//------------------------------// // Headphones // Story: How to Disappear Completely // by shortskirtsandexplosions //------------------------------// "Just the stallion we were looking for," Octavia said while Vinyl Scratch nodded. "Yeesh..." Lyra blinked across the eatery. "Is everypony in town looking for Brad?" "Mrmmmfff..." The teenager in question finished munching down his carrot. "Not everypony." He gulped, staring a million miles straight forward. "I hope." "We saw a curiously familiar streak of orange and blue soar past our windows right at sunset." Octavia wore a sly grin, her eyebrow arching. "I take it your flight lessons went swimmingly?" "And how!" Flash swiveled in his chair, facing the two mares and smiling. "Miss Hooves got me airborne in a jiffy! She's got a real talent for reaching towards one's inner winged horse, that pony." Vinyl snickered. Her head tilted at an angle, suggesting that she was rolling her eyes beneath her violet shades. "Well, good to know that there'll be no obituaries tomorrow morning for the new gutter-cleaner," Octavia mused. "Hey... if nothing else, it'll make it easier for me to help out around here! Oooh!" Flash reached for the table and snatched up an orange vegetable, waving it jubilantly in the air. "Have you tried these before? They're carrots!" He took a swift bite. Snap! "Mmmmmmm... so sweeeeeeet..." "Erm... yes... I'm quite familiar with carrots," Octavia drone. "I have been since before primary school." She cleared her throat. "Anyways, since you've found your wings—as t'were—Vinyl here has come up with a wonderful way to christen the occasion." "Mmmfff?" Flash swallowed the latest morsel. "Oh? What's that?" "Vinyl?" Octavia pivoted about. "If you care to do the honors, love." Vinyl nodded. Whistling, she motioned Flash towards her. As the stallion approached, the unicorn opened her saddlebag and floated loose a shiny pair of headphones. She levitated the items towards him with a beaming grin. "What?" Flash blinked. He looked at the headphones, at Vinyl, then at the headphones again. "You... want me to polish your audiopheliac collection? Wouldn't you rather I take care of your roof or chimney—" Bon Bon barked: "She wants to lend you her headphones, ya doofus!" "Gah!" Flash winced, his mind instantly filling with images of the jacketed doppelganger back home. The teenager's sly grin, spiked hair, and flashy earphones were just as iconographic as her shades themselves. "Holy cow. No way. I can't..." Vinyl looked hurt. Flash marveled at how quickly he was starting to read other equine's "ear-language." "Why not?" Lyra squeaked, curious. "I mean... they're her headphones!" Flash hissed, looking at the unicorn in earnest. "How are you going to sample and mix music while a moron like has those?" "Don't be daft," Octavia interjected. "She has a closet full of them." "... ... ... ...oh." Flash blinked. Vinyl smiled again, levitating the headset closer. Flash took it in gentle hooves, cradling them. He saw his horse-like reflection in their shiny finish. His ears were perking straight up—humble but enthused. "This... this is really snazzy and all... b-but I wouldn't know where to begin—" "Hehe!" Lyra giggled. "Not used to unicorn tech, are ya?" "Actually..." Octavia began. Lyra trotted past her and pointed at the little glowing shard sticking out of the back of the headphones. "The mana-induction of this crystal carries dozens of songs recorded through an audio leyline transfuser!" "Er... right..." Flash looked sheepishly at Octavia and Vinyl. "I've seen them in action." "Vinyl made a mix for you," Octavia explained. "'Feathered and Friendly,' I think she called it. Should make for a perfect soundtrack to fly to." "To... fly to...?" Octavia's eyes narrowed. "You do—of course—have places to be now that you've caught the wind. Hmmm?" Flash's heart warmed instantly at the thought. He glanced out the storefront window. Stars appeared one after another. He could practically feel the individual twinkles in his eye. "Wow... that's... uhm..." He hugged the headphones to his chest as he gazed at the musical mares. "That's super nice of you girls. Thanks. I mean it. Thanks." Vinyl gestured something. "She says 'cheers,'" Octavia asserted with a smile and a nod. "Heh... I'm sure she does." Flash had to navigate a growingly sore lump in his throat to say the next part. "Everyone here is just... just so nice without having a second thought about it..." "Huh?" Lyra's green muzzle scrunched. "What second thoughts would we have and why?" Flash bit his lip. "What comes around goes around, Brad," Bon Bon remarked. She smiled. "Why should that be so strange?" "I... I know," Flash murmured. It was a low, breathy tone. Vinyl coughed, leaning towards Octavia and nudging her. "Ahem..." Octavia adjusted her collar. "Of course... she's just lending it to you. We'd very much appreciate it if you brought it back in due time." Her eyes narrowed. "DJ-P0N3 can find out where you live." Vinyl's nostrils flared. "Er... r-right!" Flash smiled nervously. "It's just... I... uh..." He glanced at the headphones in his grasp, then at the fresh cascade of starlight outside. "I wouldn't even know where to go." "You want my advice?" Octavia trotted over and whispered past his ear. "Wherever the melody takes you, Mr. Sentry..."