If I Could Rearrange The Alphabet...

by overlord-flinx

First published 6th of September, 2012

Two worlds, one home, so many possibilities. And in spite of differences, they all go by one beat.

Vinyl Scratch, best known as DJ PON-3, is an energetic, fast and loose girl; always has been, always will be. But when one of her more calculated and timed actions wind her in a tough spot with her room-mate and girlfriend, Octavia, Vinyl rethinks her choices and life; and more importantly, what matters most to her.

Humanized ponies; for your own future information.

A story told primarily in first person and third person alternating with cues. This story has sexuality later down the road.

Prequel: Snow Job.

Picture done by Johnjoseco.

Chapter One(Vinyl POV): You Can't Spell Love without O.V.

I read once, a long time ago, that everyone's life begins not with a bang, but with a whimper... I think I may have read it wrong because my life was, has been, and always will be starting, ending, and rolling on with a big bang, bang, bang! Ever since I rolled into the world I've done nothing but keep making those big bangs. Pounding pots and pans, slamming doors, stomping down the stairs, and latest of all, scratching the records. Now I know what you're thinking: 'That's not a banging sound'. Well, yeah, you're right in a way, but you're also wrong. Making a bang isn't just about making a 'bang', you know? It's about the thrill of the sound and the mix of the beat... You follow?

Even if you don't understand, I do. And you know what? A lot of other people understand too. Fans, admirers, friends; they all get it. Or maybe they just like my music; either way, they get it in some way or the other.

...Huh?

Me?

Oh yeah!

My name's Vinyl Scratch, DJ PON-3 when I'm on stage or at a party. I don't know where the name came from, but I've loved it ever since I first heard it chanted at a party; that's why I got it tattooed on my left shoulder, so nobody forgets it... myself included. Speaking of being marked for life, I've been wearing this necklace for the past six years. What does it have to do with being marked? Well, nothing physically at first glance. But my BGFILW, or Best Girlfriend I Live With, or Octavia, gave me this cool crystal necklace for a 'house warming' present. That day also happened to be really important to me and her.

You see, that was also the first anniversary of us being together. Crazy, right? I mean, I remembered it without any reminders or anything, and even Octavia remembered... But, that's not that impressive since she can remember all those sheets of music and notes on her instruments. Whatever, still cool in my book. Anyway, about how it goes into being marked. Well, that's just it; it's like one of those promise rings old people used to wear when they went out or something. This necklace means I only have eyes for Octavia, not to say that I didn't already have eyes for only her before.

It probably goes without me saying it, but I love saying it anyway: I love Octavia. Why? Well why not? She's smart, collected, good with her strings, well mannered...

Oh? Why do I love her? Easy. Octavia is quick tongued, never afraid to just mess with your head, always together, beautiful as hell, and she's not sexy. You know what I'm saying? I mean, you could look down the street and see some girl or guy on a magazine or something and say 'Mmm, that's one sexy piece of flank', but not with Octavia. Well, I bet a lot of guys and girls think that about her, but I can't. I mean... She's just... Beautiful. I can't explain it, you know? She's just... Wow.

I mean, yeah she's got one killer body with all the right curves, but I just can't think of her as sexy. When she first started really getting my attention. I thought she was sexy. But after awhile, I don't know... It just left me... Then came that one winter... You up for a little story? Doesn't matter, I'll tell it anyway.

This one winter—I can remember the exact number of days ago, actually. It was four years, ten months, and four days ago. the two of us got snowed in at this resort. Maybe Rainbow Dash and her crew were just running a big snow storm to make up for all the earlier times they missed that year, I don't know, point is, we were jammed up there. I remember that day so well because that was the first time I ever saw Octavia look so beautiful. I'll save you the steamy details, but that night, I got to see the most breath-taking, beautiful, amazing sight ever given to the world. I'm not much of a poet, but sometimes I get this urge to just try and put it the most colorful way I can...

The light of the fireplace danced against her soft, pale skin in ways that no rave lights or spotlights I had ever seen could do. Her slim body, so delicate and inviting--although warm from the fire--chilled me to my very core just looking at it. Every inch of her bare skin and clothing just made for the perfect picture... To top it all off, she smiled! And if you know Octavia, her smile is the most stunning and cosmic sight in all of history, without question. But there it was, before my eyes and my eyes alone alone, the most perfect woman smiling just for me... I knew I loved her before, that night only made it so damn clear to me why...

She was a symphony for the eyes... There's no other way to explain it. At least that's the best way I can explain it. Even though I don't have a gift for words, I knew what I was thinking that night clear as day... She wasn't just a fling, or a stand, or anything of that; she was classy, pure and —I'll say it again— beautiful.

So that's part of a story. I'll tell you the rest of the dirty details from that night another time. But, I probably shouldn't. Octavia gets really wound up when I talk about our privates in public. Heh, but that's another thing I love about her. But yeah, I could go on and on and on about how great Octavia is, but your ears are probably talked off by now. Am I right? So, I'll end it there for now...

...What?

...A longer story?

...Yeah, I can do that. Just come with me, and I'll take you through the biggest move of my life. Now, I know I'm not all that together in the mind when it comes to thinking things through, but this time I'm sure I've made the right call. Six years of planning and preparation will finally be put into action. This time tomorrow, Octavia will finally wear something on her hand. I just can't wait. And, oh, I even have a great joke I want to lead into it.

"If I could rearrange the alphabet..."

Chapter Two: After Today, We'll Be Like Yesterday.

"You really gonna come in on that line, Vi?" The kind, albeit crass voice shocked the young woman who lay resting her head on the counter to an almost alert stature.

Her dark lens glasses shielded the blue haired girl's eyes from the pudgy man behind the counter, but he felt confident enough to assume she was paying attention. "I mean... Yeah, relationships and that jazz work good with a little light humor... Least I think so," Maybe he wasn't the right guy to be talking about relationships, but he digressed, "But for Octavia and you? No offence, but she don't seem like the kind of girl that likes off-the-cuff jokes."

Vinyl Scratch, a regular to Joe's shop and who had only recently been spinning her ideas to the owner, shrugged her slim shoulders and took a small relieving spin on her stool. "It's not about the joke, Joe. The joke is just a part of the arpeggio I'll be building up," Glancing at Joe, she knew she lost him, judging by the confused expression he gave her. "It means it's just a piece of the pie I'll be givin' her."

"Ah..." After Joe nodded, he bustled out a small basket of rolls and placed them before the woman still twirling on her stool.

Vinyl slowed herself down as her hidden eyes caught sight of her order. Slowing to a halt, she began to pick at the rolls, looking for the ones at the bottom. Finally, she found the gold, the one roll pressed against the the base of the crinkled wrapping which lined the interior of the basket. "Vi, why don't you ever eat the ones at the top?"

"Because the bread on the bottom is always the warmest and fluffiest of course," Vinyl remarked as she took a large chunk of the roll in her mouth and gobbled it down. "Sure I gotta pay for the dozen when I only eat the two good ones at the bottom, but why screw up a good system?" Though wet crumbs sprayed across the counter, Joe only smiled and chuckled to himself.

"You're one of a kind, Vinyl Scratch. One of a kind..." Joe took in a breath, taking in the sweet and warm air of his bakery before he leaned over the counter and smiled at his only costumer at the moment. "Mind if I be nosey?"

Vinyl chewed down what remained of her roll and gulped it down audibly before leaning in herself. "How nosey are we talking?"

In that moment, Joe uttered a question that Vinyl should have expected, she just wasn't sure if she wanted to. "You think she's ready?"

Read?. Vinyl's fingers rolled against the counter, crumbs from the rolls clinging to the fabric of her finger-less gloves. Ready? Normally she would have twiddled her crystal necklace, cursing now that she left it at home. Ready... "Ready, huh? Well... Yeah, I'm ready."

"I didn't ask if you were ready..." Joe's smile grew.

"Heh, oh, right," She knew; they both knew she knew. "Ready or not..." Joe was a bit surprised by Vinyl's next action. He watched as one of her fingers went up to her glasses and lowered them ever-so slightly, letting her odd-colored eyes show for a rare time in public. "After today, the two of us will still be living like yesterday..." Vinyl's glasses popped back up to the bridge of her nose as she shot a cocky smirk.

The two returned to their previous statures, only now Joe looked befuddled by the last statement he heard. "After today..."
"We'll be like yesterday," Vinyl finished with a flat paraphrase, popping another bite of a warm roll between her lips.

"What's that mean?" Vinyl had been walking into Joe's shop for almost two years now, ordering the same thing every time and spouting off the same topics. Usually these visits ending with an odd saying that Joe just had to know the meaning of.

"It's kinda simple, kinda not," Vinyl's muffled words came out as she mulled down her bite. "Answer this first: can you change yesterday?"

"I can't... But I can name a few people who could give you a run for your money on that." Vinyl nodded at the comment with a snickering gulp.

"Bet you could. But normally, no, you can't change yesterday. So what 'We'll be like yesterday' means is pretty much 'we'll be bound forever in history and time'... Sounds pretty creepy like that though, so I don't say it like that. You follow?"

"I follow," It was best to say that rather than have Vinyl try to explain it more. Joe had grown to at least figure that out. "If she isn't ready, you can always talk your way out of it, right?"

"Talk my way out of anything with Octavia?" Vinyl nearly fell over with a coming laugh before she suppressed it. "Talking your way around Octavia is like breakdancing through a minefield... Sure it'll get the blood flowing and be awesome if you get through, but you'll live longer if you go around it or build a bridge. Probably take almost three years to finish that bridge, but at least you didn't blow your legs off, right?" Joe just nodded. Why question the logic or lack-there-of?

"Do you have that bridge plan worked out as a back up plan?"

"Back up plans are for saps who don't plan out their moves!" The final clump of roll rolled between Vinyl's lips after saying those 'words of insight'.

"...So you got one?"

"Not this time," Vinyl was confident with such a statement, evident by the pride in her crumb-covered smile. "I've thought this one through. I'm not charging in this time, guns blazing, pants down, half-baked; I've spent years planning this one... Two years, but that's still years, Joe. That's still a hell of a lot more time then I usually pour into anything," Vinyl loosened her shoulders, knocking the headphones she had graced against the back of her neck. "But she's worth it..."

With her two rolls done, her mind cleared, and confidence in place. Vinyl hoisted up a knapsack beside her stool to around her bare shoulder and got to her feet. Her fingers, still laced with crumbs, searched inside her tight pants and pulled out a few bits to be placed on the counter. "Well Joe... Be seein' ya'." The two exchanged a nod of thanks and welcoming between one another before Vinyl turned to depart.

On her way out, no more than halfway across the room, Joe called to her and sparked a note of hurt in her. "Stupid question, Vi... But you do have 'it' right?"

Vinyl sneered to herself before shooting around and giving the strong owner a raised middle finger and flat expression. Joe looked a bit startled by such a quick and harsh reaction, but he could understand why. Seeing and hearing all the work Vinyl had put into this plan and then just outright dismiss her on the most important note; it seemed a bit off-putting. The two looked at one another in a cold silence for some time, the warm air of the baking breads unable to temper Vinyl's cold aura.

But, just as suddenly as Vinyl's harsh expression and gesture came, it snapped away to be replaced by her body dropping a bit as if her muscles had given up on her. A deep, depressing moan escaped her as she shook her head. Joe, who had been feeling bad about his comment, felt a warming laugh build up inside him. He held it in but smiled none the less. "So..."

"I'll go get it..." Vinyl groaned in defeat.

Her feet were unable to shoulder her folly and just slid lazily against the store floor to the exit. The one person she confided in watched leave in defeat, momentarily crushed by such a massive misstep. Nonetheless, with a rag normally tucked under his workstation, he cleaned up the mess Vinyl had left behind, chuckling as he did so. "Vinyl Scratch... Gonna be a rough one to take care of... Makes me wonder why--and how--Octavia puts up with it? I mean, heh, really? 'If I could rearrange the alphabet--'?"

Chapter Three (Octavia's POV): As Perplexing As it Is...

Six years. Within a simple six years, so many things could very well occur. Example: it took six years for 'Rainbow Dash' to become an established alternate for the Wonderbolts. It took renowned magic prodigy Twilight Sparkle six years to be accepted into the Academy of Star Swirl. Now, I could very well list more and more examples and draw up many different statistics that would inevitably draw to the forgone conclusion that I have started this thought on: within a certain six years I have accomplished nothing.

Do not think, however, that this means I lack education or proper degrees. Quell any such ideas. I possess linguistic skills vastly outstretching that of anyone my age; I also have earned three degrees from the Royal Canterlot Academy -juris, Philosophiae, music. Meeting any credentials set by any system is -and never will be- outside my grasp. But in lies the problem.

Why?

Why can I not hold a credible job and provide myself an adequate income. An income -mind you- that if I could hold, I could use to leave this two bedroom apartment. However... There... That one sentence is where it all falls apart. A two bedroom apartment. An apartment able to hold two residents. It is that factor that prevents me from succeeding in my economic goals. A factor with blue hair, loud music, lewd tendencies, horrible manners, tight clothes -or beyond loose clothes-, poor hygiene, a cocky smile, red eyes---

You are able to draw my point, I am sure.

Yes, I live with Vinyl Scratch -as she likes to be referred to. A woman that I have lived with for six years over the course of three different homes until settling on this -albeit quaint- apartment.

Alright... I will conclude my tirade.

...Forgive me, I have yet to introduce myself. I am Octavia. I currently work several music related jobs through the country. On weeknights -every other week- I work at 'Le Noir D'hiver Café' with my orchestra and provide ambiance. It's nothing prestigious there, but it is doing something I enjoy in somewhere that resembles some level of class. On my off weeks, I offer my musical abilities for any sort of celebration that could require it. On a rare occasion I and my orchestra are invited to perform for the royalty once a month. Those are the nights I adore most of all.

