-Thursday
The opulence of the dinning hall was almost unsettlingly beautiful. The tables were scattered around a mahogany dance floor. There were two doors one to enter and leave and the other which lead to the kitchen which emitted a most luxurious smell. As the guests began to saunter in the band of a piano and violinist began to play. The music nicely and neatly fit the room. A table with a sign marked 'Reserved' was place at the corner opposite the music but next to the kitchen. A larger gentleman with a well groomed mustache and a monocle had arrived first. His many commendations and metals adorned his breast pocket. "Ah good evening major a pleasure as always, may I get you anything while you wait for the others?" Said a waiter with a Prench accent. The major cleared his throat.
"Blaharmhm! Ah yes may I see you selection of wine?" He asked with a thick accent if his own.
"But of course. Just a moment sir." The waiter said as he bowed and left. As the major waited two more ponies had arrive. A mare and a stallion. The stallion was warring an expensive black tux with gold watch and gold cufflinks. The mare on his arm was dressed in a black dress in purple trim that had a slit half way up the right side.
"Major Phalanx, might I say you are looking quite exuberant tonight." The majors face was solid as stone. He wondered how many large and sophisticated words he would try to flatter him with. Still keeping appearance was how he was raised.
"Ahem, thank you Mr. Decibel and might I say your date looks rather stunning." He said turning in direction to a rather uncomfortable looking mare. He began to get up to great her.
"Wait allow me-" she was cut off by the major.
"Nonsense, what kind of gentlecolt would I be if I didn't stand for m'lady?" He said with a smile. He got up with a grunt and walked over to Octavia. He kissed her hoof and introduced himself. "Good evening my name is Major Phalanx." Decibel was about to introduce for her when he was silenced by the major clearing his throat.
She gave a small curtsy. "Hello major I'm Octavia it's an honor to meet you."
"Oh no my dear," He pulled out her seat."the honor is mine." She was charmed. Though he was old he still had it. Mr. Decibel stuck out his hoof to the major for a shake but the major ignored him and went back to his seat just as a gaggle of waiters arrived with an assortment of wines. "Please feel free to pick any wines I'll be paying for this meal." Decibel began to order but was interrupted by the major. "Miss Octavia, I do believe the term is ladies first." 'I might enjoy this dinner after all.' She thought as she chose her wine.
"Ah yes very good miss." Said the waiter. Decibel was about to ordered when the major cut him off again.
"I think il go with this one if you'd please. And also my other guests will have to share a bottle." He said shaking his head. "This one for them then. I'm sure they both enjoy red wine. Decibel are you going to order or sit there all night?" The major said impatiently. He ordered with a rather sour tone and the waiter nodded as he lead the others holding the wine bottles back to the kitchen.
Making sure he wasn't interrupting anyone Decibel asked, "So who might we be waiting for? Fellow entrepreneurs?" The major looked up from his menu.
"Hmm? No just some close relatives." He said looking back at his menu. While the major was distracted he whispered to Octavia.
"Remember, the major rarely takes to anypony. If anyone asks we have been seeing each other for 6 months and it seems serious." He said with a smirk. She realized just how petty and conniving he really was. "All you have to do is act lovey dovey with me and I'll assure you a spot as first chair in the music hall." She knew she was selling her soul here but she worked too long to pass this up. She nodded with sadness in her heart. "Maybe I'll give you a little something extra later if your really good." He said with a disgusting smirk. She was feeling queasy. Her thoughts were interrupted.
"Hello major." Said a green mare in a light green dress with her hair done up. "How are you tonight?" As she gave him a kiss on the cheek. The major smiled.
"Ah Emerald my dear, I'm alright my though my heels are killing me though." He said through his smile.
"It's all that salt you eat you know what you doctor said." She scolded him. Which he retorted with a scoff and a nervous glance at his pocket watch. As he looked behind her his eyes widened. And his smile grew.
"Polaris my lad!" Hey yelled about to get up when he was held down by the mare in green. A stallion quickened his pace and gave the major a hug. "Glad you could make it m'boy!" As they broke the embrace he pulled out a chair for Emerald. As she sat she introduced herself
"Hello I am Emerald Ice." She shook Decibels hoof then Octavia's.
"Hello Emerald Ice I am Decibel and this is Octavia my date." He said beaming. Polaris made his way around the table. To shake hands. He first shook hooves with Decibel.
"A pleasure to meet you Mr. Decibel." He then looked at the mare on his right. "I'm sorry miss I didn't catch your name." He said with an out held hoof.
"She's Octavia." Noted Polaris who cocked his head sideways and stared at Mr. Decibel.
