//------------------------------// // Killing Time (Edited) // Story: Party Animals // by DARKPHANTOM13 //------------------------------// Third P.O.V. Today, a certain unicorn mare and dragon were waiting for what was upon them. To say the two were anxious about their upcoming date was an understatement. Though it did not mean that they weren't dealing with their nerves. Both of them could see this budding relationship working and wanted this date to turn out well. They also knew–either from personal experience or from watching others–that letting their nerves get the better of them would only lead to turning the date into a train wreck. To handle this issue, the two decided to prepare everything they needed for their date early, and keep themselves busy in order to keep their minds of their nerves. Unfortunately, both Spike and Vinyl had some difficulties in that regard. Spike had to continue his job at the library. While most libraries were closed on Sundays, Golden Oaks Library didn't adhere to such a policy thanks to Twilight's dedication to–in her mind–continuously supporting the path to knowledge and learning that is books, much to Spike's constant annoyance and boredom. The drake was thankful that he had gotten back into his gem sculpting hobby. It really helped take his mind off of his pre-date nerves and alleviated his boredom. However, a familiar face chose this particular day to decide to pay a visit. "Hey Spike," Rainbow greeted as she entered. "How is it going dude?" "Eh, not much," Spike shrugged as he put down his gem sculpting tools and his latest project, a topaz in the shape of a star. "So what can I get for you? Some more Daring Do books, or are you looking for something new?" "I'm not here for any of that this time. I'm here because I heard something interesting from Applejack last night," Rainbow answered. Spike raised an eyebrow at the statement. He had a pretty good idea what that something was and what she is planning to do by that teasing look on her face. "Which was?" Spike decided to play dumb for the moment to see where his friend would go with this. "That you have a date with somepony," Her smile grew wider with every word. "Yes. Yes, I do," Spike simply stated. Rainbow blinked at the rather blunt answer. She figured that the drake would be shy, or at least a little embarrassed. But that was fine though, she still had a few things up her sleeve to get a reaction out of him. "I heard that it's with a white unicorn mare," The mare teased, giving her friend a light jab on the shoulder. "So did you finally wear Rarity down, or did you decide go for Sweetie?" "If that is your best attempt at teasing me, then I am disappointed in you Dash," The scaled music lover said as he shook his head. The blue mare pouted in reply. "First of all, I've given up on Rarity ages ago. You really need to stay up-to-date. Secondly, Sweetie Belle got back together with Button Mash...I think." "Those two seriously need to stop going back and forth. This is like what, the twentieth time they've broken up, only to make up a week later?" "No kidding," the drake agreed as he rolled his eyes. "Either stay together, brake up for real, or get some counseling." "True that. Wait...what were we doing again?" Rainbow asked. "I believe that you were trying to tease me about my date and failing quite spectacularly, might I add." Spike said in his trademark snarky tone. Rainbow huffed and crossed her arms at the jab. "Yeah well, if it ain't those two, then who is it?" "It's Vinyl," Spike simply stated. He figured that Vinyl didn't really care who knew about them dating. The only reason he didn't tell Rarity the other day was because with all of her questioning she didn't actually ask who he was seeing. Whether Rarity simply forgot to ask in her excitement, or she purposely didn't want to know, was something that Spike questioned before shrugging off as unimportant for the moment. "Wait…Vinyl, as in Vinyl Scratch, a.k.a. DJ PON-3?" "The one and only, unless she has a twin sister I don't know about," Spike casually quipped. The drake was never one to put too much attention on a person's status. He preferred to put more stock on a person's morals, personality, and actions rather their fame and fortune. Though that might be due to the fact that he: was raised by royalty, frequently hangs out with heroes of the nation, became friends with multiple members of the upper class, is personally considered to be a savior of an empire, and is pretty much a prince in hiding. Rainbow let out a low whistle before holding out her fist saying, "Damn dude, you scored big time." After Spike bumped fists with her, she continued. "And apparently you have a thing for older white unicorn mares." Spike opened his mouth to refute her, but paused as he gave the statement some thought. He truly never gave much thought about his preferences when it came to mares he was interested in. He simply just thought that he liked what he liked. Though now that it was pointed out to him, there was indeed a pattern. "Huh..." he said as he looked up to the celling while scratching his chin. At this point he was talking more to himself than his friend in front of him. "You might be on to something. At least with the ‘older unicorn mares’ part. I used to have a crush on a friend of mine, named Moondancer, before me and Twi moved to Ponyville. She was a unicorn and older than me, but she wasn't white. She was more of a pastel cream or something." "You're welcome for me helping you find this revelation about yourself," Rainbow stated in her usual boosting tone. "Yeah, yeah, just don't expect me to write a report on it." "Who do I look like, Twilight?" "Naw, she has more in the front than you do." That got Dash to cross her arms and glare at the dragon. "Low blow dude, low blow." "I try." ________________________________________ While Spike was busy