Scratch in the Record Part Two: Skip
"Sorry I have to leave so early on a Sunday, Vinyl," Octavia said as she frantically looked around for her bow and sheet music. "but the Canterlot Royal Orchestra is having a last-minute practice session before the meeting of the Ambassadors of Equestria later this week, and it's imperative that all cello players are present at it."
Vinyl sighed, having not even risen from the bed that morning. "Yeah, I get it, Tavi. Don't worry." With her musical gear in hoof, Octavia frantically rushed to the door. Vinyl was about to fall back to sleep when memories of the night prior broke her from her sleep-induced haze.
"OCTAVIA!" Vinyl yelled down the stairs, trying to catch her before she left. "WHAT ABOUT LAST NI-"
Slam.
Vinyl heard the door close, then the silence that followed, and realized that there would not be closure on this matter any time soon. She sighed, then forced herself out of bed and down to the computer; if she was up at nine in the morning, she might as well take advantage of it.
She was growing tired of the typical trance-type house music she was producing; maybe this time, she would start a chiptune song, or maybe some sophisticated dubstep, or maybe she would create something different entirely, with internet samples, or maybe-
The phone started ringing, however, before she could lay down a single note or sample. She sighed, knowing exactly who it was going to be. She picked it up hesitantly. "...hello?"
"Hey, Vinyl, how's your morning?" her label's CEO said over the phone. "Listen, we need you to come in and show a new guy the ropes... you know, interns and all that."
Vinyl sighed. "Sorry, Gio, but now's not the best time for that. Isn't there someone else you could bring in?"
"Vinyl, you're really the only one familiar with everything at this company." Gio replied. "You're really the only intellectual when it comes to the software in the company, and we need you."
"So THAT'S why you pay me so much." Vinyl remarked sarcastically. "Are we considering overtime here?"
"Out of the question, Vinyl. we need to spare every bit we can; even with all these new artists we're signing, the revenue is still just barely enough. Can we still have you come in?"
Vinyl considered turning down the offer, but she knew that Gio was fully aware of how much of a slacker Vinyl truly was, and wouldn't believe any excuse she gave. "...sure." She said through clenched teeth. "I'll be there in an hour."
"Thanks a lot, Vinyl!" Gio said on the other end. "See you then."
Vinyl headed out the door and to the recording studio, stopping along the way to admire the many wonders of early morning urban Canterlot. Most of the street vendors weren't even open, and the ones that were open were selling breakfast items to the few ponies that felt like buying. This wasn't representative of the city itself, though; Canterlot was always full of life, from the time the sun rose to the time it fell, and even at night in certain districts. Ponies were walking with each other on the sidewalks, just talking and enjoying each other's company.
Vinyl smiled. It was times like this, in the middle of all this excitement, this city filled with ponies living life just to live it, that Vinyl felt truly blessed to live so close to it.
Vinyl had recited the instructions for this digital audio workstation so many times, she was able to tell everything about it without even giving it much thought. Usually the new guy had some questions about how to do certain things, but after using this product even before she was signed, it wasn't hard to show them.
After a long day, Vinyl had taught the new guy all he needed to know, and she finally felt confident that he new the software like he needed to. She grabbed her gearpack and was headed towards the exit, though she soon realized that she wasn't walking alone.
"Listen, Vinyl," Gio said, running to catch up. "I just want to thank you for coming in and doing this; it really took some responsibility off of my shoulders, and the day was easier for me, so... thanks. Wanna get something to eat before you head home? I'm buying."
Vinyl laughed as they walked down the busy main road. "Gio, I've been to a couple of company parties with Octavia, so surely you must know I'm taken and I'm not... like that."
"It's not that, Vinyl." Gio laughed. "I just wanted to show my appreciation by buying you some dinner."
Vinyl shrugged. She was never one to turn down a free meal.
"Alright, Gio." Vinyl said as they finally got their meals. "Why don't you tell me why you ACTUALLY invited me to dinner?"
"What do you mean?" Gio said, looking down at his food and avoiding eye contact.
"Gio, I've busted my ass at this company for the last three years. I've been helping out on weekends since I started here, and you've never once offered to take me to dinner. Hell, you've never been this nice to me before. What's up?"
Gio sighed, putting his napkin down. "Vinyl, this company is going under. I got the financial statements today, and our financial advisor has proven to have the competency of a fucking ant. We have six months before I'm filing bankruptcy, and as arguably the most devoted artist here, I felt I should tell you before it's too late."
Vinyl was in shock. Gio had always had the label's artists under the impression that the label was one step away from prosperity. The only reason Vinyl stayed with the company was because Gio had her believing that she was ONE more single or ONE more EP away from hitting it big, and moving on to bigger and better things.
"Before you get mad..." Gio said, almost as if reading Vinyl's mind. "... I have a proposition. In these six months, I will let you release your final album with this company. If that gets heard and goes mainstream, and a bigger label contacts you, best of luck. If it's a fluke, however, and it stays underground, then I'll refer you to one of my buddies up in Baltimare who's looking to create his own label."
