//------------------------------// // Chap 9 // Story: Shivering entrance // by Hkh4 //------------------------------// The following day Brent went to work and was back on checkout, till lunch when he went home for delivery, where he immediately laid on the new bed once it was set up, very soft and he could fully stretch out again this rather improved his mood for when he went back to work, Would have to get a new sheet set and quilt for this bed. Not that he could really do the fitted sheet part, was further incited to not ask for help after his dream. Also kept getting the feeling of eyes following him, So he was very on edge mostly. He did his best to appear calm, and he decided to not play any music after lunch. As it would likely reflect his feeling. Didn't mess with elements either not wanting to take risks. After work he went to the lumber yard to get some for properly filling the gap. When he arrived home, it had already been filled in. "Now into full paranoid mode." Brent said as he got a knife from the kitchen and put it in his satchel. "Going to sleep lightly for sure." He made a few sandwiches and went back to his room locking the door and window tight, the sensation of being watched went away when he reached his room. First time I've felt secure since this afternoon. He thought, thus he remained there for the night ate his sandwiches, read and went to sleep knife close by. The following morning he packed up his suitcase he got when he moved out. Made some scrambled eggs with ham on the side, then ate keeping the knife in easy grasping range. Made a few sandwiches for the ride and filled his canteen with ice and water. Grabbed his ticket and bits pouch then left making sure to lock the door. Got half an hour before my train leaves but best to try to be early, especially with how slow I am. The walk was rather empty, few others were heading to the station, Brent caught a slight glimpse of something about twice his height, but when he went to fully look at it, it was gone. Shrugged it off as still being paranoid. He arrived at the station with ten minutes to spare and sat on an empty bench, put his headphones on and listened for a while before a unicorn came and sat by him, there was still had a gap of course. This unknown pony being near him further increased the on edge feeling he had, slid his headphones off his left ear, then put his hand in his satchel and grasped the knife ready to strike. "Well you seem awfully tense, mind if I ask why?" The unicorn said with a slightly disarming smile. "Well someone had been in my house last night so minds on high alert. No evidence of a break in just something had been done." Brent replied relaxing his grip on the knife a little. "That doesn't sound very pleasant." She replied Brent just nodded and put his headphone back over his ear. A few minutes later Brents train arrived. He got aboard found an empty seat sat and closed his eyes, was about a 6 hour ride so he would get there in the afternoon. May as well sleep, knowing he would feel worn out on arrival otherwise. After a few hours he woke up to the conductor calling for anyone getting off at a little town. As well as a few ponies getting on the train. Most ignored him but a particularly little filly caught sight of him and insisted on sitting in the set of seats in front of him. The little thing was a dark green with a dark grey mane and tail. The filly turned to face him, he elected to ignore her and closed his eyes again. Just to be awoken half an hour later by the filly messing with his limbs, its mother had clearly fallen asleep. It was particularly interested in his right hand, He swatted at her with his left hand, she retreated to her seat. Then he inspected his right hand, nothing he could see or feel. He then looked to the filly she indicated for him to lean forward, which he did. "There's a lot of magic concentrated in your hand, mister." Brent blinked a bit leaned back returned to his music and ate a sandwich. Figuring it was just the child being a child, or filly being a filly to be more contextually appropriate. After a bit he was dozing off just to be interrupted by the train stopping. "Ponyville all off for Ponyville." The conductor yelled back into the train. Brent rose stepping off the train and only slightly getting the disoriented feeling, funny larger vehicles didn't cause it as much. With that his search was off. Felt creepy asking around for Vinyl, but it was preferred to wondering the unknown town. He eventually found his way to Vinyl’s residence knocked and mentally debated on heading back, before the door opened to a dark grey earth pony, who appeared shocked at the sight of Brent. Another voice came from inside, "Yo who is it Octavia?" "My names Brent." Brent called into the house answering for Octavia. "Ah yes, may I ask your reason for coming here?" Octavia nervously asked. The nervousness irritated Brent, but he understood it. "I'm here to see if I can buy a speaker for my home." He replied. Octavia looked back into the house. "Please give me a moment to discuss with Vinyl." She retreated into her home closing the door behind her. A minute or so later a white unicorn Brent assumed was Vinyl opened the door. "So your that human that's made the rounds in the news. I've also heard you have some interesting music. Care to share?" She beckoned Brent in. He ducked down a little to get in but once he was in he could stand at full height, his hair hit the ceiling though. "Wow you really are tall must be around Celestia's height." Vinyl said as she walked further into her house with Brent lagging behind for two reasons: he was slow and looking around as he walked. They came into a living room with a couch and what seemed like a love seat Octavia was on the couch and Vinyl plopped down beside her on it and Brent sat in the seat opposite to them. "As I stated the reason im bothering you today is that as far as im aware you're the only pony that has any speakers. I brought a good number of bits to pay." "First let us hear some of your music, then we'll talk business." Vinyl said with a tone of finality as she looked at Brent expectantly. Brent slightly sighed he could tell Vinyl seemed like the electric and dubstep sort and Octavia more classical. "Don't think I have anything that would really fit your taste Vinyl." "I'll be the judge of that." She replied. Brent nodded and started with Moombah's Halo 4 remix, which Vinyl seemed to like but not Octavia so much, then played Alpha from Minecraft. It seemed to be more Octavia’s speed. After a while of playing music. Vinyl offered to give Brent a speaker in exchange for recording some of his songs with audio crystals. He agreed and with that Vinyl and Octavia got three songs each. As Brent went to leave Octavia offered he stayed there for the night since it was late. Brent agreed to this, and it was arranged that he would sleep on the couch. The music pair went to make dinner and Brent just sat in the living room feeling awkward, he pulled out his book to read while waiting. Meanwhile in the kitchen, both Octavia and Vinyl seemed a bit excited by the male in their home, Vinyls tail twitching slightly, despite this they focused on cooking, and talked a little about him and his music. "He seems rather nice, despite being awkward as tartarus." Octavia said. Vinyl just nodded. They ate, the two tried to make conversation with Brent but he was on autopilot feeling burnt out. After he had finished eating and put his dishes in the kitchen. He asked for his too be bedding for the night. Once he got it he laid down to sleep. The music pair decided to leave him be.