It is my dream to gain the title of Royal Cellist of Canterlot. This does not mean I haven't gathered some titles in my young life so far that are of note. Example: Cellist -a simple one-; Violinist -simple, once more-; Pianist -yet another simple one-; Flautist -that means I play a flute-; Assistant Manager; Valedictorian... I could list more, but my ego is not that enlarged. However, I would like to share a title I do care about -I admit- more than all of those individually... The strange thing is, the title can be called different things yet the ends will always be the same.

Even still, there is one way I am partial to being addressed by as: girlfriend. It is a more simple title in statement, but the gravitas behind it brings it to a much greater complexity. Vinyl Scratch, in so many ways she's my polarized equal and a dreadful catalyst to so many of my underlining irritations. As I have stated, she's lewd, crude, undignified, and a hassle on so many levels that very few could deal with such a being.

And yet...

Vinyl... is different. She is... a problem. A problem I can't solve. Why is this? Simple: because the problem keeps changing. One could place me to the equivalent of a slider puzzle; difficult at times, but once you understand the final picture, it can be solved. Vinyl is not a slider puzzle. She is a rubik's cube... A rubik's cube that has two of the corner pieces with switched stickers. It's unsolvable unless you remove the stickers and place them proper. But that's exactly what she wants... For you to go to her level and play unfairly. The whole time you believe you are changing her, when in reality you are stuck in her game...

...And there is nothing I find more attractive. But it is not just the complexity of that, it's how persistent and optimistic she always is and has been. To the point that she followed, bothered, and forced time with me for four years before I agreed to a date with her in exchange that she would leave me alone after that date. That was my greatest mistake and greatest success. On that date I fell into her game, entranced and marveled at this enigma of a person.

But it's not only that either. I needn't tell you how alluring she is; though it is an alluring that does not come from makeup, fitness, or anything of that sort... It is alluring that you are unable to control; one that through your genetic structure, you were gifted with it... There is so very little about her that one could call 'sexy' or 'hot' by the common belief. It is difficult to put into exact words... Physically, she is mild fairly. But it's her own air she carries and vocal tone that pushes her into... Well... Beauty.

So, yes; Vinyl is a vexing, troublesome creature that irritates me to no end. However, as perplexing as the idea is, I love her...

... Actually that's a lie...

...There is in no way any single thought of that perplexing...

I am sure, however, that you think otherwise. That as opposites we are only bound together for that lone idea; that we are opposites. Perhaps that's true... But perhaps it's that I understand a world of her that nobody else knows. Perhaps I know that despite her crude, laid-back nature... There is a beautiful melody only I am privileged to hear...

...Would you like to hear a small anecdote?

Very well.

It was not too long ago; a year or so I believe. The exacts of the day escape me, but the specifics of that moment are something I cannot forget. It was a late evening, my work at the cafe had concluded with a bitter note... In many different ways. The most prominent being that the violin I had been using that night let out a sour note during my solo of the performance. Humiliation does not even begin to express how I felt that evening. After I changed into my night attire, I dropped my tired form onto the living room armchair; my armchair, Vinyl has her chair and I have mine. I had been so dreary, I failed to notice that Vinyl went into my room and stole my violin. By the time I noticed, she was standing before me in near nothing at all... Shameless as always I remembered thinking.

Regardless. I moved to protest her from doing anything, but my ears told me to stop... A sound I have never heard myself filled me. Heart, mind, soul, every fiber of me felt strange. I found myself falling back against the chair and looking at Vinyl with the most amazed expression I have ever known myself to show. I could not even fathom what I was hearing... Vinyl Scratch, DJ PON-3... Was playing my violin...

That pure, un-explainable moment of bliss I had hearing that. She offered not a word to me before, during, or after. She only played, left me, and went to bed... And I am not ashamed to say that I followed her to bed soon after...

She is... different, yes. I have said that... But she is a different that I am beyond interested to explore and see where it leads. And if it continues to go how I have seen... I may very well desire nothing more in my life then Vinyl Scratch.

Chapter Four: It Takes Two Too...

Home.

Home is where a tired body goes to collapse and let all the woes of the day just ooze away. It is where someone can let their hair down and cut-loose their own way. A sanctuary of peace, personality, and privacy. If one wanted to curl up on their couch, snag themselves within the clutch of a warm blanket and read the latest works of their favorite author, they very well could. In a home there is little restriction and very little need for alarm. A person's home is of their own making; of their own design.

Your home may be a quaint little cottage bustling with wildlife in every nestled bush. Or perhaps your home is where you work; always surrounded by your 9-to-5 life. Perhaps that's something you like. Maybe you live mansion. Only the rich and influential can pull such living though. Maybe you are one of them. It matters not even a bit if you live in a cottage, a duplex, a castle, a mansion... Or even a two bedroom apartment overlooking the streets of town.

---

Tick tock went the gaudy clock hanging by the refrigerator. Though Octavia was far from a fan of the ugly thing, it did provide some sort of metronome for her to follow while dicing carrots. One, two, slide. One, two, slide. Cut, cut, off the board. Cut, cut, off the board. Each dull chop that went through the carrot with a crunch would thump against the cutting-board. Having done this for who knows how many minutes, Octavia found her naked hips sashay in time with her cutting. Hm, hm, HM. Hm, hm, HM. The white apron--standing out as the musician's only piece of clothing--started to flap against the counter as she worked on her cutting. Down to the nub and green of the carrot was all that was left after a few solid moments. She slid the knife to the other side of the board and sent the unusable end into the trash.

The clean-cut carrots were carefully cast aside into a large container. A soft tone to Octavia's face was brought when she looked at her cleaned cutting station; and with a timed glance to that revolting novelty clock off to the side above her, she noted the time. Seven o'clock in the evening. Not too late to run to the store and pick up a few groceries, but not early enough to stop by the local library and pick up the latest addition in her series. More so, it was around this time that the door of the apartment would--

SLAM! "Tavi-Navy!" the entry door of the apartment snapped open to let a tornado of movement into the house.

Octavia topped off the container of carrot slices with the most nonchalant of expressions while a second slam confirmed that the tornado was not leaving. She stooped down just a bit and slid the container into the lower cabinet of the fridge while sighing a small breathe. Quiet time had concluded, or as quiet as the apartment could be with that clock, and Octavia closed the fridge after getting up so she could greet her living partner. "Welcome home, Vi--" Her words were cut short--curtailed to a muffled 'mmmm'--while her eyes shot open wide.

Vinyl Scratch curled her lips into a smirk as she used her slim body to keep her surprised 'Tavi' pressed firmly into the kitchen counter. Used to brazen, vigorous Vinyl or not, Octavia always felt as if it was their first kiss every time. Feeling the warmth sink into her chest while her throat tightens up at the first contact, only to relax when the surprise fade. Vinyl felt the skilled fingers of a cellist roaming her skin, sketching tantalizing patterns against her exposed hips. Lucky she went with the short shirt today; just like every day. Gently, Vinyl felt those same fingers slide to her navel area and just as gently tapped tapping them away.

Taking a single step back, Vinyl latched her hands against Octavia's waistline and pushed the cellist's apron a little bit against her naked body, conforming the fabric to the cellists rounded curves. "--nyl." Octavia put a fist against her mouth, making an effort to clear her throat before giving Vinyl a stern look. "I gather you've spent a deal of time at Joe's before returning home?"

Vinyl blinked from behind her thick shades. Her tongue came out just enough to lick her lips with a curious search. It didn't take her long to find the firm but soggy taste of a crumb wedged the back corner of her lips. After making sure that she got every single crumb, and despite this amusing pause in her play at seduction, Vinyl reached up and flicked her glasses off with her trademark, confident smile. Then, as she placed her shades on the counter behind Octavia, she pressed her chest closer to her stern lover and her warm forehead touched Octavia’s quickly-fading glare. "I did... But I left a little inside for you and I to share..."

Octavia felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. A hard gulp went down her throat after some force; now she had two things to reel back from. Even so, Octavia managed a casual scoffing laugh while pushing Vinyl on the chest, guiding her away. In that moment, their eyes looked into each others'.

"As red as the sun's tired decline from the vivid sky..."

"Somebody call a cop, cuz' it's got to be a crime to walk around with two addictive drugs on your face..."

The new room between them granted Octavia a chance to adjust her apron and bring some calming air to her lungs before she carried on. "Quaint, Vinyl. Very..."

There it was! That air of sophistication that Vinyl went crazy for. One of Vinyl's hands pounded into her chest as she staggered back, playfully smiling at Octavia. "WHOA! Ouch, Tavi. Already whipping at me!" Vinyl plopped her knapsack onto the counter, "Even after I brought home dinner."

"Dinner? Are we having chicken or beef?" Octavia asked, looking at the sack Vinyl put down.

Answering her, Vinyl reached into the knapsack and, with a crinkling sound from the bag, she pulled out a rectangular package that had a picture of noodles and a pig on it. "Pork!"

The package of pork flavored ramen was slapped against the counter with nothing but pride glowing from Vinyl. When Octavia's eyes fell onto the crude, sodium packed meal tightly pressed and dried between the wrapping, she smiled. "My, my... Pork? What's the occasion for such a splurge on our dinner tonight?"

"Eh, I'll tell you in a bit..." Vinyl leaned into Octavia once more and placed her warm lips against the cellist's cheek for a brief second before bolting out of the kitchen and hopping onto the worn, tired, plaid sofa in their living room. "Put that on the stove and get over here! Scratch wants to play her cellist!"

Octavia smiled once more, finding that call cute in its own way. The fire of the stove flicked on with a dial twist from Octavia; which was soon covered by a hastily filled pot of water. Dinner was always handled by Octavia; handled with care at that. But...

"I guess I can make carrot salad and chicken with a vinaigrette tomorrow..."

Octavia walked out of the kitchen and let the flame stay on a low rise. When she walked into the living room, Vinyl was laying sprawled against the couch; one leg rubbing carelessly against the back of the couch and one arm dangling off of the cushions. A lazy look from Vinyl greeted Octavia... A lazy look that was soon replaced with one of great surprise. A simple motion though it was, when Octavia pulled the top string of her apron hugging against the back of her neck, it unfurled towards the ground and left nothing to Vinyl's imagination.

Not a word was shared between the two, only a come-hither gesture from Vinyl as her red eyes abandoned playfulness. Vinyl may have stopped playing, but now Octavia held the torch. Octavia stepped towards Vinyl, her slender, soft hips swaying in full waves from side to side; both a natural walk and an acquired grace tipped each sway. Vinyl frantically fixed herself on the sofa, moving to give Octavia room to sit; though this time it was Octavia's turn to cut her short on an action. One of Octavia's arms snapped to Vinyl's collarbone and commanded the DJ to remain still as Octavia's warm body spread over hers. Stretch by stretch, Octavia's skin pressed against Vinyl's in the most glacial grinding speed she could muster. Bare legs curled into pant legs; navel slid against navel; a modest yet uncovered bosom melded into the white tank top Vinyl wore, which had never felt more restraining in her life; and finally, a pair of crisp, barely parted lips graced hesitantly against shuddering lips.

"Mmmmm..." Was all Vinyl could manage to say as she felt Octavia's arms dip down against the cushion under Vinyl's head.

Vinyl felt the back of her hair being padded down more as Octavia's fingers laced together and brought her into the passion of their contact. She would also have to grant Octavia the reward for most awestruck inducing kissing. Little tendrils of Octavia's coffee scented breath curled down Vinyl's throat, bringing more vigor into her than any caffeine ever could. This vigor, pressed under the most heated source in the world, seemed to be going to waste. So, Vinyl retaliated into Octavia's mouth, using her slick, skilled tongue. She saw Octavia tighten throughout her entire body, telling Vinyl that she was really enjoying it. Even if that wasn't enough, Octavia's lips parted a bit against Vinyl's, granting more room for the tongue to roam.

Octavia's body shifted on top of Vinyl's, applying more of her chest, heaving from twisted breaths taken between Vinyl's tongue against her inner reaches. Only a few moments into receiving the attention she adored from Vinyl's tongue, Octavia broke their kiss with a huff of air and a groan. Their lips parted with a wet 'pop' and a strand or two of saliva slipped across Vinyl's lower lip and chin while Octavia pulled a few inches above to look over Vinyl's expression.

"So..." Vinyl smirked a small bit as she slid the mixed strand of saliva into her mouth to savor the taste, "no clothes, huh?"

"It... It saves a few washes into our laundry..." Octavia tried to regain her breath, her eyes half lidded and huffs labored like none-other. "Which reminds me..." Octavia pushed up so that she could sit atop of Vinyl and look down at her, a sternness returning to her, "Could you start putting your clothes into the hamper?"

"I do that..." Vinyl scoffed a bit, her eyes mapping out every curve of Octavia's supple form.

"I mean the clothes you leave in my room..." Octavia may have had more to say, but her train of thought was ended when she felt a wet clip against her exposed nipple.

Vinyl had sat up enough to use her elbows as support while she clasped her mouth around Octavia's right nipple. A low moan escaped Octavia as her eyes returned to their lidded standing and she curled her chest out. "I'll clean my clothes up when you stop throwing them around your room so much..." Octavia wanted to rebuke that, but as she felt her erect nipple being pressed between a pair of teeth, all words were blocked by a moan of pleasure.

Her breast was warm, and milky to the lips; the flesh of it was enough to make Vinyl want to put the whole mammary into her mouth and suck on it. But she settled for nipping and clacking her front teeth against Octavia's erect nipple, teasing it between tapping waves of her tongue to the utmost tip. Octavia started to lose her senses, groaning and biting into her own lower lip as she felt her arms grow limp and heat burning through her. She could have sat there for hours, having Vinyl tenderly suckle on her milk-less glands and sensitive nipples; feeling Vinyl's fingers caress her sweat, defined hips while she sat against Vinyl's warm midriff.

