//------------------------------//
// The First Look 
// Story: Vinyl and Octavia in a whole other way 
// by roker12 
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“How’s everypony doing tonight!” The speakers were blaring her voice all across the bar, the sound reverberating off each and every wall, echoing the beats she delivered to the wub-hungry ponies beneath. The dance floor was packed with ponies grooving to her beats, as it was each night she performed. Everypony knew her music, of course plenty chose to ignore her, the fools they were. The neon-haired mare looked out upon the sea of ponies beneath her with joy, as there was no place she’d rather be, “I hope you’re all having a great time tonight! I’ve got a few more fan favorites before a little sneak peak at an upcoming album, so enjoy it, Ponyville!” She leaned back, letting the bass drop, letting the music drown out her own thoughts of worry. Bah, what was there to worry about, she was the queen of the wubs, and nothing was going to ruin this night.

The hype was high as song after song was played, wave after wave of bass rising and falling as she mixed and performed. This was her stage, and she knew how to work a crowd, and as the final note hit she took back the mic, “thank you Ponyville, you all know how much I love you, so here’s that sneak peak. Enjoy.” She smacked her lips and began the new song. She’d always been a perfectionist when it came to her music, so she always worried when releasing a new track. Of course, it seems her worries were unfounded once more as she watched the faces of those on the floor, their manes tossing as they moshed, letting out a hearty laugh as she finally let the bass drop once more. There was always a joy unlike any other when she played her music, like she was right where she was meant to be…of course, nothing could have prepared her for what was to come next. 

As the mare scanned the crowd through her signature purple shades, her eyes caught sight of a lone mare near the back, and almost immediately her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t help it, it was as if cupid’s arrow had struck her directly between her eyes, the pristine beauty of the lone gray mare, an obviously well-kept coat and mane, a slick beauty that belonged in Canterlot castle rather than a Ponyville pub. Only increasing her desire was that perfect purple treble clef plastered across her flank, a true musician’s mark. She willed herself to stay and finish her set, praying to Luna the mare would still be there by the time she finished her song, the wonders of a new track completely forgotten. 

The moment the song ended, she grabbed the mic and pulled it close, “thank you everyone for coming out, I’ll be back again soon.” She said, lifting her glasses to reveal her left eye only, the magenta eye staring into the crowd as she winked, before lowering her shades once more and making her way off the stage to go find the mare of her dreams.

As Vinyl made her way through the crowd, she received dozens of compliments and praises for her new song…but they all fell on deaf ears, as she made her way through them and finally scouted out her mare, thankfully still all alone at the little corner of the bar she’d seemingly claimed for herself. As she approached, she couldn’t help but wonder where this little thing had come from, as she knew nearly everypony in Ponyville. 

The mare took notice and smiled at her approach, as she smiled back she leaned against the chair with a wink, having once again forgotten her shades cover her eyes, “this seat taken?”

The gray mare merely stifled a giggle with her hoof, “no, do feel free…” her eyes suddenly widened as she looked up at the empty stage and back to the white mare before her, “wait, weren’t you the mare performing?” She said, seeming genuinely surprised.

“Vinyl Scratch, wubs extraordinaire and local public nuisance at your service.” The mare said with a soft chuckle, taking the empty chair and leaning her head against her hoof, “a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She said, taking the chance to mimic the mare’s accent, causing said mare to roll her eyes, though the smile didn’t leave her face.

“Octavia Melody, a pleasure indeed.” she said with a wink, a hoof taking hold of her drink she’d ordered, taking a nice long sip from it, as she used this time to admire the mare who’d put herself before her. A ghostly white coat, paired interestingly with an almost neon, two-toned blue mane, as well as two bridged eight notes for a cutiemark. Quite the looker this one, she admitted to herself.

Octavia Melody… a name that would forever be ingrained into Vinyl’s mind. The playful attitude, the way she could feel her eyes move across her body, this was going to be a night to remember for the rest of her life. As she watched her sip from her drink, she spoke once more, “are you visiting? I’m not one to forget a face and I haven’t seen yours around here before.”

“I’m from Manehatten, and I’ve recently decided to move here, the big city just… wasn’t for me.” She said, the pause in her speech suggesting other motivations for her sudden change of residence, but Vinyl decided to keep her suspicions to herself, “quite the lovely town, Ponyville. The townsfolk are very kind.” She said, a genuine smile crossing her face. 

“Well, let me be the first, if not one of the first to welcome you to Ponyville. Definitely one of the more tight-knit communities I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of.” She said, putting a hoof out to the bartender, who almost instinctively provided her with a blue drink much like her mane, much to the amusement of the mare across from her, eliciting a giggle from her… a sound of the gods it seemed. 

“Thank you, Vinyl. I.. am embarrassed to admit that, while it seems ponies are very kind here, I am unsure of how to acclimate myself to this more… rural lifestyle.” She said, appearing to have trouble finding the right way to say she had no friends. Thankfully, the white mare jumped at the opportunity. 

“Well luckily for you it appears my schedule is very open. I don’t suppose you’d like somepony to get your back while you’re still the new pony in town?” She said, this time lifting her glasses up on one side to wink at the mare, before dropping her shades back over her eyes, taking another swig of the blue drink. 

Octavia let out a sigh she didn’t know she was holding, before nodding her head, “yes!” She almost shouted, before covering her mouth with both hooves and coughing a little, “I would… I would greatly appreciate that, Vinyl.” She finally said, a tint of blush coating her cheeks at her little outburst. 

Of course, the white mare had no place to judge, as she was equally as enthusiastic, “are you free tomorrow, Octavia? If you’d like, I can show you some nice places around town, perhaps get some lunch, and I could help you move in wherever it is you’re staying now.” She said, slowly shifting in her seat, the nervousness suddenly hitting her that she was basically asking out this mare, even if she didn’t realize it yet.

The gray mare merely smiled and nodded her head, “That sounds like a perfect idea. What say we meet here, in front of the bar at around… ten thirty tomorrow morning?” She said, inwardly praying her face wasn’t still red from the earlier embarrassment. 

Vinyl winced slightly, realizing she’d probably have to set an alarm if she was going to be waking up that early, but for this mare, she’d do it, “sure, sounds like a plan, Octavia.” She said, putting her hoof up to bump.

The gray mare took it, bumping their hooves together with another small giggle, “I’ll see you then. It’s getting late, so I’ll be going now, have a good rest of your evening, Vinyl.” She said, paying her tab before the white mare could have a say, then hopped off the chair and took her leave. All the while Vinyl merely looked on in awe, only one last thought pushing its way past the cloud of blind love, “Yes!”