//------------------------------// // Timbre // Story: A Life's Stanza // by Treblemaker //------------------------------// One year ago “That’s the twenty second one I’ve received,” said Lyra quietly, motioning to a letter written by Misuer Maestro. 　　 “I’m sorry, I was unaware of that.” Started Octavia a little hesitantly. 　　 “Nah, it’s fine, congratulations though.” The unicorn replied. 　　 “I think it’s splendidly wonderful, you should celebrate!” Bon-Bon’s voice floated out of the kitchen, from her journey to restore the tea cups to their usual repose. “In fact, me and Ly were going to dinner tonight, you should come.” The baker trotted back into the room with a wandering expression. Her eyes lit up, and a slightly devious smile crossed her lips, “You know, Octavia, I know a stallion, we could make it a double date!” 　　 Octavia placed a hoof to her head, causing laughter to erupt from Lyra. “I’m going to assume that she does this to you a lot.” The mint pony grinned. 　　 “Let’s just say I told her I had no interest in the stallions she was bringing me, so the next week she brought a mare.” Octavia’s deadpan expression turned into a smile when she got Bon-Bon to laugh too. 　　 Dinner plans were made, without a Bon-Bon influenced stallion, and Octavia left to prepare. Lyra and Bon-Bon did likewise, leaving the unicorn’s denial of entry letter forgotten on the end table. 　　 ------------------- 　　 　　 At five o’clock sharp, Octavia stepped up to the restaurant, glancing through the large plate glass windows for the duo. The restaurant itself was built on the side of an intersection, allowing for two walls to have views to the outside. Not that it would do much good, for the restaurant was themed like a locomotive. Emulating the feel of a train car, the booths were shut, sealing off the patrons. 　　 Turning to her right, she trotted through the doors. The waiter, having been sitting in the same spot for quite some time, greeted her cordially, but with a bored atmosphere. Octavia began to walk across the restaurant after retrieving the directions to her table, to be stopped by the assortment of DJ equipment in the middle of the bar area. Being musically inclined, she counted and named the pieces, deducing that whoever owned the equipment was still setting up. Leaving the bar to it’s own devices, she found her booth. However, she didn’t enter. The wax paper window was shining a silhouette on its surface. Of Lyra and Bon-Bon, kissing? Tentatively raising a hoof, she knocked on the door. 　　 “Come in!” Rang a voice. 　　 Pushing the door open, she was met with the sight of Lyra on one end of the table, and Bon-Bon across from her. Confused, Octavia took a seat, to which Lyra ripped something off the wall. 　　 “A sheet of paper?” 　　 “Yup” 　　 “That casts a shadow of you two kissing?” 　　 “Yup” 　　 Having no reply to this, Octavia closed her mouth, and Lyra replied with a laugh. 　　 “She’ll do anything for a few giggles.” Bon-Bon piped up, “Even though it might get her into trouble.” The cream coated mare turned her head to Lyra. 　　 “What? The bathroom thing was hilarious!” She defended. 　　 The waiter coughed. “May I take your orders?” 　　 “Oh, we’re not ready to order yet.” Bon-Bon explained 　　 “How about something to drink.” Came the monotone and well practiced reply. 　　 “Just a water for me.” Octavia asked 　　 “We’ll take a Chardonneigh.” Lyra popped, before her companion could raise a hoof. Bon-Bon’s only response was a raised eyebrow. 　　 “Oh, come on, I know you like it, and you can’t go wrong with a little liquid courage, plus, you’ll need it.” the unicorn exclaimed. 　　 “Why would I...” 　　 “It’s karaoke night!” Proclaimed the eager pony again. At least Octavia knew what the equipment was used for now. “And don’t you think you’re going to walk out of here without getting on that stage.” 　　 “You know I’m not going to.” Bon-Bon crossed her hooves adamantly. 　　 “But I know the Chardonneigh will.” Lyra shot back with a smile. 　　 “Hey” A strange voice floated over to their table, for Lyra had forgotten to shut the sliding door after the waiter. A snowy white unicorn with a brash set of sunglasses walked up. “The name’s Vinyl, I’m the DJ, and treble clef,” she said, pointing to Octavia’s cutie mark, “you know how to hook up a [insert smart sounding technical term for something to do with audio here] to a [again with the complicated wording and technology]?” 　　 “Uh, yes, I do in fact.” Octavia prided herself in her expansive knowledge on music, which included the realm of the DJ’s equipment. 　　 “Great, I could use your help, my partner bailed last minute.” The unicorn trotted off to the stage area, with Octavia in tow. 　　 “Maybe I know how to hook up a thingy.” Lyra muttered to herself, eyeing her cutie mark. After not receiving a reply from Bon-Bon, Lyra looked up. The baker was watching the two musicians with curiosity. “Oh no.” 　　 “Yes,” Bon-Bon declared, “and you’re going to help me do it.” 　　 “Hey, don’t drag me into this,” Lyra started. 　　 “Just look at them, even their coat colors compliment each other.” 　　 “In this light, anything compliments each other, even our coats.” Lyra shot back 　　 “That’s cause our coats always compliment, if they didn’t you wouldn’t be my marefriend.” 　　 “That’s kinda insensitive...” 　　 “Don’t care, you’re helping me.” 　　 “What if I say no?” 　　 “Then you don’t get anymore of my candy.” 　　 “That’s fine, I need to trim down on sweets.” 　　 “Both of them” 　　 At this point a blush crept across Lyra’s face, and she reluctantly agreed. After formulating a plan, despite Lyra’s suggestion to lock them in a broom closet, the confectionist was ready. 　　 Octavia grunted. It could barely be heard due to the fact she had dug herself underneath a couple boxes and wires. Connecting the last few ones, she dragged herself out. 　　 “Thanks sweet flank, it would have taken me forever, should probably lay off the carbs...” The mare called Vinyl mused, beginning to stare off in the distance. Octavia raised her eyebrows at the name, to which Vinyl chucked. 　　 “It’s a compliment, you’ll get them from time to time.” 　　 “Um, thank you?” Octavia had an unsure edge to her voice as she walked back to her table, nearly crashing into her waiter. Saying a polite excuse me, she shuffled back into her seat. A mischievous look happened to pass by the faces of Lyra and Bon-Bon, but left completely unnoticed to the gray mare. 　　 Stepping up to the table, drinks were poured from the tray the waiter had balanced on his back. Leaving the bottle on the table, he sauntered off to his other patrons, leaving the three ponies alone. Levitating her cup, Lyra took a sip of the wine, setting it back down after a few seconds. Small talk accompanied the table as they waited for their orders to be taken, but was quickly replaced as a spark jumped out of the DJ’s equipment followed by the sound of an electrical shock and a startled yelp. The restaurant grew quiet at the spectacle, and a voice piped up from behind the stage, “Treble Clef?” 　　 Octavia sighed, “I’ll be right back, they ought to hire more qualified entertainment.” The only response was Bon-Bon’s snickering. Lyra smiled as she picked up her glass once more, a simple levitation spell disguised her magic working through the wires. 　　 Another spark introduced itself to Vinyl, causing her to topple over on top of Octavia, who had been checking the connections. A very unceremonious “oof” escaped their mouths as they collapsed to the floor. Smiling sheepishly, the unicorn picked herself up, and offered a hoof to the cellist, who gratefully accepted. Before she was able to pull Octavia up, a wire slithered itself upwards, shocking Vinyl on the flank. Already sore from the previous times, and being in a bad position for balance, the DJ fell face-first into Octavia’s very surprised lips. After barely catching an “eep” that would make Fluttershy proud, the two remaining at the table hoof bumped, and eagerly awaited the rest of the night. Bon-Bon’s plan came into blossom as the hours passed, including a few more bottles, a karaoke duet, and a flying turtle that Lyra had found wandering the place.