’s case in a corner, out of the way and protected, this was the cello that she would play in her performances for the public, and for the private functions. It had a lovely bass tone and it’s natural classic appearance was a thing of beauty. The other cello in the room, sat upon a stand, this one was not a classic styled instrument of beauty that was so commonly associated with her, and there were few who even knew she owned it. This was an electric cello. Almost silent when played on it’s own, but when plugged into the sound system it made brilliant music, and when living in an apartment, the option of putting on some personal headphones was rather nice. Playing for only yourself and not disturbing the neighbors.
Branching off from this main room was a kitchen nook, big enough to have a table fit for two ponies. While the appliances weren’t new, they were immaculate, and well taken care of. The only sign of their a\real age was the style, of the burners, and the lack of any kind of modern display. Just knobs for setting low, medium, and high temperatures. Beside this kitchen area ran a hallway that lead to the only other rooms in the apartment. Her bedroom, a second bedroom currently used for little else than storage space. A small washroom, and linen closet was also down the hallway, opposite the bedrooms. There wasn’t much to the apartment, but it was modest, a humble home that allowed her to stay true to herself.
Octavia’s Meeting with Vinyl Scratch had ended on a high note, when she had heard that Octavia would consider the proposal she had gotten rather excited. They agreed to meet at the studio for “Scratched Records” so they could discuss things in more detail in the next week. Octavia was free from the strange blue maned pony until then. Hanging the key on a small hook by the door as she closed it behind her with a tap of her hoof. It was late in the afternoon now and the slight rumbling in her stomach reminded her it was time to eat. So to the kitchen she went, setting down her saddlebag as she went.
After a small meal comprised of a daisy salad and tea, Octavia settled down on the couch in the main room with a book from the shelf. A guilty pleasure, a romance novel. This particular one was about a singer who accidentally fell in love with one of her fans who was unaware of who she really was. She has to juggle her relationship with him, and her career while afraid that should he find out who she truly was, it would scare him off, or worse he would begin to only love her for who she was, and not who SHE was. Octavia let out a small giggle, after having read so many romance novels before, they all were similar in one way or another and one could begin to predict how they would go from the subtle hints of the author, it was kind of nonsensical that even though this was true, she would keep reading book after book.
Romance was a fleeting thing, and love was a composition she just couldn’t seem to play. At least when it came to love between ponies. She was rather clueless about the whole order of how things were supposed to flow, despite all the books she read, real life was never so convenient. Music and song was a whole different matter, she was always a mare in love with things such as music. Some of the recent magazine articles that had mentioned her even stated how she looked like a mare in the midst of romance when playing her cello on stage.
Closing the book with a smile creeping into her features, she rested it on her chest as she lay on her back and daydreamed of how things might be like if she had a special somepony of her own to return home to each night. Certainly it would be a pony who shared her love of music. A pony capable of sweeping her off her hooves and taking her away to-
KNOCK KNOCK!!
The rapping on the front door to the apartment tore her from the daydream with a startling loudness she hadn’t expected. The book laying on her chest fell to the floor as she struggled to right herself in the sudden moment of confusion. The knocking would continue as she got to her hooves and kicked the book under the couch as she made her way hastily to the door.
“I’m coming!” She chirped as she fixed her mane to settle it back in place, an effort to hide the fact that she had been startled so.
Opening the door, immediately there was a smile brought to her face. Standing before her was the members of the band she played with so frequently. Beauty Brass, Fredric Horshoepin, Harpo, and Noteworthy. Each had a wide grin on their face. An unexpected surprise indeed. “Congratulations!” They all said immediately as the door was opened revealing Octavia to them.
The infectious smile of her friends made her giggle and smile a bit wider as she backed from the door to allow them inside. The five of them had been friends for over a year and a half now, and though each spoke with a canterlotian accent now, hints of their original homes could be found in each of their voices. Fredric and Octavia being the exceptions each spoke as if native to the area all their lives, Fredric actually was.
Octavia greeted them each in turn with a hug as they entered. They all took seats, Beauty Brass on the couch with Harpo, Fredric and Noteworthy on the chairs from the kitchen they had brought out into the main room. Octavia joined them on the couch next to Beauty Brass. “Dare I ask what the congratulations is about?” She asked with a smirk. “It’s been a long time since everyone gathered at my place.
“It was B.B.’s idea-” Noteworhy responded. A violinist, and the pony most likely to choke during a solo performance. He played magnificently when with the rest of the group, but alone he was too nervous. “-we were all dragged along.”
