//------------------------------//
// Breakfast Things 
// Story: The Things Tavi Says 
// by shortskirtsandexplosions 
//------------------------------//

	"Well..."  Lyra takes a sip of some orange juice and places the glass down on the patio table.  "...maybe this 'Talonsmith' dude once held political power in Griffonstone.  And now that he's an old buzzard, he's getting his past mixed up with his present."

I scribble onto a napkin again and hold it up into the morning light.

"You honestly think so?"  Bon Bon's face scrunches.  She raises her voice to speak above the dining of the other breakfast patrons around us in the outdoor restaurant.  "I mean, the fact that he badgered the Princess on his own—as in without the support of other griffons—why, I think that's some evidence right there that he's just some lone idiot."  Bon Bon frowns.  "And—really?  This was all over some gold?"

"Well, he is a griffon," Lyra says with a smirk.

"Lyra!" Bon Bon hisses.  "Must we focus on such outrageous stereotypes?"  As Lyra chuckles, Bon Bon rolls her eyes.  "If nothing else, we should be learning to be friends with the residents of Griffonstone.  For a single moron to throw a wrench in all of that and set us back a hundred years in tolerance is absolutely outrageous."

"I'm just saying!"  Lyra smirks, taking another sip of her orange juice.  "Give him a golden egg to sit on and I bet he'd never come to Ponyville to bother Twilight again!"

"Eughhh..."

"Well, do you know what I think?"  Octavia smiles, leaning forward from where she sits next to me.  "I think that if this happened even a year ago, this 'Talonsmith' would be making all of Ponyville quiver in its horseshoes.  A lot has changed since then, and a bully like this holds little weight."

"Oh, totally!"  Lyra nods.  "We've endured a lot of crazy crap over the last year or so."

"It's more than that," Octavia says.  "A year ago, Twilight—blessed soul—would likely have trembled in fear and then written for the Princess to come and intervene.  But... things are so much more different now.  She's evolved in a lot of ways.  She's grown confident... wise... and—to be perfectly honest—I've never felt so safe in my own town."

"Hear hear..."  Bon Bon says, clapping.  "I almost wish I was there to witness her tell that creep to buzz off."

"Pfft!  Nuts to that!"  Lyra grins wide.  "I just wish I was invited to the gala period!"  She winks.  "If only to see a certain somepony rocking the entire place with her wicked cello!"

I grin, nodding vehemently.

"Oh yes..."  Bon Bon smirks, leaning forward.  "I've heard about it from at least three different ponies on the way here for breakfast.  It's the talk of the town!  Seems like you wowed everyone at the Castle with your savage talent, Octavia."

"And looked really sexy while doing it to boot!" Lyra adds with a nod.

"Erm... yes, well..."  Tavi leans back, straightening her bangs.  Violet makes for an interesting clash with rose.  "I just happened to be in the zone at the precise moment that it was required of me."  She takes a sip of cold orange juice, and flushes the flush in her cheeks away.  "I don't mind the attention, of course, but only if it strikes the fancy of any musical recruiters from Canterlot."

"Oh, I just bet that there was a delegate or two there who has the right connections!" Bon Bon says.  "And this was just your first performance as a royal minstrel!"

"Give it time, Tavi," Lyra purrs.  "You'll move on up with the speed of a rocket."

"Mmmm... I can only hope."

"Vinyl, how did you do?" Bon Bon asks.

I shrug, smile, and wave a hoof from side to side.

She arches an eyebrow.  "That well, huh?"  A giggle.  "You act as if last night's venue was just a casual thing."

"Well, in a way, it is," Octavia explains.  "To her, at least.  After all..."  She sighs slightly, an indigo breath.  "No rest for the weary.  She'll be packing up for a trip tomorrow evening."

"Oh?"  Lyra blinks.  "She's going on tour again?"  She looks at me.  "Where to, Vinyl?"

I scribble onto the napkin once more.  I hold it up.

"Hah..."  Lyra grins.  "Salt Lick City?  Good luck with that."

"I don't get it," Bon Bon drones.

"Hope it's not too hard to remove the caffeine from your tracks."

"... ... ...I still don't get it."

"At least Vinyl has some new material to wow her roaring fans with," Tavi says.  "Isn't that right, love?"

I nod, grinning.

"I take it, then, that there's some time between now and your next royal performance at the Castle?" Bon Bon remarks.

"Indeed.  Although I'll be sure to commune with the Council of Friendship while Vinyl is gone."

"Wow."

"I'd like to be at the Castle as much as possible... more familiarize myself with the place.  You know... start becoming a household name, even if it is a household made out of magic crystal.'  Octavia smiles.  "Become friendly with the other servants."

"And guards!" Lyra chirps.

My blood freezes over.  I blink straight ahead.

"Eheheh..."  Octavia rolls here eyes and fluffs her mane again.  "One thing at a time, Lyra."

"Heeheehee!"

"Well, I'm happy for the both of you," Bon Bon says.  "Seems like you've both got your work cut out for you."

"Mmmm... indeed.  And once Vine gets back, we've planned to work on a duet of sorts."

"Oooh!"  Bon Bon hops in her chair.  "Like you worked on at the wedding!"

"Precisely.  Only, this time, we hope to top ourselves."  Octavia smiles aside at me.  "Isn't that quite right, love?"  Silence.  She blinks.  "Vinyl?"  Her eyebrow arches.  "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"