Suddenly though, Vinyl's lips parted from Octavia's breast after a final pluck at the nipple with the curve of her lips. With a teasing look up, Vinyl smirked at Octavia. "Dinner..."

It took only Octavia a moment to process the single word. And when she did, she jumped off of the couch and broke towards the kitchen, her usual graceful stride looking very clumsy when she tripped over herself on the way. Vinyl only sat back and rubbed her lips, remembering Octavia's fleshy breast, and the warmth they gave her with a little chuckle. Octavia on the other hand stood before the stove with slumped shoulders as she groaned.

"Boil all the water away?" Vinyl called into the kitchen.

"I'll try again..." Octavia called back, followed by the sound of the faucet turning on.

Slowly, Vinyl sat up and brushed herself off. A hand went into her pants pocket and took out a small box. "Take your time, Tavi... Take your time..." Vinyl looked down into her hands as she held the small box, clasping it tightly as if it was her world. "I can wait a few more minutes..." Vinyl chuckled to herself, pressing her thumbs against the smooth surface of it.

Any doubts were burned away by the session of passion she just shared... What little doubt there ever was left.

Chapter Five: I Do... Have to Think.

It was a modest 'feast' to say something of it. Vinyl and Octavia sat across from one another at their shabby coffee table in front of their plaid sofa. Octavia, after reworking the ramen Vinyl got for them, dished out half of the serving to Vinyl and half to herself. For whatever reason, Vinyl let Octavia sit on the sofa while she pulled a large throw pillow to sit on, using her discarded top she was wearing moments ago as added cushioning. Clacking their bowls against the other's, they started to dine. Lowly as ramen was to someone like Octavia, she still found a way to elegantly consume it. Raise of the bowl, dip to the lips, subtle sips of the broth before putting the bowl back down and twirling the noodles around her fork until it was a neat curl of collecting noodles. Not a drop was left to chance as Octavia kept her hand just below her noodle twirled fork when she led it to her mouth.

On the other side of the table, Vinyl did not have the same grace by any means. Spoon clacking feverishly into the ceramic build of the bowl, knocking broth and noodles all around and wafting fresh steam into the air. When the bowl was lifted to meet Vinyl's face, she simply slurped spoonful after spoonful of noodles and broth, making an effort of snorting as she ravished her face with bits of her dinner. Finally putting the bowl down revealed Vinyl's face to be riddled with noodle bits and shimmering drops of broth.

A quick, snorting laugh escaped Octavia when she looked away from her dinner and at Vinyl. The young DJ only cocked her head to the side playing confused. "What? Something on my face?"

"No more than usual, Vinyl..." Octavia picked up the towel she had been using as a placemat for her bowl and leaned over the coffee table, "Here, I'll clean it off..."

Vinyl propped her chin up a bit, helping Octavia reach her mark. A smirk came from Vinyl's lips when she felt the dry of the cloth touch against her wet chin and cheeks. It dabbed slowly, making sure to pick off the noodle fragments along with the broth drops. When Octavia moved back against the sofa, she had to suppress another laugh as she saw Vinyl cocking her head to one side and batting her eyelashes. "Do I w'ook p'w'iity now?"

It was hard not to laugh when Vinyl used such a cutesy tone of voice. But, Octavia managed. Pushing the need down, she decided to retort a comment before finishing off the last of her soup. "By definition, 'pretty' is to be alluring in a fashion of near fragility, avoiding the direct adjacency with the seductive natures." Octavia gauged Vinyl's level of clarity with what she saw, seeing none at all in her blank expression, "So, by definition, you have never nor will you ever be pretty. You are more so ravishing; or perhaps voluptuous in many regards; or, as past events have detailed, you are highly libidinous if nothing else."

"I'll just take that you called me smoking hot and kiss you right now before you can say that's not what you said..." Vinyl skillfully hurdled a leg over the coffee table and kicked herself forward to make the full pass.

It was in one swift, blinking movement that Vinyl went over the coffee table, knocked over both bowls with her foot in a clacking of silverware, and mounted Octavia. Vinyl's slender, pale arms pinned into a lock on both sides of Octavia, pushing the musician effortlessly against the couch. The more modest breasts of Vinyl's fit into a dwarfed press against the cellist's own darker bust. When Vinyl pressed in against her, Octavia felt a few warm spots of liquid get meshed into her breast. Seems Vinyl's soup eating even got onto her chest.

Octavia craned her neck of a bit, brushing her forehead against Vinyl's so that she could breath in Vinyl's tantalizing scent. Sweat, smoke, and the layered hint of cinnamon. A very strange combination, but after smelling it so much, it felt right to Octavia. Looking to Vinyl with limpid eyes, she waited for what would inevitably come next. Though, to her surprise, she felt one of Vinyl's hands move away and grab something off from the counter. Once more, Octavia had to let out a dry laugh when she saw her girlfriend put her shades on the roof of her forehead.

"What do you think? On or off?" Vinyl taunted Octavia, keeping her lips just out of reach as she flipped her shades on and off over her eyes.

Normally, Octavia loathed being taunted in any such way; but like many things with Vinyl, she learned to adapt. In this case, she slid a finger up between their pressed bodies and poked Vinyl's shades back up against her forehead. "To view your eyes while we touch is what I want..."

Vinyl obliged while closing the gap between their lips. Octavia's face felt hot once again as she felt the DJ's lips caress and buckle against her own. The kiss lasted for moments, Vinyl tilting her head from one side to the other as her tongue made a few sloshing passes into Octavia's prized mouth. With near lidded eyes, Vinyl drew back from Octavia, making the beautiful cellist blush even greater when she saw a string of their entwined saliva string between their lips.

A gradual but satisfied moan passed out of Octavia's tender, wet lips while Vinyl licked her own lips, still locking Octavia against the sofa. There was no doubt inside of Octavia to even a single degree; this is the woman she loved more then anyone else. She was pinned here before the most beautiful woman in all history, shamelessly naked before her and not once shying to cover herself in her presence. IN every way, this was true bliss.

"Octavia...?"

"Yes, Vinyl?" Octavia regretted answering her not moments later.

The world seemed to have broke down and even that horrid clock against the wall could make a sound into this dying world. In the moment Octavia saw Vinyl pull a small black box from her pocket, her heart fell like a stone. Even still, Vinyl looked to her girlfriend with the utmost love and admiration. "I can literally count the days between without even trying. I... I friggin' love you, Tavi... And, well..." the box clicked open and revealed a golden wedding band; though instead of a diamond on it to adorn the ceremony traditionally, a shimmering melanite gem was held into the clasp. "Will you marry me?"

Speechless.

Octavia could not even form a word as she dropped her jaw just-so and widened her eyes. Even if she could have spoken, Vinyl kept on anyway.

"Oh! Before you say 'yeah' or whatever, I wanna say one last thing just as your girlfriend--" I... "--here goes--" I... "If I could rearrange the alphabet--"

"I have to think..."

The air fell heavy in a blink of an instant. Vinyl continued to smile, though she moved off of Octavia and sat back onto the coffee table. The two looked into one another's eyes, exchanging not a word as silence filled the room and threatened the outside world with the same. Octavia silently gathered up some stray clothes laying about the living room, beyond happy that today she left some of her own clothes out before cooking. After she dressed herself, she looked back to Vinyl.

Smiling.

"I... I have to... I have to go..." Octavia stammered those words out as she went to the apartment door and grabbed an overcoat from the rack next to the exit.

The coat was not put onto her, only used to cover herself around the shoulders as she opened the door and left. Once the door shut behind her, Vinyl nodded to herself. "Right, yeah. Totally..." she laughed a bit and picked her shirt up.

When she slipped it back onto her naked chest, her smile grew. "We all have to think for time to time, right? Yeah..." Vinyl looked at the ring box, still clenched in her hand.

For some reason, the box was creased very deeply now, and Vinyl's fingers were growing red when she looked to it. "We all gotta think..." she nodded once.

Sound finally came and went from the apartment as the ring box was thrown against the clock ticking by the kitchen, shattering the glass of it and silencing the ticking. When the box fell against the kitchen floor along with the shards of the clock's glass, Vinyl fell down to her knees and took her shades off from her head. Her eyes stayed glued to where Octavia was just at, though her eyes started to blur when flecks of tears clouded her vision.

"Why...?"

---

The shattering of glass resounded the just outside of the apartment door into the hallway. But the sound did not have to travel far for Octavia to hear it. Back pressed against the door and legs curled tightly into her chest, she shivered as her teeth grazed against her own lower lip. "Why...?"

Chapter Six (Octavia's POV): A Requiem in Three Parts.

What...?

What was she thinking? What possessed her to ask such a question? What did she expect me to say? What... What am I doing? I'm running... No, I'm walking. My legs as heavy as the moon itself, all I can do is walk. What am I to walk to? I suppose 'to' does not matter. 'Away' is the primary in this case. Away from... That. What was she expecting? What was I supposed to say? My head feels as if a swarm of locus were just set free.

Funny... I would take a horde of locus over this feeling right now.

No... That in no way is funny. It's horrid... Everything that just occurred... it was beyond horrid. What was I supposed to tell her? By Celestia, I wish I had my organizer and charts right now. I could've run a few pros and cons on this situation and mapped out the possible routes I could have taken. Just like any situation, I could have found the best solution for my best interest. But, no... I panicked. They always speak of these 'decisive moments'; saying that you won't know how to deal with it once it happens. While I hoped that even I could have been prepared for any such event... I... I wasn't prepared for this.

Why...?

Why did she ask me? Why did she have to do this? Why did she have to ruin what we had? I thought things were fine. The way they were was satisfactory. Even if I could complain about some minute details in the grand scheme of it; I had no issues on the factors of the end. Why had it come to this of all things? Of all things for her to ask me... Why this? Why did she ask me to choose? She knows my feelings... She is aware of her value to me... So why would she have my choose?

I can't answer her... There can be no answer here. In all my life, I had no idea I would be given this... An ultimatum. A requiem of cataclysmic repercussions in latent form. Of all the things to ask of me... Why must she choose to ask me to pick between her and my reputation? I am a respected musician, artist, and account among the gatherings of many courts. These are levels of reputation I have clawed my life through to reach. Now... She asks me to let that go? For anyone else I would curse them out and demolish their self-worth! But...

Vinyl Scratch... Why? Why is it that no matter how my feet move, I feel I go nowhere further? I still hear your crying... I want it to stop. I want to hold you and... I can't. I won't... I...

Heh... Humorous. I can recall the last time I cried because of you. How long ago was it? A year I believe. Yes. What possessed her, I don't know... But such a possession should happen to more people in my opinion. Clear as day I can recant that day... As pure and crisp as the snow fall on that early winter day. It goes without any saying that Vinyl is not all too brilliant... Well... Unless you ask her on the details of science or history. Beside the point. Even in her greater youth, Vinyl has never displayed any talent outside of musical understanding. Some would have even called her dim-witted. Myself included.

Yet, as we grew up along side one another through forced interactions, I gathered she was not dim... Well... not too dim. In a sense, I viewed her almost as a mental equal on some levels. However, I digress. To the matter, a year ago on that early winter, she brought me to tears. Sweet, beautiful tears. Not with spoken words, not with an action oh physical device... But with written word. Written words that, by the large, I could not even read...

You see, Vinyl and I have had a sordid past with one another; one sided mind you. To this day, I do not know for what reason she was interested in me for; though I can state many reasons I have been sought after before. But, the difference being that those that sought after me gave up at some point... She never did. Years went by with her pestering and following me to no end. In the school hallway, in the town streets, she even found ways to covertly win a position within my house after school. Persistent... Even more persistent was her insufferable notes she wrote me over and over. Pages upon pages of notes. Most irritating of them all was that each was a page, yet none ever broke a paragraph. She cluttered me with these notes detailing more and more of her interest of me. It grew to a bother...

Time after time, I would throw them out into the trash, drop them into puddles of water, even feeding them to dogs. I meant no ill will by it too much, but the act was annoying. After a while, she stopped giving me them and decided to just pursue me personally. The tale of that is another matter not related to this matter. Regardless, we moved in with one another to where we are now. I gave her a home-warming gift which she wears to this day. As it were, she gave me something as well. Full-circle, if you will.

What she gave me was a hulking pile of ripped, crinkled, and worn pieces of paper stapled together in the most shabby of stapling jobs. I was courteous and said thank you, despite how mundane the gift was. And yet, she insisted that I read it. Even I had to laugh at that in spite of how nice I was trying to be. The binding of papers had to be well over thirty pages, many of which were unreadable. But, she persisted... As I read through them, some of the words seemed to spontaneously spark bells to me... As if I had seen them before.

"Sweet as pie is, I think your rear looks even sweeter."

"Only you could make denim jeans look fancy and sexy at the same time."

"Me, you, and a piano; piece that one together."

"Everyone thinks you're cool. They must've grown up by volcanoes because you are HOT!"

"Don't you think your back gets tired after holding up those jugs? Let me hold them for a little bit some time."

"Aren't you ever going to go to the beach? Or are you going to give me a private show of you in a swimsuit? I could go either way."

"You have some of the nicest curves in the town. I say some because I'm sure they look better without covering. Want to help me prove that?"

"Yelling is a great way to relieve stress... I'm just going to let that one sit with you for a minute."

"Opening my eyes in the morning is great. It means I'm alive and I get to see you sooner or later."

"Until you go out on a date with me, I won't stop writing these. After you do go out with me I will send you more... Honesty is the best policy here, Tavi."

"When I see you, I don't see the hottest girl in school or the smart girl with the kicking body... I don't know what I see. So, I guess this one was a failure. Gonna send it to you any way."

"It could be me, but I think your buns are smoking... That was a bad one, I apologize."

"Last time I saw you you walked away. Didn't even say a word to me... I think I'm finally getting through to you!"