shooting the breeze and trading the occasional insult with a friend, Vinyl was dealing with a certain problem. The problem known far and wide as boredom. She had already cleaned her house, at least to her standards at any rate. The thought of simply staying inside and either playing some tunes or messing around with her music until the date had crossed her mind. But she had the need to get up and move rather than sit on her butt all day until her date. With nothing better to do, she decided to bother Octavia at her store to kill some time. "Hey Octi!" the DJ shouted as she slammed open the door to her friend's store. Two customers that were already inside browsing turned towards her before looking back at the merchandise. The owner of the store, however, looked at her friend with a mixture of annoyance and bemusement as the DJ made her way towards the classical music lover's position at the counter. "Hello Vinyl," Octavia greeted listlessly. "What brings you here?" "Boredom. Thought I could kill some time here," the white mare answered. "So…anything new I should know about?" "Nothing new, but there is something you might have overlooked," the classical lover answered. "Spike pointed out a band whose albums we have a couple of buried, more or less, in the back. He recommended last night that I should play one of their songs. As a result, a couple of ponies have already bought an album or two." "You don't say?" Vinyl asked, sounding interested. "Well play a song now and let's hear it." "Sure thing." Octavia pressed a button on the speaker controls that were under the cashier counter and a song played throughout the store. (I don't own either the video or the song) In Vinyl's opinion, the song was pretty okay. Nothing awe inspiring or record breaking, but a nice, fast paced Alternative song. It was something that ponies who are on the lookout for more obscure bands might be into. "Not half bad. I got to remember to ask Spike if he knows any other non-mainstream bands and artists that are worth looking into," the disc jockey complimented. "Indeed. I'm thinking of having him in charge of the music playlist for the store," Octavia mentioned before giving it some more thought. "As long as it isn't that trash can banging, chainsaw garbage known as Death Metal." Normally, Vinyl would fiercely take up the fight in defense of any music genre against Octavia's bashing, but she knew that the grey mare hated Death Metal above anything else in life. That argument could literally last for hours since both mares were too stubborn to back down easily once they got some momentum going. 'That can of worms is better off not opened. At least not for the moment,' Vinyl thought to herself. "So what do you think of Spike, so far?" "He seems like a hardworking, well-mannered drake. A bit too sarcastic for my tastes, but he is still makes for good company." "And you don't have any problems with him being a dragon?" Vinyl decided to bluntly ask. It wouldn't be the first time she dated someone who wasn't a pony. While Octavia never outwardly voiced any complaints and was civil with them, it was easy to see she didn't approve of some her non-pony boyfriends and flings. "Only that I might have to stock up on gems for him if you start bringing him home often." Octavia joked before getting serious. "I don't have anything against non-pony races. If I dislike someone, then it is because of their personality, character, and/or habits. Nothing more, nothing less." "Huh," Vinyl stated as she went through her memories. With the new given context, she remembered that her best friend also didn't like some of her coltfriends as well. And she was willing to admit that she had a thing for bad boys in the past, meaning a lot of guys she dated were jerks in one way or another. Though she did remember two past boyfriends whose Octavia's dislike of didn't make any sense. "But what about Doug and Rocko? Those two were pretty okay guys." "They also smoked marijuana, and you know my stance on drugs of any kind outside of medical purposes," The cello player replied. "Though one of the reasons why I tolerated them more than I did the others was the fact that only did it in their own homes and not here. That, and the fact that they never asked or pressured us into joining them after being turned down the first time." "Right." Vinyl said, since she really couldn't think of anything to add to the matter. While she wasn't into pot and the like, she was okay with others doing it, as long they aren't hurting anyone and doing it in moderation. And she sometimes got a good laugh from watching others getting high on the stuff. "So with that out of the way, what do you plan to do on your date?" Octavia asked as she tried to move the conversation along. "Just the usual: movie and dinner with hitting the club at the end." "What movie are you going to see, and where are you going for dinner?" "We’re going to play by ear when it comes to the movie. Personally, I'm hoping to see the new Deadpool movie." "...Really? Your first official date with Spike and you want to watch that monstrosity of violence and vulgarity?" She asked with an upraised eyebrow and disappointed look. "Hey, Deadpool is awesome!" the DJ argued, defending her favorite comic character. "Besides, Spike, being the comic fan that he is, is sure to be okay with watching the glory that is Deadpool." The grey mare rolled her eyes before saying, "Whatever you say. So where do you plan to eat?" "A restaurant called Chili's. Has good food, but nothing too fancy." "So basically your kind of place." "Exactly." "Well, since you have nothing better to do than lounge around my store," the store owner pulled a feather duster out of nowhere and handed it to the DJ, "better make yourself useful." Vinyl grumbles under breath while she starts dusting the selves. "You’re just lucky I have nothing better to do."