//------------------------------// // Insert Clever-for-Clever Vinyl Scratch Pun Here // Story: Fleur de Scratch // by metroid_freak //------------------------------// Vinyl Scratch was not a pony who professed to know too much of anything. She was a simple mare of simple tastes and enjoyed living a rather simple life. Her career, really the only workable knowledge base on which she could draw at any given moment, kept her busy and, more or less, fulfilled. It was simultaneously exciting and frustrating, and though far from perfect, it was without a doubt what she was born to do. What the DJ lacked in general knowledge, facts, and figures, she made up for by possessing innate observation skills. Keeping the atmosphere at a club vibrant and fun required a keen eye; after all, the role of a DJ is to manage a party’s mood and if necessary, guide it. Music, as she was well-aware, could be a hypnotic tool if cleverly utilized, an art at which she surpassed all others. Her awareness served her well, if not in a somewhat paradoxical fashion; while it provided her with all relevant information when performing, it also eagerly bestowed upon her examples of what she was missing out on. Anypony could score at a club or party if the conditions were right; Vinyl had never lacked for a willing, last-minute companion with which to enjoy the wee hours of the morning. While such dalliances had the potential to be fun and exciting, which they often were, they lacked that certain something that the DJ observed in others. It was the happy go-lucky couples that existed both in and outside of the clubs that caused her to experience some moments of melancholy. There was just something about spending one’s time with a classy mare that tempted her to find one for herself, one who wasn’t put off by her job or her mane-style or the myriad stereotypes that seemed to follow her like an angry swarm of bees. Besides Octavia, of course. They were too much like sisters for Vinyl to even consider propositioning her. No, she needed somepony classy, yet sexy, somepony like…her. The DJ’s heart skipped a beat as she happened to look up from her turntables. There she was, dressed in a curve-hugging black designer dress that had just enough common sense to barely cover her flank, although an observant pony would have no trouble discerning her cutie mark. Of course, Vinyl just so happened to be one of those gifted ponies with a penchant for detail. Fleur de Lis. Model, vision, a true example of what every mare strived to achieve…and hilariously off-limits. Vinyl didn’t need her freaky observational abilities to know that. When not at work making stallions drool and mares sign up for step classes, she stuck to her husband like a thirsty tick, eagerly absorbing as much attention as he did. Like ketchup and hay fries, they were always together. They belonged together. It was as if they had been created simply for the purpose of existing as the idyllic couple; well-off, influential, classy, and perhaps most of all, enviable. Which begged the question: where was Fancy Pants? Vinyl didn’t know why for the first time since she could remember, Fleur de Lis was at the club without her fabulously wealthy consort. Her usual ‘minions’, as Vinyl liked to call them, were all present and accounted for, but not her other half. Seeing the model without her legs draped all over Fancy like a lily-white wallpaper made her heart skip a beat but the DJ reined in her excitement and forced herself to stay calm, cool, and collected. Staying calm is much more of a chore when one possesses eyes like Vinyl Scratch. Hidden behind her trademark shades were two full-time summa cum laude graduates of the esteemed University of Sight named ‘Lefty’ and ‘Righty’. Their job was to provide the rest of her with crucial information, such as a crowd’s reaction to a specific song or set, or the amount of shots necessary for a lonely mare to feel amorous. And right now, they were glued firmly to the empty spot beside the mare that once contained her husband. Vinyl couldn’t help but grin as all manner of scenarios, some plausible and others ridiculous, immediately jumped into her brain and helped themselves to a decent portion of her perpetually-overactive imagination. Maybe he had cheated on her and she was leaving him! Maybe he had left her and now she needed some fun-fun time to cheer her up! Heh, heh, maybe he died, Vinyl thought before shaking her head. She would’ve heard about that, besides the fact that Fleur probably wouldn’t be out partying and looking crazy-hot if that were the case. Or, she considered as the gears began turning. Maybe it’s just my lucky night. Whatever the case, Vinyl had two things on her mind; creating another unforgettable finale to yet another unforgettable gig, and the lily-white mare in black bringing sexy back. The only question that remained was when she wanted her cake and how she wanted to eat it. Vinyl almost licked her lips at the proposition. It was time for action, a preemptive sortie, the kind that required a flirtatious introduction, evolved into dance induction, accompanied by liquid inhibitory reduction, and if all went according to plan, sweet, sweet seduction. Indeed, Vinyl did not profess to know much of anything…‘cept where it truly mattered. Keeping her eyes on the prize, she set her machine to ‘Auto-DJ’ (getting laid by the pony of one's dreams was a good excuse, right?) and stepped down onto the dance floor. She smiled widely