"Let loose once, Tavi. I bet a little loosening can go a long way for your tight end."

"Making you smile is the best thing someone like me can do. One of these days, I'll finally do it."

"Anyone who passes you will either think 'damn, that girl be smoking' or 'my goodness, that woman is indeed bringing sexy back'."

"Keep calm and stay you Tavi. It's no fun for me if you snap."

"Everybody needs somebody, sometime... Eh? Eh? You get it? AH! You get it!"

"There are two kinds of people in this world... I'll tell you those two when I think of either a clever sex joke, or a funny way of saying you're hot."

"Have you ever wondered why I sit behind you? Well, it's because by strange chance, our names just line up like that. But if I could rearrange the alphabet... Huh... I got a good one, but I'll save it. You never know."

"Ego tibi. You're a smart girl, piece that one out... (Cheat sheet: I can't live without you, I can't give you anything but love. OR something like that. Be sure to erase this before giving it to Octavia.)"

"Great minds think alike. Does that mean great bodies move alike? Hmm... Even more reason to watch yours."

"Reading these can get pretty boring, but I know you read them all Tavi! You're cool like that."

"Even I have to admit, you are really, really, really pretty..."

"Anyway I can, I will get you to date me! I'm stating it now on which ever number note we're at now!"

"Too bad I'm not that creative with these notes. If I was, I would be holding you by now. Hah!"

"Ending the school day looking at you is a pretty good motivation to come back. Too bad it's not enough to keep me passing in class."

"So... When's our first date? Because I was thinking we could have it at your place. I wanna see what you keep in your freezer! I bet it's something fancy. Like tuna."

"Try and look a little more 'blah' every so often... Competition for you keeps getting more and more heightened. If you want me to win, you gotta turn some of them off. Eh, who am I kidding? You could turn a man who hasn't had an erection in twenty years on."

"Maybe it's my imagination, but I think you smiled at me yesterday. If it was my imagination, good. When you do finally smile at me, I want to be sure of it."

"Useless as it is, I won't give up! I'll just keep throwing these at you until I run out of paper in my binder!"

"Silly question: can I borrow your binder?"

"I haven't always been interested in you... Wait... is interest different than hypnotized?"

"Can I tell you something? If yes, I'll tell you some other time. If no, well you'll have to tell me, which means you'll have to talk to me."

"It took me some time, but I think I found a word in the dictionary that fits you! Pulchritudinous! I forgot what it means, but I bet you know what it means!"

"Always so well kept and nice... You don't date much, do you?"

"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna go around and hurt you... See what I did there?"

"It's strange that you seem to always do a little jump whenever you open your desk and see a new paper from me there. By now, I thought it would be pretty easy to expect."

"No body has a body as bobbing as your busting body. Alliteration... I think."

"Too bad I can't see your face when you read these. I bet you get so red in the face!"

"Here are a few things that make you pretty special: mirror. Boom, done."

"Empty, my binder is. But empty, my mind is not. Thoughts of you fill it... Strangely... nothing dirty."

"When we finally do go out, let's hold hands. Not for the lovey-dovey feel, or to tell people you're mine... I just kinda feel like knowing what your hand feels like. That's not weird, right?"

"Orcs are green, trolls are blue; kinda romantic, getting the clue?"

"Really gotta go to the bathroom. Won't say why, or even why I wrote that... Probably should scrap this one. But~! I never go back on anything I write for you!"

"Let's play a game some time. You be the cop, and I'll be the prisoner you nail... Again, gonna leave you with that to figure out."

"Don't stop being you, I really like you."

"Listen to this: while I write this, I'm watching you look at me. You look REALLY mad... You're so cute when you get all huffy-puffy."

"Orbs of mighty giving and plentiful enjoyment are what you bestow upon this mortal world... Drama club is really paying off, by the way. PS: I'm saying you've got AMAZING boobs."

"Very few people can say this, but I think your music sounds better when I can't see you. Nothing against you, really. It's just... when you put something beautiful before something gorgeous... It kinda mixes wrong to the eyes and leaves me confused. I better fix that before we date."

"Earning a dollar a day for that date of ours. Every day you hold off means it's gonna be even better! I think I'm up to like five hundred."

"You know what? I figured out something... You aren't hot. And you know what? That makes me even happier. That may sound harsh, but, trust me... It's -really- romantic."

"Only you can stop forest fires. How? By stop pointing the HOT ASS at anything flammable! Aim it at me... I'll take one for the team."

"Unless a giant bull runs me over, I'm still gonna look at you."

"Talking to you is great, writing to you is fine, being with you is a great find. It made sense to me before I wrote it."

"Arms open, chest out, neck turned, and lips pursed... What does all that mean? Well... I'll tell you after our first kiss. PS: that's how it's gonna go down."

"Very strange to ask you, but I don't think I've ever tried this. Bare with me. Here we go. You ready? Let's see. Will you go out with me?"

So many notes... Yet I can still somehow make them all out from the back of my mind. All of them so corny, a tad weird, and even gross at times... But how fitting that they were sent by Vinyl. However, at the bottom of the pile, I felt a crisp, new piece of paper. When I flipped it to the front, I read it with all of it's clear ink:

"I missed one, Tavia... I cheated on this one. But I won't ever cheat with you. So, lets make it even. Cheat Sheet: first letter."

First letter. All of the notes were in order of when I got them, none of them duplicated or redone in any way. Vinyl had spent so much time finding each paper she wrote and recovering them as best she could. A bit fool hearted, but... What for? I humored the idea I suppose and put each first letter of each letter in order. One by one, I pieced together a sentence. A small... Crudely thought out sentence... One that Vinyl had planned since the first note. As I felt tears fall from my eyes, I could hear Vinyl laughing. This must have been very funny to her. In so many of her letters she said I was a clever girl... Years later, I finally found out the puzzle. And... I could not have been more happy.

"Someday you will make the greatest musician in the world. Love you Tavi."

I love you as well Vinyl... And I always will. But... I don't know what to do now...

Chapter Seven (Vinyl POV): That was my Favorite...

Leveling with you here... I really liked the clock. No joke. It was my favorite clock. It was my only clock really. Which auto makes it my favorite. It was a pretty cool one either way. You ever see one of those "luck cat" things? You know? The white cat thing with the yellow eyes and the hash-brown thingy? Yeah, that. Well, it was kind of like that; only black and white eyes... And it was smoking a cigar. Not only that, but the second hand was a match it was using to light it, the minute hand was a charcoal it was using ti spark up, and the hour hand was his wang. Man... That was a good clock.

I can probably fix it. Or I could bring it to Turner... He's good with his clock shiz. He's the one who got me the clock. Sold it to me for a low, low, low price: Never come back into his store, and it's free. That's a pretty good deal. Truth be told, that's how I convinced Octavia's mom to let her move in with me. It's like my report card said all throughout High School: has extreme focus, but never on the correct matters. They were totally right. I have amazing focus... But I rather keep it on something useful.

What things are useful to me? Easy... But... We'll have to start at useful things on my list at number fifty. Everything twenty and up is--Yeah... Tavi...

What am I thinking about? A clock? High school? Gah...! Stop it! I gotta keep straight. It's this kind of crap that Octavia hates! Octavia hates... Yeah... She does hate. A lot. Heh... Pretty funny when you think about it. I mean, I always stuck by Octavia since I first saw her. Not because I thought she was hot or anything... I mean... I was following her when we were in fifth grade.

Yeah. Fifth grade... I bet she doesn't even remember it. 'Course I do... It's REALLY fucking funny when you think about it. Octavia hated me for years because I never left her alone and always tried to go out with her since eighth grade. But, when you think about it, she was the one who started it. Well, since you're already listening, how about a little story time?

You see, about the time in fifth grade, when I was just a little trouble-maker instead of a hell-raiser, Octavia didn't have a pole up her butt... Back then, it was just a stick. Octavia was a snooty, uptight, prude of a kid... Again, I'm talking about young Octavia, not current Octavia. Let's get that clear first off. Anyway, one day on the playground, some time around Spring, I was just kicking the sandbox because that's just what I did... Kick the sandbox. I'm sure you did stranger things... I bet you ate a bug.

Off the point. Anywho. I was kicking the sandbox that day, and I saw Octavia. Back around that time, I just liked teasing the girl. She always had the best reactions to me stealing her crayons or breaking into the bathroom stall she was using and stealing the toilet paper. Priceless looks. So I saw her, and she looked a bit annoyed. This kinda thing got my attention... She was annoyed and I wasn't the one bringing it? Something was really wrong here. I was going to ask her what was wrong, but she told me before I could even say anything.

"To the deepest bowels of the abyss with these philistines of underdeveloped troglodytes!"

I still have no idea what that meant...

"Do I present myself as some sort of trophy or coin to be bartered with at the local pub? I say no! No! I am not! Yet I am treated as such a degree! My own mother, birth-maker and live giver of mine, has decided to stagnate a prominent note to my aging life. Not that I much care for it now, nor do I ever plan to enjoy it, she seeks to rob me of the possibility of finding a suitable companion of my own!"

I followed that one... Her mom was killing her dating buzz right in the nuts.

"She has decided to 'honor' my hand onto another's without may say or knowledge. Be it only a date, I am not too enraged. But I would much rather find my own suitable date!"

FREEZE! Pay attention here, because this is right about when I tuned on and turned my life around. It's really big, listen up.

"As long as it had been my choice! I would settle for anyone to be my date if it had been my choice over my mother's! I would've even dated you! Yes. Even Vinyl Scratch, the kicker of sandboxes, would be a more suited date. She may be crass and dim, but she is at least body-wise my type and has a mildly attractive personality..."

I watched her walk away from me... And that was the first time in my life I couldn't talk. That entire day after that, I did pretty good in class, I was really polite and kind... I didn't even go to the principal. I just... Couldn't. She broke me with one conversation. And it was a one-sided conversation. For three years after that, I kept a bit of a distance from Octavia... she put a piece of coal in my chest and I couldn't get it out. For three years, I watched Octavia go on a lot of dates with big boys, small boys, black boys, white boys; one girl, two girl, whore girl, good girl... I even followed her on a few of those dates. How did I pull it off without getting seen? Easy... I won't tell you though.

Octavia's dates were always set up by the other person. Octavia just seemed to be strung along for most of them... I saw her smile maybe once or twice on half of the dates, but otherwise, zip. Kisses? Don't even get me started on that. She NEVER kissed anyone on any date. At the door? Hand. At the dinner table? Menu. At the tunnel of love? Pepper-spray. No one could ever get close enough for a kiss unless the stole at least five dates with her... That's when they got some cheek. Oh, what? Cheek not good enough? You ever see her skin? That is some FUCKING hot, soft, perfect skin. You get cheek, you die of happiness.

But, cheek is all I ever saw... I've never seen her kiss someone. I bet she did kiss someone while I wasn't looking... I had to sleep at some point. But for all the times I did see her, on whatever date, she never seemed happy. Even our first date after I broke her and she gave into one date with me, she didn't seem at all happy. I brought her to the fanciest pasta place I could find... In town... that I had a coupon to... And my pop's friend owned the-- It was still a good place, alright?

I really tried to look fancy in front of her for our first date. I don't think I have to say how well that went. At the very least, I did make her chuckle at just how stupid I was being. Sure, I'd like to say that once I stopped acting like something I wasn't, she liked me; but that's bull-shit. But what isn't bull-shit is how I think I won her. You see, Octavia is a bit of a nut when it comes to tradition. Case to the point: she locked herself inside her room all day on St. Patrick's Day because she didn't have any green. She thinks it's normal to be like that, and for her, it almost is. It kinda balanced out her tightness to have a little strangeness. Anyway, back to my point. Around our third date, we were leaving her house after watching some horror film about a turkey killing people, when we walked under one of her mom's Christmas decorations. Mistletoe. Bow-chicka-wow-wow...

At first, I kinda just laughed it off while I put my coat and hat on. But, when I saw Octavia, she was REALLY red in the face. One of her hands fell against my shoulder as she seemed to mumble something. I stood there stunned as I watched her move in to kiss me... And she did... She kissed me right on the rim of my glasses as I ducked.

"Nu-uh! You're not kissing me! No way. Not gonna happen!"

"It's traditional. Please. Just let's get this over with. I am fully aware this is what you want, and you are pretending to be 'knightly' so I'll swoon. But in the end, can we just get through with this so I can end our third date and be rid of you?"

"And THAT is why I can't let you do it. I don't care if I look good to you, I've been a fool since we met. But, now I have you in a real corner. You say you have to kiss me under the mistletoe to end our date. So, if you never kiss me, you can't call the date over."

I ran through the snowy night right then and left Octavia stunned. Some how, I think she was impressed at how fast I put that together. And let me tell you, impressing Octavia isn't easy. Giant snowman? Boring. Winning first place at a band show? Ziltch. Beating her at a game of checkers? Never did it, so I don't know. Buuuut... Man... The next day, she impressed me. I sit behind her in class around that time in our lives. Normally, she's already sitting there and already finishing the work for the day. That day, I got there before her. Weird enough, right? Got weirder.

Turns out, she came in right after me, and boy did she look pissed. I saw her throw the door open to the classroom, fire fuming from her eyes. I REALLY tried to ask her what was wrong, but she shut me up and shut me up good. In a split second, the entire class was crowded around the two of us as she tackled me from my chair and dangled a mistletoe over our heads. I swear I heard the class cheering or gagging or something... But with Octavia's lips pushed against mine, all I could hear was this choir from nowhere. When she snapped off of me, gasping and grunting with a furious look, she pushed up and stormed to her chair.

"No one out smarts Octavia... Is that understood Vinyl?"

It was understood... Damn was it understood. That day I got a detention for refusing to get off of the floor even when class started. Can you blame me? But, wait! Oh man! It got A LOT better! I know last time I said I'd skip the details of this kind of stuff... But fuck it! This was one of the happiest moments of my life!

