Lyra and Bon Bon had already done their shopping and were already back by the time Octavia got home. They were writing the names of their Ponyville friends on their gifts by the fireplace as Octavia placed her scarf on the hook.
“Welcome back, Octavia.” Bon Bon welcomed. “How was rehearsal today?”
“Forget rehearsal, how was your date, that’s the question!” Lyra said, putting the gifts aside. “Spit it out, girl! I wanna know every single detail!”
“Well, Lyra, I must say…” Octavia began. “It was quite good.”
“Ha, I knew it! Do we have a winner? Yeah we do! Octavia’s heart has an owner!” Lyra shouted.
Octavia rolled her eyes, smiling.
“I’m not in love, Lyra.” She explained.
“Aw snap! And there was I thinking we would have another marriage coming up!” She joked.
“Give her a break, Heart.” Bon Bon giggled. “But I agree you could give us a name, at least.”
“It’s Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch.” Octavia said, sitting by them on the couch.
“And how was it? Did she kiss you too or what?” Lyra was desperate for details.
Octavia giggled, relieved.
“I thought I’d never say it, but… No!” She giggled again, still not believing it.
“No kidding!?” Lyra was surprised.
“That’s great news, Octavia! I’m really happy for you!” Bon Bon said.
“Yes, I’m also very happy.” Octavia confessed. “And her response to my demisexuality was even surprising for me.”
“She was tots ok with it?” Lyra asked.
“Yes!” Octavia agreed. “No questions at all. She even promised not to touch me if I don’t give her permission. She made me speechless.”
“Ha, now that’s some improvement from your last dates, isn't it?” Lyra said.
“Indeed, it is.” She let out a relieved sigh. “And I’m really happy for it!”
Bon Bon giggled.
“Yes, Bon Bon?” Octavia asked.
“Oh, me?” She said. “Don’t mind me, I was just thinking.”
“’Bout what?” Lyra asked.
“I, by no means, can say what’s going on until I meet the mare, but… From what you've said to us, Octavia… Vinyl is in love at first sight with you.”
“What?” Octavia was surprised, and confused.
“Deep love, I say.” Lyra commented.
“Would you care to explain?” Octavia asked them.
“It’s very sad, but very reasonable why your previous dates all went so bad for you, Octavia. The usual pony really likes intimacy; it’s something normal for them. They expect a kiss by the end of their first date, if it goes well.” She began.
“That, every piece of media has already told me, Bon Bon.” Octavia said. That was one of the many unspoken rules of their society.”
“Exactly, Octavia. For Vinyl to respect your orientation so blindly, without a single question… As I've said, I’m only speculating here, but… I think she’s in love with you already.”
“Well then… For Luna’s mane… How should I even respond to that?” Octavia was very confused on what to do now.
“There’s no set response to it. Only you can know what to do now, Octavia.” Bon Bon explained.
Some hours later, after all the gifts had been labeled, they all went to their bedrooms. Octavia had rehearsal again the next day, but as hard as she tried to shut her eyes, she just couldn't.
What Bon Bon had said about Vinyl that evening was still stuck in Octavia’s head, keeping her from sleeping.
It just felt so unfair… How somepony had to be in love with other pony to respect one’s life choices. And although, if Vinyl was really in love with her, she felt flattered…
It still made her very unquiet.
Feeling she wouldn't be sleeping soon anyways, she headed for her large window, and opened it. The snow was still glowing in the full moonlight. The cold breeze made her shiver a little, but it was nothing to her fur.
She stood there, quietly looking at the moon. And what a moon it was. She felt like playing a little, but Bon Bon and Lyra were already sleeping, and know the light sleeper Bon Bon was, she refrained from it.
“Am I in the middle of something?” Octavia heard a voice from the street.
“Vinyl!”
It was her, with a scarf around her neck, looking at Octavia. From the looks of it, she had just arrived.
“Hey! Pretty night, ain't it?” She said, realizing Octavia was looking at the moon.
“Yes, very pretty indeed…” Octavia giggled. “What are you doing here at this time?”
Vinyl pointed to the dance club by the street corner.
“Heading for work.” She smiled. “But aren’t you who should be sleeping by now? It’s hella late.”
“I’ve always been a fan of the night, to be honest…” Octavia confessed. “And I also had a thought keeping me away from sleep…” She let it slip, sighing.
“What thought?” Vinyl asked, smiling.
Octavia froze.
Should she tell Vinyl what Bon Bon had said? Ask Vinyl if she was indeed in love with her?
“Are you ok, Octavia?” Vinyl asked, looking at Octavia getting a concerned expression.
“Yes, it’s just…Well…”
She hesitated.
“Hey, you can tell me whatever is bugging you.” Vinyl said.
Octavia thought for a second if asking it was prudent or not. And she concluded that, well… Was it a big deal?
“Are you in love with me?” She asked it directly. Straight to the point.
Vinyl wasn’t expecting such a question, and she stuttered before answering.
“Is that a trick question?” She laughed nervously.
“Not really, I was just… I mean… Even if we get to be best friends over time, it’s not a hundred percent secured I can correspond to your feelings if you feel like so.
It’s not even near to a hundred percent, but she kept that thought to herself.
Vinyl had to stop for a moment, to both put herself together again, and think.
“Yeah…” She came to a conclusion after a moment. “A little bit, but… I am…”
Octavia didn’t respond. She couldn’t think of a proper response; what she was feeling couldn’t be put into words.
They both stood there, letting the cold winter breeze be the only one speaking. Vinyl adjusted her scarf. She had to be at the club already, but that conversation was more important than getting on time to work.
“Vinyl, I… Well, I’m afraid I can’t-” Octavia begun.
“I know.” Vinyl responded calmly. “But I still really like hanging out with you; as friends. So even if you don’t ever fall in love with me too, I’d be glad to carry on our friendship, forever.”
Octavia smiled.
“Wow. Are you real, Vinyl?”
“I think so.” Vinyl giggled.
“Vinyl Scratch! What are you doing chitchatting? You’re supposed to be working!” A big pony called from the dance club doors, seeming angry.
“Gee, I forgot I had to work! My boss is going to kill me!” And with that, Vinyl dashed through the street.
“See you tomorrow night?” Octavia asked, seeing she would be gone soon.
“How could I ever miss it!?” Vinyl assured, disappearing into the big building.
Octavia had a big smile on her face as she closed the window. Still thinking about the conversation, she found herself looking at the Sought Sonata’s scores – all nicely organized and with a nice cover, prepared for the big show tomorrow.
And she realized how her being surprised by how Vinyl was so accepting was silly, actually. On that day that she had her help, Vinyl understood the sonata’s character worth, even though it lacked a talent.
And, as she fell asleep that night, she wished everypony was like that.
Cause they all deserved respect, were they the most talented or the ones completely lacking one.