Vinyl saw an opportunity here, an opportunity to do something that she hadn't done since she was independent, writing tunes in her dorm room with no pressure or rushing. "Yeah, I'll take you up on that offer, but here's my demands: You can't fine-tune my album. I write what I want to write, record what I want to record, and release it exactly as I want it. You can't request I make anything "less harsh" or "more mainstream." This is my last creation with this company, and I can do it exactly as I please."
Gio sighed, and reached for his drink. "Sure thing, Vinyl. Your creation completely."
Vinyl smiled; ever since she was signed, there was always a pressure to conform with what was popular at the time, to make her music more "club-friendly." It felt very good to be able to write only by her definition.
Gio and Vinyl sat in silence for a while, eating their meals slowly and letting the awkward feeling between them fade until finally, Gio spoke up. "Hey, Vinyl, can I ask you something and hope that you aren't offended?"
Vinyl looked up as the waitress came by and refilled her cider glass. "Sure, Gio. What's up?"
Gio sighed, not quite knowing how to approach this subject but eventually just cutting the bullshit. "How are you and Octavia doing? I wouldn't ask it, but you don't seem to be in as good a mood as you used to be."
Vinyl felt weird talking about this, but she decided that Gio was trustworthy enough. "I don't even know anymore, Gio. It's like things were decent for the first year or so, but things have been getting shittier since then. It's like we didn't care about each other's differences until they started conflicting with our schedule; my music is keeping me out late, and Octavia isn't believing that it's part of my career."
Gio sighed. "I know the feeling. That's why the wife left me a few years ago. I produced before the managerial opportunity arose, and I only ever took the position of CEO in the vain attempt to keep us together. I regretted the decision from day one, though; things only got worse from there, and it wasn't even the job that was tearing us apart. It turned out to be more than that.
"Shit... I'm sorry." Vinyl said, not exactly sure what else could be said. This was very unfamiliar territory for her; she had never really gotten this personal with anyone except for Octavia, and it really caught her off guard to discuss it with her superior.
"Don't worry about it, Vinyl." Gio said with a weak smile. "That was years ago. Things have changed, and we're both happy now."
Vinyl felt as if he was trying to convince himself of that more than he was trying to convince Vinyl of it, but she held her tongue.
"Hey..." Gio said, looking at the clock on the wall. "It's getting late. You might want to be getting home." Vinyl looked at the clock. "Shit, thanks for the warning." she said, grabbing her backpack and exiting the booth. "Octavia's probably wondering where I am.
"You wanna head home with me?" She offered. Gio simply shook his head. "Nah, you head on without me. I usually stay here for a while anyway."
"Alright, man. I'll see you tomorrow." Vinyl said, walking towards the exit. She looked back, and saw Gio ordering even more drinks. She felt like if she left, she was letting him get drunk and was only further supporting whatever depression he had. She didn't feel like interrupting, though; she knew how helpful alcohol was at times like these.
"Hey, Tavi." Vinyl said, dropping her backpack in the computer room and joining Octavia on the couch. "How was your day?"
Octavia sighed. "Well, the violin section was incompetent as usual, and the rehearsal was boring and useless. How was yours?"
Vinyl sighed. "Weird, to say the least." She relayed every detail of her day to Octavia, from the time she left to the studio to the time she left the restaurant. It was refreshing to Vinyl to have a conversation like this with Octavia, and, even if it was for just a short time, it gave Vinyl the feeling of being in a true, non-failing relationship.
"Hey." Vinyl said as she and Octavia headed upstairs to bed. "Weren't we going to talk about last night?"
Octavia simply shrugged. "I really don't know what to say about it. I mean, you've been out late for so many nights, it's become too regular an occurrence to get mad about. It doesn't even matter anymore, really."
Vinyl tried to keep a straight face, but she couldn't help the hurt and disappointment from showing in her face. Not only did it show how little regard Octavia kept Vinyl in at this point, but it showed how failing their relationship was; if Octavia no longer cared about Vinyl's shortcomings, Vinyl had effectively lost her trust.
"Okay..." Vinyl said as she sat on the bed, not joining Octavia under the covers. "Wait, Octavia." she said, getting up from the bed and walking towards the bedroom door. "I just got an idea for a song, and I don't want to lose it. I'm gonna go downstairs and get it down on the software real quick before I go to sleep and forget it, so don't wait up on me."
Octavia looked at Vinyl quizzically, but shrugged and laid down anyway. "Whatever, Vinyl, just come back and get some sleep soon. Tomorrow is Monday, after all."
Vinyl nodded and closed the bedroom door behind her. She walked down to the computer room and grabbed her backpack, reaching in the deepest, darkest crevices until she found what she was looking for. She walked into the living room, picked up the phone, and punched the numbers in, waiting patiently for the call to go through.
"...hello?"
"Hey, Zimmer. How have you been?"