Here it goes. So I get to detention after school, the room being the music room which doubled as the detention room because we're too cheap to get a real room built... And BOOM! No teacher was there. Instead, Octavia was sitting on the stool in front of the piano. Her nose was pressed up in a book as she pointed out the space in front of her. Sure, this was weird... But I've seen someone bring a cannon into school and literally shoot fun at everyone... I'd take anything.

When I got close, she told me that the teacher had to step out and she was left in charge of watching me. Of all the honor students in the school, they gave the one you got me detention the whip over me. It was awkward enough, so I was just gonna sit down... But she didn't have any of it. She grabbed my hand and put her book down before I could get too far. The next thing I knew, I was against the case of the piano and Octavia was standing in front of me; kicking the stool she was sitting on a second ago to the ground behind her. I know what you're thinking... How long did we bump it? Well... We didn't.

For an hour she just looked at me, studying me I think. God knows I didn't move an inch. I was as turned on as I was terrified. One second -YES I counted- one second before my detention ended, she finally said something...

"You are a fascinating person, Vinyl. I have no shame in admitting that. But, I do have shame in that despite how many people I have gone on dates with, I have never been given or have given the title of 'going steady'. In this case, I find it a bit hard to ask this of you. Yet, I will try. Vinyl... Would you considering going out on a date with me? A fourth date. One that you did not have to cheat me into. But in fact one I wish to go on with you. Dispensing any masquerades in it... I want us to be... mutual."

It was a start...

By the way, do you buy into that whole 'everything comes full circle' thing? I don't know... I think it holds some kind of thing to it. Anyway, I'll just tell you where I fourth date was. It was kinda our first date as a couple when you think about it. It was a pretty stupid date. It wasn't at an ice rink, or a diner, or at a park. To be completely honest... It was at a clock store.

Heh...

I really liked that clock...

"Aw sweet! Looky here! This is the best clock I've ever seen!"

"Oh my..."

"It's so awesome! It's got a dick, a cig, and whatever the hell this thing is!"

"Vinyl... That is the most disgusting, vile, inappropriate thing I have ever seen."

"Yeah? So?"

"...So we should very much buy it! It is so garish. What a commemoration it will make."

I really liked that clock... It was Octavia's favorite.

Chapter Eight: I'm not, YOU are!

A glass slammed against the counter of the bar, sending the man cleaning a used mug into a disappointed sigh and head shake. The slammer of the glass had her head pressed against the counter as well, her neon blue hair splintered out around the outline of her head as groan after groan escaped her alcohol heavy lips. Regardless, the barkeeper took the woman's cup reluctantly and went to refill it, taking the moment of it filling to voice his two cents. "Vinyl, whatever's bothering you probably won't get solved with booze..." much to his distaste and growing disappointment, Vinyl refused to lift her head up and just kept her hand out, gripping it at the air for her filled mug to be given to her.

The bartender shook his head one more time before putting the cup back Vinyl, ending her grasps. Suddenly but wavering, Vinyl lifted her head up off the counter and pushed the glass to her unsteady lips. Her usually cheerful, playful expression seemed to have been drowned out by the alcohol she was swigging down. On her face, her signature shades hung crooked at the bridge of her nose, letting both her eyes show over the top of the frames, showing that they were glassed over with a lifeless lustier. Vinyl looked at herself in the reflection that the drink offered, seeing herself ripple in the thick liquor. Thinking back, she came in here about two hours ago and just went right to getting plastered. Only, this time... It just didn't feel as fun. Vinyl lifted the glass up and went for it to slosh down her throat as she perked her lips to the tip of it. But, before she could feel a drop of it, the glass was yanked out of her hand and she tapped herself in the face with her empty hand.

"W-Wha...?" Her tone slurred a moment and she tried to follow to where her glass was yanked off to.

Following what she could in her slowed senses, Vinyl looked around behind her and saw another woman standing there with appraising eyes set against the DJ. Even in her drunken stupor, Vinyl could piece the girl holding her drink together. After so many years of hard drinking at parties between tracks, Vinyl -much to her own dismay- built up a growing immunity to the effects. Because of that, despite her outward dishevelled appearance, her mind and sight remained repetitively intact; resulting in Vinyl putting together -slowly- who was behind her. Normally Vinyl could tell anyone from first glance by just how they dressed or their face; but, with winter being around and making everyone change their normal clothes for the sake of keeping cold, first glances had to go a little further.

Even still, Vinyl knew who it was not long after she put the colours together. Red coat, orange scarf, and -of course- that cowboy hat topped over blonde hair. Vinyl didn't feel like being herself right now, but she still managed a cheesy smile and gave a flopping hand wave to the farm girl. "Hey, AJ... What're you up to at this hour? And... at a bar no less. I thought you're family didn't drink?" Vinyl chuckled and continued on, clearly trying to reach out for her cup that the farm girl kept holding.

When Vinyl reached out for the glass, AJ took a single small step back, letting Vinyl's hand drop and miss. Once again, Vinyl looked to her drink thief, trying to make eye contact with her; but, with the steaming wisp of the hot chocolate she had in one hand and the square frame glasses on the curve of her nose, it was a little more difficult. It was only when the apple picking at Sweet Apple Acres couldn't be done -in the winter- that AJ would put on her reading glasses and take care of the financial side of the farm. If anything, the glasses alone gave the farm girl a new look pretty easily. Even Vinyl would have to call it cute. But, from the look she could make out from AJ, cute was the furthest expression she was trying to give off.

"Listen... AJ... I'm not having that good a night," Vinyl laughed half-heartedly and tried to reach out for her drink again, "So, how about you just give me that back."

Once again, AJ took a step back and continued to look down at Vinyl with a dismal glance. When Vinyl's hand grabbed at air again, she curled her fingers into a fist and dropped her smile. Her eyes glared at the farm girl over the rim of her shades, the red of them straining into a shaking rage. Calmly, AJ started to speak but kept a distance from Vinyl. "Listen 'ere. Y'all way passed drunk now--"

"Drunk? I'm not--"

"--ah want you to get in a cab an get on home..." AJ's tone went stern to cut off Vinyl's own interrupting.

Vinyl looked back over the counter, seeing herself in a mirror that the bartender kept behind the shelf of bottles. Obscured as the vision was, Vinyl could still make herself out, frowning more so at that then at AJ. "Jack... I... I can't go back there. Not now..." Vinyl shook her head and matted brushes of her hair between her fingers as she slumped over the counter and rested her elbows on the wood surface, "I fucked things up... Again. I tried to do the stupidest thing and Tavi just--..."

At first, AJ waited for an answer as she watched Vinyl, but decided to sit down on the stool next to her at the bar after a minute. She put both her cup and Vinyl's down, though pushed Vinyl's a little bit away just in case. "Well... Seems y'all mess up a lot. But, same time, ya' always seem to fix 'er all up 'fore long..." AJ wasn't much of a talker in this kind of scene, but she was trying.

For just a second, Vinyl opened her mouth and let the thick musk of alcohol slick out between her lips before she spoke. "I asked her to marry me..."

The bar was already pretty silent since the three of them were all that was left and the TV in the corner of the bar was set to a low volume. But, in that moment, it felt like even the cold night went still and even a snowflake could be heard touching to the mounds below. AJ pushed her index finger and middle finger up to her face, pushing her glasses and hat up just a little bit while wearing a calm look to her. "...Ah see..." sound suddenly pounded through the bar as AJ threw a collection of coins onto the counter, bringing the bartender and Vinyl to look at the action in startled alarm, "Ah got 'er tab," she simple said before she grabbed a strong grip to Vinyl's back collar and pulled her off her chair to an unsteady stand.

Once Vinyl's legs steadied out, she was pulled once again by the back of her shirt towards the exit of the bar. "Whoa! What're you doing!?" Vinyl flailed her arms in front of her, trying to grab at something as she was pulled through the bar by a surprisingly strong farm girl.

"Said ya' can't go home. That's fine. Just gonna have to stick 'round me till ya' can..." AJ didn't let Vinyl protest for even a second as she kicked the bar door open and pulled Vinyl along behind her into the cold night, "An', while ah got'cha... May as well try an' figure out a ways ta' help."

Chapter Nine: The Snow has a Reason.

Whether from rooftop dispensing an abundance of it or the midnight sky, flakes of snow cascaded in little droves to meet against the cobblestone roads and sidewalks spanning through Canterlot. The roads, freshly plowed moments ago by passing workers on their final rounds for the night, now looked almost diamond studded by the shimmering flakes of fresh snow fall. On the other hand, the sidewalks that lined the road were powdered by the aftermath of passing plowers, leaving them thick and puffy; like mounds of sugar in the shop of a baker. The only exception to the sidewalks were the benches and streetlights. Rings around the base of the lights remained slightly dug out as light whittled away the piles of snow; while the benches kept snow fall from touching the small amount of sidewalk under their curved shape. In all, Canterlot was at peace in the blissful chill of winter.

Few disturbances were made against the snow lining the sidewalk; so few would exit their homes so late into the night. But, children scampered though the mounds and couples walked hand-in-hand down the picturesque city streets. As well to those numbers was a lone Octavia garbed in a thick, brown overcoat and sitting with a shiver against a bench under one of the streetlights, her head hung low with puffs of her own breath whisking against her face. It took her some time, but she brought herself to Canterlot post-haste once she left Vinyl and the apartment. If there existed anywhere that could bring her a shred of solace, it was the majesty of Canterlot. In all the world, Canterlot always felt the most 'at home' sort of place to her... On exception to one other place.

As she sat in the cold on that bench, her mind rattled with every thought and conflicting feeling she had been forced to endure in these short few hours. Her fingers curled against her forehead and ran sharp traces through her now knotted hair. Groans born from frustration departed from her clenched teeth as she pushed the bases of her palms against her eyes; not feeling the need to cry, but just trying to rub away and annoyance she could from her body. But, it aided nothing... And she already knew it wouldn't. She had just wanted to find some other solution...

When she put her hands back against her knees covered in the drape of the coat, she sent her eyes to scan across the snow fallen street. Canterlot's beauty could always bring some degree of joy to her, even in this dreary point she had fallen to. For a moment, her heart lifted for the first time that night and felt a thread of comfort sitting alone on that bench. In the moment after, that feeling of uplift was switched to mild interest and thought when she noticed a collective of children bracing through the mounds of snow covering the sidewalks with high, bounding steps. In each of their tiny arms were tied bundles of papers that they all took great care to not allow the snow to touch even an inch of from the bottom. It was a cute sight; it was a heart warming sight; it was a curious sight.

Two years, correct? I have seen that same collection of children running that paper route three times a week for the past two years now. From Canterlot to home, I have seen these children walking the same path at the same time on each of those nights to deliver those newspapers. Dedication, though I admire it, must be pulled to question in this scenario. Newspaper delivery boys and girls are the staple to that sort of business structure. However, they wrote the paper themselves, they are not paid, and -to my knowledge- a handful, if that, are the only ones who read it while the others simply throw it out or use it for the common displace for newspaper leavings. Why even trouble yourself to such a degree for no gain?

Octavia watched as the four children continued down the sidewalk until they came to pass by Octavia's bench. She had to admit, the four children wrapped in heavy winter clothes and waddling with bundles of papers did seem rather adorable. But, her curious nature took to the head of her and she gestured to the boy of the four as they came closer. When the children saw, they formed a quick huddle and make for quick whispers amongst themselves before they sent the boy out while the three remaining took for houses across the street. When the boy neared, he pulled one of the newspapers from his bundle with a crinkle and outstretched it to Octavia, a bright cherub of a smile across his face as he did so. "Night to ya', Ms. Octavia," he tried to keep quiet, but his cockney high-spirited tone still jolted a little echo through the silent street.

For a moment, Octavia was hesitant to take the paper, but submitted to taking it with the given allure she was being shown from the boy's smile. "Thank you..." she rolled the paper up and tucked it into her coat; she would throw it away when the boy was further way. "Now... Pip, was it? I have a question to pose you if you are willing to humor my query."

At first, Pip blinked a puzzled look at the older woman. Though, he ultimately chose to simply nod and let Octavia say what she was wanting to. "I have noticed that you and your friends always deliver these non-profit newspapers that you make on your own time and funding. Noble as it is to practice something you take pleasure in doing, I find it a bit questionable to the degrees and lengths you will do it. Within your home town is understandable; making enough for only your families makes sense; but you travel all the way to Canterlot; you make a surplus of papers. Why?"

For just a minute, Pip seemed to consider what he was hearing. Flakes of snow drifted down between the two in an air of silence. The silence, however, was broken when Octavia watched Pip step through the small pile of snow between them and shuffle himself to sit next to her on the bench. "Well, Ms. Octavia... We don't do it for the fun of it or 'cause we want somethin' ta' do. Doing it 'cause maybe someone'll get a little laugh or somethin' out of one of the pages, or could learn somethin' new. Don't know what. But if one person gets somethin' out of it, that's worth somethin'," Pip kicked his boots across the small powder pile of sand that gather a slope under the bench as he spoke.

Octavia looked from Pip to her coat, tugging it slightly agape to look at the rolled up paper she was keeping. A huffing chuckle came from her and she shook her head, letting the white puffs take to the air like fresh smoke. "Learn something you say? Maybe by chance there could be a dating column in it that could help me find my answer..." though she spoke the words bitterly to her own ears, Pip still looked up at her with a captured interest.

"Datin' column? Why would ya' need one of those? Ain't'cha with that Vinyl lady?"

"With her... Yes... I am, or perhaps was," Octavia sighed and slipped defeated against her spot on the cold bench, "We both have come to an impasse in our relationship..." when her eyes slipped a look to Pip's confused expression, she felt she would have to treat this as if speaking to Vinyl, "We had a fight. And, this fight ended with us at a point in our relationship where we can't go further without something breaking."