“Oh come now, there was no dragging involved. We had to practically put you on a leash to keep you from showing up before the lot of us with how eager you were to come see our cellist here, Note.” Beauty teased him and he visually shrank as his face turned a tinge red. His feelings painfully obvious to all but the Mare of honor.
“We wanted to celebrate your solo at the gala last night, but as usual you disappeared before we could get to you.” Fredric stated simply. Being the eldest of the group and the one who gathered them together to start their classical band in the first place. He could be blunt and to the point at times. “So, we came to you where you couldn’t just escape.”
Harpo would just nod in agreement. A friendly enough young stallion, but usually content to stay silent unless he had something important to say. Now was apparently not one of those times however.
The rest of the night was fun, more a small party than just a get together. Everyone had brought gifts. Fredric brought a bottle of wine, decorated with a little pink bow tie around the neck. The card accompanying it said: “Like this wine, your music woo will only get better with age.”
Beauty Brass’ gift was in the same lines, a set of crystal wine glasses, Six in all, each with a pink crystal bow tie. There was no card with this gift but Beauty announced that “The music will indeed get better and better, but if we let that wine age too long it will be nothing more than vinegar! So how about we have a drink?” This aroused a laugh from them all.
Drinks were poured for all and the last glass was put away as everyone settled back down ready to see the unveiling of the next gift. This next one was presented by Harpo, in a small gray box tied with a pink ribbon. Octavia opened it with everyone watching curiously, inside sat a silver charm bracelet. Five charms hung from the silver chain bracelet, each was modeled after the five ponies’ cutie marks. Octavia’s charm was just a little larger than the rest.
“Well, go on, put it on!” Beauty urged as Octavia removed it from the box to admire it.
With a smile she did just that, and held out her hoof for all to see, as the little charms glinted in the light of the room. She was smiling, it was a gift that really meant something. Harpo was never one for many words, but always did things in such a way that meant a lot more than simple words could do.
“I absolutely love it, thank you Harpo.” Octavia moved over and gave him a hug, he returned in kind a gentle smile, she retreated back to the couch and all eyes moved and rested on Noteworthy.
Noteworthy shrank a little as everyone watched him, he produced a somewhat big bag from within his saddlebag, The contents seemed to swell up a bit as they were freed from the confines of the saddlebag. “It’s nothing much really. I’m not too good with hoofmade things, but I saw the idea in a magazine...” He trailed off a bit nervously as he got to his feet and gave Octavia the bag.
It was far too big to be a hoofmade scarf and looking into the bag the large mass of pink was a bit crumpled. Octavia ventured a hoof into the bag. Whatever it was, it was light and squished under hoof. Pulling it free, it flopped open and everyone saw that it was a big bow tie pillow, a silky fabric similar to the actual bow tie she wore, it was actually rather cute, Octavia was the last to see what it actually was as everyone laughed. The way she held it made it look as if she was just wearing a ridiculously oversized bow tie. Pushing the pillow down a bit to get a better look at it she smiled and snickered a bit. “That’s... that’s just adorable.” She hugged it, and it squished up only to flop back into it’s proper shape when she let go. After a moment she moved it into position between her and the arm of the couch, leaning against it. Indeed it was a squishy pillow, rather comfortable too.
“I’m glad you like it.” Note was tinged a little around the cheeks, embarrassed.
The rest of the night was full of light chatter and the rest of the wine. Octavia’s cheeks were warm from the alcohol, even though she only had two glasses, and she was an earth pony, she was still rather a light weight when it came to these kind of things. As it got late her guests slowly filtered out, the next day’s duties calling for a proper bedtime. As she was left to herself for the night she too decided it was time for sleep. Getting to her feet she yawned, glad no one was there any longer to see the wide mouthed display of her tiredness she dragged the floppy pink pillow with her as she retired for the night.
Her room was just as clean as the rest of the house, but much less actually was I it. A simple writing desk in the corner, parchment, and an ink well sat on top, a few quills stuck in it, one of them was bright yellow/orange, made from a Wonderbolt’s feather. She was a fan, though no one would have known unless she told them. Next to the desk hanging from the wall was a clock, it’s hands currently and rather adamantly pointing to the one. It was late. Tossing the pillow onto the bed Octavia readied herself for bed. Sitting down on the edge she grabbed her brush and lazily brushed her mane, and then her tail. Just enough to get the tangles out and reduce the tangles of the morning.
Pushing the new pink pillow up so she could slip under the covers she smiled and buried her face into its softness. After a few moments her breathing settled into a slow rhythm. The kind that only sleep could maintain.