"Thank you." He turned back to Octavia. "Such a beautiful name suits you well." He kissed her hoof. "Good evening miss Octavia I'm Polaris and if I may that gown looks quite exquisite. She blushed and wondered if all members of majors family was this charming. As Polaris sat next to Emerald ice Decibel decided to make conversation.
"So how do you know each other?" He asked trying to break tension.
"I've raised these two trouble makers since they were foals." Said the major proudly.
"Ah and how do you two know each other?" He said smiling at Emerald ice.
"He's my little brother." She said quickly.
"Well she says little but I'm a full half inch taller." He said stretching as if it was no big deal. She gave him a nudge.
"Only because his shoes give him an extra inch." She said sipping her wine. He gave her a slight nudge and a small smile.
"So Decibel what do you do for a living?" He said trying to make conversation.
"Well I'm a proprietor in a theatrical and musical sorts involving only the superb and talented of musicians." He said with gusto.
"That's gotta be handful." He said. "Busy line of work is it?" He inquired.
"Yes I guess you could say its a busy, rhumb line!" He and Polaris laughed followed by Octavia And Emerald. The major refused to join in the merriment. He turned to the major. "You get it rhumb line." The major nodded his head.
"I suppose he didn't get it, in time" Polaris said. Him and Decibel chuckled as Emerald face hoofed.
"Ladies and gentlemen are you all ready to order?" The waiter asked. With a nod from everyone the major spoke.
"Ah yes ladies first." Decibel was the first to speak and a silent grime was shared through out the table.
"My Octavia will be having the grilled salmon and I-" he was interrupted by Emerald ice this time.
"I do believe its ladies first so unless you are a lady I suggest you wait till we're done." She said loosing her patience. She placed her order then Decibel then The major.
"Ah could I have-" he was the one to be interrupted.
"He'll be having a salad. And sparkling water." Said Emerald ice with a harsh glance to the major. The major crossed his hooves and grumbled to himself. The waiter came to Polaris.
"Yes could I have two steaks one with a side of mash potatoes and another by itself." The waiter bowed and left with there order. Polaris gave a wink to the major and the majors mood was uplifted. A sigh was heard from Emerald. "Now then miss Octavia what do you do?" She looked at her date for an answer.
"She preforms for formal parties and such. She plays, what was it? Double bass?" He took a sip of his wine. A wave of anger took over her.
"I've seen her at the castle once I think, for the Grand Galloping Galla? And weren't you playing a cello?" Octavia was very glad that she was remembered and that her instrument was defended.
"Bah! What's the difference really?" Decibel said nonchalantly. "She's just a novice really. The one assigned to preform caught a cold and she was all we had to work with." Everyone had on a sour face except Decibel who was too wrapped up in himself to notice the others and Polaris who was now on his third glass of wine. "Excuse me the wine has finally caught up with me." With his absence the the others talked freely.
"Are you alright m'boy?" The major asked.
"Yes why is something wrong?" He asked.
"Yes. You! What happened to you?" He said almost livid.
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? I mean I raised you better. I raised a stallion not a colt!" He took a huff of breath. "I know you know why I asked him to dinner. And you saw the way he's been treating his date. Parse this outburst miss Octavia bit if a family matter." He said at Octavia who only shook her head in dismissal. "A year ago you would have clobbered him by now. What happened to you? What happened to my boy?" He said sadly. Polaris could only look down as he took another drink of his wine.
"Sometimes ponies find put the way they see the world was wrong. Sometimes they grow up." His hoof laid limply on the table. Octavia put her hoof on his and said softly.
"I know what you mean." He looked up in to her amethyst colored eyes. They looked sad, he could feel his own heart breaking. How could a beautiful mare know his strife and have such sadden eyes unless she was suffering herself. This was his breaking point. He took her hoof and a deep breath.
"I'm afraid I haven't been acting like myself for quite sometime." He said clearing his throat. He gave a sharp glare to the major. "But that's going to change right now." He turned to Octavia gave a flash of a smile and held her hoof with both oh his. "Miss Octavia would give me the honor of a dance." All she could do was nod. He turned to his date. "If you'll excuse us Emmy, Major." As they walked to the dance floor Major smiled.
"Glad he wised up! Another minute or two and I would have cracked him one good!" He said snorting.
Emerald ice laughed slightly. "We both know you wouldn't harm a hair on his head."
"His? No. Yours?" He gave her a quick tap on the head with the menu.
"Ow!" She rubbed her head. "What was that for?"
"That's a reminder. No matter how big and important you get I'll still knock you down a peg or two!" He said with authority. She waited. "Ahem, ah how's your head?" She laughed a bit too loudly.
"Don't worry major we both know you'll be the most hurt from the tough love act." She sipped her wine.