at the raving revelers, shaking her mane and occasionally bumping flanks. Vinyl was a lighthearted and playful mare, which was how she preferred to come off towards other ponies. Tonight’s objective, however, would undoubtedly require a little more…finesse. “Hey!” Vinyl exclaimed, smiling as she finally reached the subject of her amorous intentions. “You’re Fleur de Lis, right?” Straight to the point. Don’t get distracted, even though she’s so FREAKING hot. Keep it together, Vinyl, and she’ll be eating out of your... “Hey yourself!” Fleur replied flirtatiously, taking the DJ by surprise. “Do I…maybe know you from somewhere?” “Why do you ask?” Vinyl asked. Fleur giggled. “Well, you seem to know my name…” Vinyl blushed and pawed at the ground. Easy there, tiger, you’re prepared for this. No problem. Now, like we practiced! “Of course!” the DJ replied with a confident smile. “You’re like, the most famous model in Equestria! Everypony knows who you are!” Stage One: complete! “Oh, I don’t know about that,” Fleur said as the smallest hint of a blush appeared on her cheeks. “Thank you, though. It feels nice to be appreciated, especially since…” Vinyl wasn’t sure what made the model suddenly pause in the middle of her train of thought, but decided not to press the issue. Don’t go there; you’re trying to get some tail, not her autobiography. “Um…yeah! Cool!” Vinyl declared as she tried to regain her composure. “Listen, Fleur, can I maybe…oh, I dunno…buy you a drink?” She nodded towards the bar. “Um…sure!” Vinyl’s heart skipped a beat. Stage Two: complete! “Sweet! Let’s do it up!” With that, Fleur bid a temporary farewell to her little entourage, and the two made their way to the well-stocked bar. “What can I getcha?” Vinyl asked. Fleur put a hoof to her chin and thought about it. “I dunno, what do you like?” she asked. “Umm…you ever have an Electric Popsicle?” “Never heard of it! What’s in it?” “Let’s see…first, ya take an ounce of Midori melon liqueur, an ounce of Blue Curacao, and then add 7-Up. Then ya stick a lime wedge in an’ voila! A drink made for a princess.” Vinyl finished with a bow in Fleur’s direction, eliciting a laugh from the model. “Alright, you’ve convinced me!” she exclaimed. “Excuse me, barkeep? Two, um, Electric Popsicles s'il vous plaît!” Vinyl whistled appreciatively. “Hey, you speak Prench! Nice! Guess I shoulda known ‘cause of your name though, huh?” The DJ found herself blushing as Fleur gave her an award-winning smile. “It’s okay, I know I don’t have much of an accent. I’m only half Prench. My father was Scoltish.” She cleared her throat. “Aye, lass, ye better believe I can drink ye under the table!” she added in the best gruff accent she could muster. That was all Vinyl could take and she doubled up in laughter, as did Fleur soon after. “Oh yeah?” Vinyl replied daringly as their drinks arrived. “Challenge accepted!” With that, they levitated their glasses up and clinked them lightly. “To new friends!” Fleur declared. “And good times!” Vinyl added as they downed their first round. “Wow, Vinyl!” Fleur exclaimed, smacking her lips. “Those are really good!” “I know, right?” the DJ agreed. “Barkeep! Another round for me and my pus…posse!” That was too close, she thought as their second round arrived. What is the deal with this mare? It’s like…I can’t keep it together when she’s around! Either she’s a hypnotist or I’ve got it real bad. “To more good friends!” Fleur cried happily as they shared in another toast. Vinyl grinned. “And more great times!” Several rounds later… “…a-and then I said ‘Tavi…let’s fuck’!” Vinyl exclaimed, slurring slightly as Fleur giggled and finished what had to be her 11th Electric Popsicle. “So did you?” she asked incredulously, leaning forward. “What? Nah way, bra! She’s like…a sister to me…or somethin’.” Vinyl replied. It didn’t look good; Fleur didn’t sound like she had a single drop in her and Vinyl was already starting to feel the effects. She had to work fast. “Well then, if you don’t go for the musical ones, then what do you look for?” Fleur inquired, batting her eyelashes, making Vinyl gulp. “I, uh…that is…I like…” She instinctively scanned the room in search of a less-incriminating answer than just ‘you’. “Afros!” Fleur looked sat her with a doubtful expression. “Afros?” “Yes! Afros! I like afros! Yes ma’am, afros! It’s all about those poufy afros with me! Boy, I sure do like a nice afro!” “Vinyl, is that really what you meant to say?” Fleur asked with a minor-yet-noticeable tone of suspicion. “Wh-what did you expect me to say?” Vinyl ventured. “Something like this.” Fleur murmured before capturing Vinyl’s lips with hers. The DJ’s heart began pounding like never before and she couldn’t help but sigh into the model’s lips. She only let it last a few moments before slowly pulling away. Vinyl blushed like a schoolfilly and turned away, suddenly transfixed by something to their left. “Is…is everything okay?” Fleur asked tentatively. “I mean, you have kissed mares before…right?” “Oh yeah! Totally! Tonnes of ‘em!” Vinyl reacted with an ungraceful overcompensation. “I mean…that came out wrong.” she muttered, mentally slapping herself. “It’s okay, Vinyl.” Fleur replied, nuzzling her affectionately. “I’m sorry if I surprised you. It’s just that…I thought that’s what you were going for.” She gently lifted Vinyl’s chin and smiled at the DJ. “Look, how about this; finish your set and then we’ll go for a walk and just…talk. No offense to you or the club but