"Like 'ow?" Pip urged her to go on, giving an eye over to the rest of his group to make sure they were still around.

"She... She gave me a choice that I could not make in all good sense..." Octavia muttered, her bitterness growing to dig against her wounds.

"Did she tell ya' to murder some bloke or she'd throw ya' out a window?" Pip asked flatly.

"No..."

"Did she 'old your parents 'ostage until ya' took over Canterlot?"

"No..."

"Then what did she ask ya'?"

For a second, just a second, Octavia considered if her choice was as bad or worse than the ones this boy presented. "She... asked me to marry her."

A silence fell between the two, leaving Octavia to look down at herself with narrowed, shamed eyes as she reflected upon the-- "Aaaaand told ya' to say yes or she'd blow up your mum?"

"What? No," Octavia shot the young boy a harsh look of disbelief, "She only asked me to marry her and left it at that."

"What's the problem then?"

"It's... Complicated... You see, we're both females. I do not know your parents, but I assume the are a man and woman. The same can be assumed of your friends as well. Married couples are generally male and female; it's the status commonly seen. Same gender couples are generally frowned upon... I admit it is more liberal and tolerated in these parts... But that does not make it fully accepted. To date one of your own gender is risque as it is and has impeded many endeavors I have tried for. However, if I were to marry one in my same gender... My reputation and rank would quickly die out and I would become a no-name musician against the street curb. I love my reputation and renown as a musician of high-class; I do not ever want to lose that."

As Octavia kept speaking, she bit her tongue as she realized what she was saying. This sort of talk was above most minds, and she was pouring it our over some child she pulled aside for a remedial curiosity. Her words came to a still and she looked back to her lap, seeing the flakes of snow touch and disappear against the brown of the coat. Sinking into her own mind, she nearly missed the words Pip had spoke after her small silence. "Do you wanna' lose Vinyl?"

The question was ridiculous. "Of course I do not want to lose her. She is my world and greater half." Octavia did not mean to speak in anger at the boy, but her tone betrayed that thought.

However, to her surprise, Pip did not look back at her with any worry or fear. Instead, he looked almost as contemplating as she had been moments ago. "Two 'alfs make a 'ole. That right?"

"Yes, of course..." Octavia had room for simple, thoughtless questions... A tact she gained from living with Vinyl.

"So... If that's true... What's the other 'alf?"

"Pardon?" Octavia raised a brow to the boy, one white flake of snow clinging to her black 'lashes.

"You said Vinyl's your better 'alf. What's the other 'alf if Vinyl's one 'alf."

Children today had little to no understanding of such metaphors it would seem. "The other half would be me. I am one half, Vinyl is another. The idea itself is not too far complex."

"If you're one 'alf and she's the other... I don't see 'ow being a musician makes you any more 'ole."

Pip dropped off from the bench and reclaimed his stock of newspapers from the bench as well, taking off to regain his partners further down the street. Octavia did not voice any complaint, nor a farewell... She just remained there in the most stunned manner she had been in perhaps all her life. Beyond any belief of her own, she had been deconstructed, unmade, and out-reasoned by a child... And she found herself completely lost for the second time that night. In a sense, he was completely right in his analysis. Yet...

Octavia put her palms back against her eyes and flicks her fingers through her scalp, groaning harsh breathes into the cold air. To pick between the two... It was a hard choice, but it had crossed her mind. She had made plans for the case of them being married some time ago... But she had also wished it to never come to that. But why? For fame? Fortune? Honor? Thinking now... What was it for? The loss of so much... Was it all worth this much thought in the end?

In the midst of her thought, Octavia opened her coat and reached in to grasp the paper she held within. As she reached, her fingers curled to a stop and she bit into her warm bottom lip which stood at contrast to the cold world around her. "A child has pointed out a matter most blatant to me that I have over looked... My girlfriend has put me into a corner that I dread to stay in... And the longer I wait, I find myself more and more lost..." her words felt dry and cruel as she spoke them, no one around anymore to hear it except her, "If there exists any time I would ask for some sort of otherworldly power to show me what I have to do, I would accept it now..."

She was answer... by the soft drops of falling snow and passing wind brushing the collected mounds. Nothing more to follow through the winter night in Canterlot. She heaved a snide huff and put her hand to meet the paper. "As I had assumed..."

When she gripped the paper, she found it a bit strange that it felt thinner than when she put it in. Pulling her hand out, she still felt the rolled up newspaper pressed against her chest and saw that between her fingers was a scrap of wrinkled up paper. By the bends, folds, and rips in it, it seemed as if the paper had been there for as long as the jacket was had. On the backside of it, worn writing was made out to Octavia's strained eyes. She brought it up and put it against the street light, using her free hand to stop the wind from blowing against it so she could read it.

"Alright. Gotta cheat again. A little bit after I gave you that last note, I remembered to hate the nickname 'Tavi'. So, I'll give this one last letter to make it the name you like being called. 'Tavia'. But honestly, whatever name you go by is great. You could be named 'Pickle-Dickle' and you'd still be the most amazing person in the world galaxy solar system galaxy universe. You probably know something bigger than universe, but go ahead and keep it. I prefer world anyway. Your world. Because someday, it'll be our world. We might be shit poor and living off beans when we finally tie the knot. But don't you worry. I may have to stuff you on ramen for a few years, but I'll make sure every year after we get married will be filled with every cent I saved from every job I did. Sorry about that too. I lied about my money. I wanted to surprise you when we put our money together and I had more than just a penny to my name. My name, your name; I don't care, I just want our name."

"By the way... I hope you find this note soon. Otherwise the whole note romance of this will be worth jack!"

Octavia looked over the paper once again... Then another time over. Perhaps even ten times before she covered it up with her trembling hand and placed it back into the pocket within the coat. For once, when her breath drew out from her body in that night, the puffs of air looked and felt more like gentle clouds wanting to return to the heavens above. As too did her tone change; from her bitterness came a new, gentleness that felt heavy with the release of the greatest of burdens. "Thank you..."

Chapter Ten (Vinyl POV| Octavia's POV): Remember when we first...?

I wasn't thinking in any sense...

...Just wasn't looking at it in the right way.

It has nothing at all to do with me...

...the whole thing's about her.

How could I...?

...be so frickin' stupid!

If I do nothing at this point...

...it's all going down the shitter.

While I loath to admit I have made a grave mistake...

...hate it more when that mistakes bites me in the ass more later.

In this case...

...only I messed it up.

She was correct in her actions...

...I don't blame her for a second.

As always...

...I made it all about me.

If I do not want to lose her...

...I just gotta...

...Be willing...

...To...

...Accept...

...It.

---

Did I ever tell you how we met?

---

In all honesty, the story itself is not much to praise originality over by any means.

---

Oh man! I'm bustin' a gut just remembering it. Good times... Good times.

---

The memory still haunts me to this day. That a horrible day. And yet, it is one of my defining moments when I look back at it. A simple accident on that one day perhaps was the turning stone in my entire life. A curious thought. If I had looked beforehand at what I grabbed before I left the classroom that day...

---

...I probably wouldn't've even bothered to follow her after class! I mean, take anything from me; my hair dye, my pants, my underpants if I wore any, or my prized cheese sandwich from the first-grade I never ate; take any of that, I don't give. But...

---

I realized my mistake halfway across the school courtyard. I was in the midst of conversing with my fellow elementary school peers that had a similar interest in the curricular goals I had, when I had moved to take a pen from my satchel so I could make note of some points my peers were saying. However, I did not find my hand against a pen. Oh-no... What I felt in my satchel was...

---

You ever see a dog run after chili sauce gets on its nose? That was me when I wrecked up the entire classroom looking for my shades! I put them right on my desk after I cleaned my eye-balls off at the sink so the paint I had chucked into them wouldn't burn... It still burned... I blame the warning label makers for not making those labels bigger! Where was--? OH! Wrecking up the place. Anyway, I guessed that some ass must've jacked my shades. And -cats in the cradle!- when I looked outside from a window, I saw my shades in the hands of Prissy-Pants McTightwad! Now, I don't know if it was from the paint still in my eyes or what... But I was seeing RED...!

---

By mistake, I must have picked up the gaudy things when I was collecting papers to grade from the neighboring classroom's students. I always put the papers I deliver safely within my satchel before I depart from any room so I may get them from one point to the next without trouble. However, that single day, when I was sent to collect that classroom's papers, I was weary as it was. Suffice to say, the students in that class were not that... level. I had no desire to stay long there and gathered the papers before an eye could drop on my presence. That careless action, however, had been the root to my accidental theft of those glasses. For all purposes, I will inform you I was about to bring the glasses back or send them to the lost and found... However...

---

WHAM! Like a tiger on a crippled rabbit! I jumped out from the class window, body slammed the ground outside, than charged that thief like a rhino... with jets... and whatever those things are that make race cars go faster. I came at her and just DESTROYED HER! No lie! That bitch and I cut across a good three feet off the ground before she hit her jaw right into the dirt and ate some dirt right there! Where was I? I was on her back tackling her like a linebacker! It was so...!

---

Barbaric is the only word fit for that display of aggression she showed me that day. Before I could even get an idea to my head over what I should do with the glasses, she assaulted me like a rabid dog from behind. To this day, I can still taste the mix of blood and dirt that filled my mouth when I collided my chin against the ground. It did not take more than a moment for a crowd to have formulated around the two of us; very little of that horde wanting to help me as blood covered the grass beneath my head. She flipped me over and looked me square to the eyes after I refused to answer her shouts of hate and bile towards me over what a 'crook' I was. Forgive me for not answering her as blood and tears covered my face and my own cries cut off my hearing. When she looked me in the eyes...

---

Fork over the shades, ya' thief! Give 'em back before I knock your ears out! Crooks like you should fry! Ah, yeah... I was pretty childish back in the good ol' days. By the sick looks people were giving me, I already could tell the girl was bleeding when she hit the ground. I mean... She had like ninety pounds of pure child-hood rage jump her... I would've been bleeding too. But, didn't care. I wanted my shades back and she had them and wasn't answering me. So, I flung her over onto her back and was gonna sock her once in the jaw to get my shades back. And...

---

Wow...

---

Wow...

---

This girl who had just assaulted me, berated me, and was no doubt going to do worse to me had... Had the most stunning red-tone eyes I had ever seen. Her face may have been darkened by the crusty blue hair draping over her face, but those eyes sung out against the darkness and brought the strangest calm to me...

---

That crook, thief, robber, hustler, whatever... I couldn't hit her. Nope... Just couldn't do it. Not when she was looking at me with those two little amethysts looking at me with a feeling I can't even explain. I've seen fear filled eyes, I've seen eyes ready to cry, I've seen eyes wanting to just rip my throat out... But those eyes looked like... Something. I guess the best word is 'knowing'. You figure out what that means. Anywho, I just kept looking at her and was ready to smack her... But... I guess my lips worked faster then my arm.

---

"I'm Vinyl... You look like hell..."

---

Her... First... Personal... Declaration... To... Me... Ever...

---

The first frickin' thing I EVER said to her! HAH!

---

And yet... I do not think it was as bad as my own.

---

Oh! And what happened next? You're gonna love this!

---

"Take pleasure in the look of it, for hell is exactly where you are going."

---

...Perhaps that was a tad harsh...

---

Beautiful! That was just so crazy beautiful! I fell over laughing at what she said and she just ran off with her little gang! But, she did throw my shades at me while I was laughing. That was pretty cool of her.

---

I swore that day that I would never even spare a thought to that incredulous brat for as long as I lived! And yet... Here I am now... Searching for that brat so we can get... married. How strange life can be at times.

---

I thought I'd just bug that girl a little more for a few more months and see if I can get any more fun out of her. But... Here I am now... years later and I'm living with her, eating with her, and sleeping with her. Really weird how life can be like that.

---

Now... It may all very well be dashed away within a moment. That is something I will not allow... I love Vinyl more than anything else in this world.

---

So... It kinda makes all of this sting me really harsh. I mean... This might be it. Man... I love Octavia so much and... this is how it's gonna end? No!

---

Vinyl was the first person to...

---

Octavia was the first person who ever...

---

...Tell me I was wrong.

---

...Called me out on my shit.

---

...Keep up with me in a musical score.

---

....Made me work for something all worth it.

---

...Make love to me.

---

...Held me and made me feel safe.

---

...Kiss me in public before yelling "We are leaving to do a bedroom waltz!"... Only Vinyl would... Heh.

---

...Took the mic from me durring a job and say directly to the WHOLE party "The next one of you punks who comes onto my girlfriend here will learn what a cellist's fingers can do to a throat firsthand!"... Then to play tongue wrestling right in front of a live audience... Sweat trickling down our necks as the music beat against our ears and the whole world cheered us on...

Fucking... Hot...

---

She is beyond any degree of meaning to me. She is my first and only love... I hope I realized that within time.

---

It's not too late just yet... Things can still go right for once.

Chapter Eleven: If I Could Rearrange The Alphabet...

"Jack, ya' gotta give up!" AJ's little sister pleaded at her older sister's leg, tears threatening to release, "It just ain't worth it!"

"Bloom's right, AJ..." hand planted firmly to AJ's shoulder, Mac tried to sway her sister as well, "This here's a losin' battle..."

Jack ignored both of her siblings as they spoke, her face collected in the shaking palms of her hands as she sat in a wooden chair in the farmhouse living room. The hat she treasured to wear had been thrown off to the side, leaving her hair a dishevelled mess; but perhaps that was also caused by her fingers raking and plucking through them for the past hour in frustration. Her siblings watched with both pain and shame as they saw her drop her hands back into her lap and looked a steely glare out before her. "No... ah ain't backin' down, no sir," both her brother and sister moved away from her as she took a steady breath between her lips before she spoke in a calm but tired voice, "Okay... We're gonna try this again..."