it’s practically impossible to have an actual conversation in here with the music this loud.” Vinyl looked into Fleur’s eyes and offered a smile of her own. “I-I’d like that.” Later… “Hey!” Fleur called as Vinyl exited the club. The DJ smiled and joined the model on the sidewalk just outside of the club’s general vicinity. “It’s still pretty warm out. You still feel like taking that walk? There’s a park nearby where we could sit if we get tired.” “Uh, yeah, absolutely,” Vinyl replied, glad to be finished for the evening. As much as she loved her work, she loved her free time as well, especially time spent in the company of a beautiful mare. A beautiful, friendly, generous mare who had not only paid for all of their drinks but kissed her…Vinyl felt her heart pick up speed once again. They reached the park before anyone spoke. Wordlessly, they took a seat on the cool, soft grass. “Um…nice night, isn’t it?” Vinyl asked before mentally slapping herself (again) for pulling out one of the most clichéd lines ever conceived. The weather? Come on, Vinyl. “Yes, it certainly is,” Fleur agreed. “Vinyl…may I ask you something?” The DJ gulped, knowing what was likely coming. “The kiss. It didn’t…freak you out or anything…did it?” “No, not at all,” Vinyl quickly assured her. “It’s just that…” Now what, genius? You gonna tell her what you were up to but how she derailed your plan just be being awesome so you didn’t know what to do? “You’re gonna hate me…” she finished quietly. “Did something not go entirely to plan tonight?” Fleur asked slyly, catching the DJ off-guard yet again. “H-how did you…?” “It comes with the territory,” Fleur replied with a shrug. “I hate to sound like I’m bragging but this does happen to me a lot, especially considering my job. After a while you just…I dunno, see things differently than most ponies.” She leaned down and gave Vinyl a small peck on the cheek. “And I think that’s something you and I have in common.” “Y-yeah.” Vinyl mumbled as her cheeks reddened completely. “You started out so confidently,” Fleur continued. “I was really impressed. Most ponies are so intimidated that they sound like caveponies when they try to talk to me.” She cleared her throat once again. “Hurr durr. You mare. Me stallion. Me have big cave. You come back to cave with me. We do funky lay-down dance with no pants. You make me big dragon egg in morning.” Vinyl couldn’t help herself; Fleur’s throaty impersonation pushed her over the edge and she began to laugh just as she had earlier at the bar. “That sure doesn’t stop them, though.” she added wistfully. “So, lemme get this straight. You knew I was trying to get you…y’know…” Fleur laughed, making the blush on Vinyl’s cheek persist. “Well, you weren’t exactly being very subtle,” the model explained. “I’m guessing you’ve done that before and that it has worked, am I right?” Vinyl nodded. “So…what happened? You get cold hooves?” Good job, mare. Confession time. “Fleur…can I be honest with you?” Vinyl asked. Fleur smiled. “Of course.” “I…I’ve liked you for a while. Every time you came to the club, I always wanted to take you home. But then, when I saw you tonight…something changed. Something I didn’t even realize ‘till you kissed me. You were so fun and open and friendly…I guess I got scared when the plan I spent so much time making didn’t turn out the way I thought it would.” “These things don’t usually go as planned, Vinyl,” Fleur almost chided. “I accepted your invitation to have a drink with you because I thought you were fun and pretty and talented. You didn’t need a plan,” Fleur exclaimed, kissing the DJ deeply before pulling away and smiling at her. “You just needed you.” Fleur squealed in surprise as the DJ suddenly attacked her lips with her own, softly caressing them as they passionately explored each other’s muzzles. They fell to the grass and laid beside each other, staring up at the night sky. “I do have one question, though,” Vinyl said as they lay beside each other. “What happened with you and Fancy Pants?” For the first time that evening, the model didn’t have a smile on her face. Instead, she looked…bitter. “He and I are no longer seeing each other. In fact, we’ve been apart for almost six months.” “What!?” Vinyl nearly shouted. “But…you two looked like you were…” “…Made for each other,” Fleur finished, rolling her eyes. “Believe me, I’m aware.” “Do you…mind if I ask what happened?” Fleur sighed. “I came home early from work one day and caught him in a…compromising position.” “You mean he…” “Yes. He was cheating on me.” Fleur stated a-matter-of-factly. “He always did have a fetish for those Element bearers, especially that white one with the diamond tramp sta…I mean, cutie mark.” “Hey, I think you deserve to call her whatever you want,” Vinyl pointed out. “Still…I’m really sorry to hear that. Nopony deserves to get cheated on.” “Thank you...” Fleur murmured, cuddling up to the smaller pony. "That means a lot.” she added before pulling the DJ in for another passionate make-out session. After a few minutes of tender lip massaging, Vinyl leaned back and took one of Fleur’s hooves in hers. “Fleur…” the DJ asked breathlessly. “I’m sorry if this is too soon but…I really wanna ask anyway. Would like to…maybe…go out with me sometime?” She closed her eyes as Fleur kissed her softly once more. After a minute or two, they separated, panting as their hearts raced. The model looked into the DJ’s eyes and smiled that award-winning smile of hers. “I’d love to.”