Across from her, sitting in the same sort of wooden chair was Vinyl, her expression as nonchalant and unassuming as you would expect from her. Jack lifted her own shoulders once and let them drop as a breath moved through her nose. "When ya' go back home... What're ya' gonna do?"

"Say sorry," Vinyl replied quickly, as if rehearsed.

"After that?"

"Sit her down on the couch. Not the bed."

"Why not the bed?" AJ fed Vinyl on, trying to set her up for what they practised.

"So I don't pressure her," behind AJ, Mac and Bloom let out a relieved sigh.

"Good... Then what're we gonna do after that?"

"Get on one knee and take out the ring."

So close... After two hours of hammering the process into Vinyl's head, the Apple Family finally did it! AJ started to smile excitedly and picked herself up in her chair. "Righ'! And then...?"

"If I could rearrange--"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" AJ nearly pounced right for Vinyl before Mac threw his arms around her and pulled her fighting back into her chair. "Let me at 'er! Let me at 'er! Gonna' knock some--!" AJ, along with the chair she was sitting in, was slowly dragged out of the living room with her fighting and clawing at Vinyl the entire way.

Left there nearly alone, Vinyl blinked once before slumping her shoulders as falling deeper into her seat. She knew she wasn't doing it right, it was pretty obvious. And yet... She felt it hand to be that way. For the past two hours, Vinyl had been sitting in this house listening to AJ, Mac, and little Bloom hammer into her that if she wanted to keep Octavia, she would have to be willing to change. At one point, they had even called in a friend of Jack's, Rarity, to try and teach Vinyl edict... Currently, Rarity was sobbing in Jack's room upstairs and questioning her belief that anyone could learn manners. Vinyl appreciated all of this effort they were putting in... But it just didn't seem right.

"I don't know..." she groaned aloud, fixing herself to sit up right, "Maybe I should -you know?- go home and say I messed up... Maybe she'll take me back and we can still be friends, right?"

The only person left in the room was Bloom, the youngest of the Apple Family. She had only gotten home a few minutes ago after some delivery run with her team of friends. The little girl only looked at Vinyl for a second before shrugging and moving to follow where her sister had been dragged off to. "Maybe's a baby word. Yer' a big girl," Bloom flatly put it and left the room.

"Maybe's a baby word...? Hm..." Vinyl put a hand to her chin, tapping it as she started to contemplate a meaning, "If that's so... And if the idea that maybe is also a baby that just needs to be taken care of until it turns into a yes... And if I'm a big girl, that means I'm not a baby... So if I'm not a baby, then I grew up... Which means I was taken care of... So that means if I'm saying maybe and I've been taken care of-- OF COURSE!" Vinyl punched one fist into the palm of her hand.

She snatched up her coat that she was using as a cushion and put it on with a hurried pace. "I know what I must do!" She declared with a triumphant tone.

In a blur of speed, Vinyl broke out from the living room and out into the cold winter night, sparing not a moment to wave even a farewell. All together, the three Apple siblings poked their heads out from the room they took shelter in to collect themselves. "...Is she gone?" Jack asked.

"Eeeeyup..." Mac confirmed with a sigh of relief following from each of them in unison.

---

"Zen. Calm. Breath in and breath out. Everything shall be fine. You simply need to keep a level head in this matter." Octavia ran her mind through a set of reminders as she felt her heart thumping wildly against her chest.

The first thing she did when she got back to their home was sweep up the mess Vinyl left in her rage. A few glass shards, some chipped plastic, a penis-clock hand... And a simple box holding a band she would not look at again until it was time. Once it had all been cleaned, Octavia rushed to her room and threw on a new change of clothes; the more she could distance herself from earlier's mishap, the better. However, she regretfully found no clothes of her own fitting enough. In the end, she decided to settle on wearing a discarded set of Vinyl's clothes that had been strewn across Octavia's otherwise clean room. They stunk of Vinyl's unique scent of sweat and sex that seemed to cling to everything she put on; but it would have to do.

Octavia hurried through every action to get the house set for Vinyl's arrival while trying to keep her air of calm. To her, there was no telling how this would go; even no way for her to know that Vinyl would accept her apology. But, that was a matter she would cross when it came...

...She had never missed that clock so much in her entire life. She would have given anything to hear the rhythmic ticks and tocks it gave you give her some semblance of a system. As for now, everything seemed so off set to her. Octavia looked to the small box she put on the coffee table in front of her, letting that be the stationary center of her calming mind. One breathe in, and one breathe out. Calm... She could do--

The door to the apartment rattled and the knob turned; forcing every last nerve inside of Octavia to shrivel up and die. She couldn't do this! She was by no means ready for this! As the front door cracked open bit by bit, Octavia's heart was giving strong, agonizing thumps against her chest in a failing attempt to get out while it still could. Octavia tried to still her heart and relax her mind, keeping her eyes now fixed on the front door as it revealed Vinyl entering. All at once, as Octavia collected Vinyl's presence to her eyes, her heart and mind went into a calm. Perhaps nothing moved in that moment except Vinyl as she stepped one foot in front of the other and walked into their home. It didn't take Vinyl even a second to see Octavia sitting on the couch and wearing her clothes. Normally, she would've made a joke... But this wasn't a time for that she thought.

Instead, Vinyl shut the door behind her and walked herself over to Octavia, keeping her expression poised along with her stature. Octavia on the other hand clambered to her feet and went to meet Vinyl halfway across the room. When they met, they just stood before one another in an awkward silence. Octavia put her hands folded behind her back as she rocked on the balls of her heels back and forth; Vinyl kept her gaze away from Octavia as she picked a finger at her shades, mentally debating if she should take them off or not. Finally, in one split moment, Vinyl look her shades off and Octavia stopped rocking, both looking right into the other as they spoke at once.

"Look, I'm sorry." "Look, I'm sorry."

"I was out of line, and--" "I wasn't thinking about you--"

"--I reacted on instinct without--" "--and how this would mess with you--"

"--giving either of us a chance to--" "--or your career. I was stuck on--"

"--discuss it like a real couple is--" "--me, me, me. Just like every--"

"--supposed to do. You are--" "--time this stuff happens. Tavia--"

"--so much to me and I just--" "--I just want you to be--"

"--was not thinking clearly." "--happy being you."

"What my point is..." "What I'm tying to say is..."

"I love you!"

For a moment, just one moment, they both were put to a stun looking at one another. Their feelings had been thrown out before one another and were left to hang there for each of them to see but not take back. As that moment of silence between them remained, Octavia made a step back and grabbed the box from off of the table. When she offered it to Vinyl, her entire face flushed to the reddest it had even been. "...Ask me again..." Octavia whispered.

Vinyl took hold of the box and turned it in her hand before scrambling with it and dropping to one knee. Getting to her knee, Vinyl used one of her hands to stroke back her hair and get the few snow flakes that collected in it out while she raised the wedding box up to meet Octavia. "Alright, uh... Octavia... Fffffff, uh... Will you...?" Yes... "...I don't know, maybe..." Yes... "...Marry me?"

"Yes..." Octavia opened the box with a single finger, getting a fresh look at the black gem and golden wedding band snugly held between a soft clutch inside. Octavia held out her wedding finger, prompting Vinyl to take the ring out from the case and slide it onto the finger, making Octavia smile a great love and hold in a welling tear, "...Yes... I will very much marry you, Vinyl."

"ALRIGHT!" Vinyl jumped to her feet and threw a fist into the air, letting out a shout of pure, unbridled joy as she started hopping around the entirety of their home. The only point she stopped her jumping and cheering at was at the window facing out towards the town. Vinyl swung the window open, too burning with love and joy to even feel the chilling wind against her primarily naked body as she stuck her head out into the midnight air. "She said yes! Let me hear ya' people! She said yes!" Vinyl continued to shout out her own joy over the entire city's night, receiving a few heated curses from previously sleeping citizens.

At the same time, Octavia sat back onto the couch and looked at her hand, gazing with the utmost love at the ring adorning her finger now. All of her doubts were washed away and put aside as she looked at the ring. "You know... Once we get married, I will have so much more to do. I may have to find a new job, perhaps localize a new career entirely; I may even lose status among the elite..." Octavia told herself out loud, still looking at the ring and smiling blissfully, "But... Life has dealt me a fair enough hand already... It is about time I take a risk myself," as she smiled, she noticed Vinyl slam the window shut after getting into an argument with someone across from their apartment.

Vinyl flopped herself down next to Octavia and put an arm around her, pulling her to a forceful embrace and placing her head on top of Octavia's. In their embrace, Octavia breathed softly and nuzzled sweetly into her beloved home. A home she felt safe inside of above anywhere else. However, as she snuggled into Vinyl, she couldn't help but feel something tugging at her. "...Vinyl?"

"Yes, soon to be Octavia Scratch?"

"...How did that line you were saying end?"

"OH! It's a great one. Here... If I could rearrange the alphabet... I would put 'I' inside 'U'..." Octavia looked up to Vinyl once, seeing her wink at her with the most cocky smile she had ever seen.

Octavia just shook her head and laid herself out against Vinyl with an embarrassed groan. "This is the woman I'm marrying..."

Author's Notes:

One final chapter... The adult one. I just wanted to space them out seeing as it's going to have a lot of pictures, details, and all of that... Be looking for that VERY soon.

Chapter Twelve: The Plunge.

Ma-a-a-a-AN! What a night! I proposed, I got shot down, I got drunk, I was abducted by rednecks, I came home, and I proposed again. That's like three acts in a play over and done in four hours. When's the last time you pulled that shit off? I'll tell you when... Actually, I don't know. I don't know your personal life. But you sure as hell know mine. You've been up in my brain for this crazy day. Man... Feels like its been like a year since we did all this. But -heh- here I am. Five minutes after, holding tight to my babe and reflecting back on one crazy night.

The world's crazy like that, you know? I mean, it's like...

Heh... Why do I need to tell you? You've been listening to my spiel for the past few hours. You probably DO know, you know? Yeah... God. I'm just so... Man. I'm getting hitched! That's just mind blowing to me. I mean, we'll be getting a real house, maybe get a dog, adopt some kids for me to teach bad morals to so Octavia can scold both of us... That's the dream. I'm livin' it. It doesn't get any better than this. But, uh... I'm gonna play straight with you here. Do you know what the best part of getting married to Tavi is?

---

Mmmm... I have had a very interesting night tonight. I was proposed to, I panicked, I sunk into a depression, I experienced a small existential crisis, I had a child give me much needed perspective, I ventured back to my home, and I was proposed to once again. Somehow, within a few hours time, I experienced a living musical conduction from beginning to end. My own requiem, to my own jubilation. Both beautiful and heart breaking. Yet, honestly... I would do it all once more if it meant I could feel as warm as I do in this moment. Her arms wrapped around me, caressing my once trembling form... I am no longer scared. I hold no reason to be, truthfully.

When I look within her eyes now... The eyes of my one and only...

I see a future of me staying home. Of me cleaning up after her and what children some adoption agency mistakenly approves us of. The hours with no end of loud music and irritating natures she has. But, when I look within her eyes... I see myself smiling through it all with not an iota of fear within my body. She is my other half, and I am hers. We will both be happy and continue our lives as we had before. Only, now with the other's hand tightly held. That is my reality. I live for this reality. Even so... Those days ahead will be very irksome. But, there is one thing Vinyl does that makes the irksome vanish.

---

She is one--

--HELL of a-- --amazing--

--Lover.

---

Gentle... It was truly a romantic and gentle moment for the two of them as they stood before the other within Octavia's private room. They each felt a bit awkward looking at the other as if the entire world had changed between the two. A mere foot of distance was dividing Vinyl and Octavia from one another, but that one foot had never felt so thick. A moment's glance came to both of them in unison, looking up from the carpet to meet the other in the eye. A rare change for Octavia, however, was that Vinyl had discarded her shades completely. Octavia really did just melt inside when she could see an unobstructed view of Vinyl's mystifying eyes. It was just that at this point in time, looking into Vinyl's eyes was a bit too much for Octavia. She quickly looked to something else in the room, right away being mimicked by Vinyl. Both woman's faces burned a hot red and they sunk a hard swallow.

This sort of thing wasn't new to them at all. Literally countless times they had sex with each other. In Octavia's room, in Vinyl's room, in Vinyl's parent's room, in a school bathroom, in a restaurant bathroom, at Twilight's library under a desk; the list could just keep rolling on and on. With each time, they hardly hesitated to make a move on the other... Well, Vinyl never hesitated to make a move on Octavia. But now... They had a wall in front of them. A real hurdle that neither of them were expecting, even if the after thoughts did come to them a lot. Right now, standing before the other, they were going to make love as more than girlfriends. It was something bigger than both of them, and neither of them wanted to make that first move just yet.

Octavia strained a small tug at her newly dressed clothes. She was thankful to have finally gotten out of that snow drenched coat and into her usual fine attire. Her fingers traced against the thin lapel of her top before tapping against her bow tie. "Come now Octavia. You have done this many times..." She tried to pump herself up mentally, "All you really need to do is kiss her and -well- Vinyl will naturally take over." Octavia's eyes looked to the side, searching Vinyl for some sort of sign she would make the first move.

Vinyl cut her fingers through her hair while gnashing her teeth together behind closed lips. "Ffff... Vinyl. You need to do something! You're just making things weird!" Vinyl's inner voice chastised her, "This ain't no big thing. Just..." Vinyl's eyes once more met Octavia's when she looked to her.

This time, once their eyes met, they held and looked into one another. Octavia could just feel deep inside her a warmth building up and parting her lips. Vinyl opened her mouth slightly and let out a meek groan. They both shut their eyes a moment, allowing for their minds to all at once regress to many years ago when they were just teenagers. For that small moment, their eyes shut and standing in front of one another, they felt just like they did then. Nervous, anxious, but so very excited. When the idea came to her, Vinyl cracked a smile and started to snicker dryly. "Hey, Tavia? You know what I just remembered?" Vinyl spoke with her regained nature.

She couldn't see the Cheshire smile across Vinyl's face, but the knot in her heart made Octavia blush and do much the same. "I can't imagine what it possibly could be." Octavia spoke softly to her lover.

Perhaps beyond their control or by the encouragement of closed eyes, both of them made subtle inches towards one another; mildly closing the gap between them with each second. "I remembered how beautiful you look and looked. I'd say you haven't aged a day... But your boobs and butt sure grew in all the right ways," Octavia groaned at Vinyl's words but continued to smile.

"Physically you're much more appealing yourself; but mentally you'll always be the child I met at the sandbox," Octavia retorted.

Suddenly, their small shuffles had to come to an end when their feet met small resistances and their noses met a warm touch. Curling, heated breathes whispered sweetly against both their lips and against their dark cheeks. In that small moment, Vinyl's smile softened a great deal and her cheeks burned even hotter. Octavia, however, felt something build inside her lungs; making her smile grow in confidence and her blush to fade. Though their eyes were shut, they could feel the inviting presence of their lover's lips right before them. Softly, Octavia tilted her head to one side and teasingly huffed a shuddering breath against Vinyl's quivering lips. Anticipation dug deep against both of them and their hands clenched tightly at their sides.

They breathed the other in, enjoying the other's unique aroma and intoxicating taste. Vinyl cooed weakly and nuzzled her nose into Octavia's cheek, electing a hot moan from the cellist herself in response. "Are we gonna keep playing cute? Or are we gonna fuck some tongues together?" Vinyl's blunt words and approach finally toppled Octavia off her edge.

Octavia lowered her jaw slightly and rubbed her chin against Vinyl's, breathing clearly into the DJ's lips and playing at a moan. "Fuck away, Viny-Winy..." Octavia's sultry tone and language snapped Vinyl's eyes wide open.

Octavia had lit time to react at all before her breath was ripped from her lungs by Vinyl's enthusiastic lips crashing into hers. The satisfying echo of wet smacking stuck against the walls of Octavia's room along with the euphoric moans of two enthralled lovers. Vinyl pushed deeply against Octavia's parted lips, parting them by her own jaw's prying to stab her hot tongue against Octavia's. Octavia reacted in kind, beating Vinyl's tongue back with her own with a wild abandon. Small beads of their mingled saliva trailed down either of their chins as they continued on. When Vinyl popped her lips off from Octavia to breath, it was very short lived. Octavia's hands shot out around Vinyl's head and tugged her back into the battle of tongues and lips.

For a good, heated while, the two entangled each other with wandering hands against clothed bodies and lips meshing together in a fit of bestial passion. Her jaw tired a great deal and Octavia unlocked herself from Vinyl with a great reluctance. Vinyl seized this rare, albeit unfortunate chance to fill her lungs with something other then Octavia's breath. They both looked into the other's labored and lustful eyes. Clearly, the hurdle before them moments ago was at some point crushed under their session. Slowly, Octavia regained herself and adjusted her tie and clothes; both of which were rendered ruffled and lopsided after Vinyl's handling. "Well then... Vinyl, my love... Would you please do me a favor?"

Vinyl smirked and licked her still glistening lips, relishing the taste of 'hot cellist'. "I'd do anything for you and to you, Tavi. What's up?"

"To me is what is up... I want to focus on doing something to you for a small change..." Octavia motioned a leading nod to Vinyl, gesturing her towards a dresser, "Lean back on that..."

Vinyl knew better then to not follow Octavia when she entered 'the mood'. She followed Octavia's gestured and leaned her back against the dresser, placing her hands on either side of her to leverage her out against it. Vinyl worked her rear against it, moving to get comfortable leaning on it while she looked back towards Octavia. "Kay, Ta-Ta. I'm all leaned up... What's cookin' in your brain, hm?" Vinyl questioned at the same time Octavia started to walk towards Vinyl.

With each step Octavia took, her hips swung out one way and back the other, accentuating her curves that Vinyl was so fond of. Vinyl's eyes followed each sashay of Octavia's hips until the point she stopped and stood before Vinyl. Octavia looked at Vinyl for a good moment, eating up the DJ's anticipation with a pleased grin. She adored watching Vinyl wait; she looked so cute and innocent in spite of the ideas rolling through Vinyl's head. But, Octavia did not make Vinyl sit with her yearning for too long. She sank down to her knees and looked up towards Vinyl, her rear end wagging from side to side as she rubbed a single finger against Vinyl's modest pant-line. "Try and stand still, Vinyl..."

That was the last warning Octavia offered her partner before her finger nipped at the hem of Vinyl's pants and pulled them down along with her underlying panties. Vinyl didn't say a word; she only bit her bottom lip and watched as Octavia rolled back ever so slightly so as to get on her hands and knees. The cellist inched her face between Vinyl's 'velvet', greeting it with an affectionate lap with the tip of her tongue. Vinyl kept still as best she could, only uttering a sided moan when Octavia repeated the lap. Octavia relished the look on Vinyl's face for a few more seconds before she closed her eyes and absorbed herself into her work.

Vinyl shuddered and rolled her shoulders as she groaned out her wanting pleasure each and every second Octavia licked her pussy and touched against her clit with her soft nose. Octavia moaned and sighed into Vinyl's lower lips faster and faster as her tongue lurched inside the throbbing reaches of the DJ's tunnel. Vinyl huffed heatedly with every lingering pass Octavia made against her sensitive passage, urging her with each lash to burst into a motion. Yet Vinyl persisted, only moaning and hanging her jaw agape as her pussy was treated over with the tender care of Octavia's mouth.

Vinyl wrenched against the dresser more and more as her will dwindled away, succumbing to deep, hoarse grunts while Octavia's jaw tired with her persistent licks. With a lack of a warning, Vinyl let out a fleeting moan and had her pussy squirt a layer of juices against Octavia's chin and nose. Octavia lapped up the last remains of Vinyl's reserves before opening her eyes and looking into Vinyl's eyes above her. Vinyl, drained and huffing offered a genuine but tired smile to Octavia. "Always... Always an easy please with your tongue, huh?" Vinyl managed to say, wobbling against the dresser.

With a smile and a small lick of her drenched lips, Octavia rose to her feet. "I was a practiced flutist once, after all."

Octavia giggled to herself and finished cleaning her visage of Vinyl's release, offering Vinyl a smile right after. Vinyl spared no words to Octavia as she tilted her head towards the bed and giving her lovely little cellist a gleaming smirk. A shiver ran up Octavia spine when she saw the look Vinyl gave her. Words rarely needed to be exchanged in moments like these for them. Octavia sauntered over to her bed, occupying each step she took with a fevered but elegant removal of each article of clothing on her. Her hands unfastened each clip on her lapel until her vest slid off down her arms, followed soon after by her undershirt being tossed over her head. Normally, Octavia took aim to keep her clothes in some sort of order... But, Vinyl tended to make her forget doing that when they were being intimate. When she reached the bed, Octavia's bow tie was the last thing to be discarded with the company of her slightly drenched underpants.

The cellist stretched herself out against the soft cushion of her mattress, curling her legs slightly out and turning to her side with a low sigh. "This feels... So very right..." she thought to herself, snuggling into her bed and waiting for Vinyl.

It didn't take Vinyl long at all to toss her pants and panties on either side of Octavia on the bed; an act that Octavia would normally scold her over. However, as Octavia felt the spine chilling but heart pumping sensation of another woman's breasts pressed against her back, any idea of scolding just blew away. A mewing of pleasure came from Octavia as Vinyl wriggling up into her back, making herself very at home. Aiding to Vinyl's sensation of being at home was her arm reaching out around Octavia and capturing one of the cellist's small, perk nipples between her fingers. Octavia squirmed a little, but gave up and relaxed against Vinyl once more. "Hey..." Vinyl whispered softly into Octavia's ear, "Mind if I say somethin'?"

"Go right ahead, my beautiful Vinyl," Octavia replied, looking over her shoulder to the blue haired angle caressing her so sweetly.

"I'm gonna grow real old right next to you like this... Day after day. Night after night. I'm gonna remind you that you're my number one, Octavia..." Vinyl dipped her other hand down Octavia's back, stroking down the bumps of her spine and between her fine ass, "I love you, Octavia. Promise."

Octavia wanted to speak her own words of devotion, but had the air sucked out of her and replaced by a sharp wail of pleasure as her pussy was split apart by three stiff fingers. Octavia lept upward, only to be pulled back down by Vinyl's chin against her shoulder. Vinyl's fingers rippled skillfully inside the tight entrance of Octavia's most private area. Each nail raked a quick, twisting wedge against the pulsating velvet of the woman's pussy, curling and furling at a slowly quickening pace inside of Octavia. Fighting herself and holding in her lustful moans, Octavia gave a lidded glance over to Vinyl from over her shoulder.

"I-I will always love, y-you too..." Octavia struggled at each word, breathless and taken away by the swift and lingering sensation of Vinyl fingering the deepest reaches of her cavity, "I... Promise."

In that moment, Vinyl tilted Octavia just enough for them to meet into another heated kiss; this time with Octavia panting uncontrollably into Vinyl's mouth. Vinyl silenced each scream of ecstasy Octavia made once she returned to fucking her most sensitive spot with her fingers. Vinyl's fingers drenched over with Octavia's juices, dripping just enough down the stretch of her palm, causing the DJ to slide her fingers out from her lover's pussy. The two of them broke their kiss and laid back against one another, Octavia lovingly held within Vinyl's arms and Vinyl caressing Octavia's naked form with gentle strokes. For one final time, they looked into one another's eyes and smiled a tired smile.

"I love you..." They spoke in unison, blissfully thankful for the world they would face together as something far more...

---

You can't change who you are. You can't change who someone else is. You can't change pretty much anything about anyone. But... Don't you just feel so great when you find that person who you don't even get the idea of changing?

If I could rearrange the alphabet... I'd always but "U" first, and "I"... Well... Wherever you want "I" is fine.

Epilogue: Snow Job.

...What? Seriously? You're still here? The story's over. I won the girl, I kissed the girl, I fucked the girl; what else is there to the story? I mean... I could tell you another story about Octavia and I, but that'd take forever! Frankly, I'm just sooooo pooped. You would be too after going a few rounds with Octavia the Relentless. It's crazy how much stamina she has. I guess those hours she spends standing and playing her cello pays off somehow, you know?

...You're not gonna go, are you? Fine... Fffff... Let me think of something. Hold on-hold on... Uh... Psh... OH! Got it! It's a bit of an old story about Tavi and me, but I haven't told it in a long time. Why don't you go hear that one? Sure it's not as hot or as dramatic as all this; but what do you expect? We just went through getting proposed to. Not much gets more heated than that. But, the story I'm thinkin' of is pretty sweet. It really shows some stones the two of us had to jump over to get where we are... Plus it's kinda cute.

So go hear that story. I bet you'll REALLY enjoy it... Just get out of here so I can get back in Tavi. Seriously, you're killing the mood! Go on. Get goin' you pervs. Heh. I'm just kiddin'. You know I love ya!

Author's Notes:

Snow Job. The Prequel to this story. Please read and enjoy.

Another Story: Every Time She Gets Undressed...

Two years... It's been two years since I spun you all the super hot yarn of how Octavia and I got hitched. I also said about two years ago I was gonna tell you another story... Hey, I'm working on it. It's hard to remember what you were doing so long ago. I forget to put the toilet seat down sometimes too, you wanna start something about that too? Why do I put the seat up? Air dumps...

Anyway! You're not into that. Unless you are. In which case, you're really weird. Eh, who am I to judge? Who's anyone to judge? And speaking of judging, I was just judging an old story I heard. It was a crazy story, and -well- it was a great time now that I think about it. See, Lyra forgot to get this shaz together for her and Bon Bon's anniversary. Personally, I didn't think it was that big a woop... But Lyra's real anal about messing up stuff. So was in this total drama zone, going off the walls, running around town, flipping cars, smacking women. Alright... Some of that didn't happen. But you know what I mean, right? You've been there.

I don't do the story justice. Only Lyra and Bon Bon could tell you every detail. But, knowing them, you're probably gonna end up reliving a lot of their childhoods... They REALLY like to talk about that. That's cool by me and all; but I get dizzy trying to keep Bon's sister's names right. And Lyra? Don't EVEN get me started. But you should get started. Go on and check out their story. It'll be pretty damn cool... And there'll be sex! You like sex. I mean, you watched me fuck my fiance you weird fuck.

I'm just foolin'. You know I love ya. See you real soon.

Author's Notes:

Every Time She Gets Undressed.... A new story in the same sort of style as this. Please read it and enjoy. Thank you! And also, the wedding will be coming soon... Oh! But if you want to read the wedding, you might want to read this one too. You can't just skip a chapter in a series, can you? Have fun!

The Final Chapter: ...I would put "U" and "I" together.

You always expect that day to come. You plan for it, plot for it, mark it up on the calendar so you don't forget it... But it always shocks you when you see it. That one day that'll change your whole entire life. It's crazy. Too crazy. Sometimes I think it can't be real that it's finally happening. But, here I am, talking about it happening. I can't wrap my head around it, y'know?

But I don't need to tell you about it, do I? You've been with me since the start. You know what I'm talking about. And this time, you'll be right there along with me to experience it as it happens. I feel like I'm about to upchuck all over the place while at the same time jizzing everywhere... It's a weird line of excitement I'm walking, I guess. Eh, you'll know what I mean some day.

Until then, lets get married!

...Not you and me. Me and Octavia... You can watch... Who knows? Could be some pretty mamas at the after party for you.

Author's Notes:

..."I Would Put "U" and "I" Together"

The final chapter in the saga. A project I've wanted to do for so very long. Please read it, enjoy it, and leave a comment on it. Thank you.