//------------------------------// // Chapter 18: It's a Date, Then // Story: Vinyl and Octavia: Ponyville Duet // by generalsnaz //------------------------------// Chapter 18: It's a Date, Then "Take me on a date... and I'll give you a chance." How Octavia had tossed and turned as she deliberated on that very sentence earlier that day. Was it generous enough to simply buy Vinyl expensive stereos and outlandish dresses? No. No, those presents were just the beginning, the icing on the cake, the tip of the iceberg, the two peas in the pod. (Wait... That last one doesn't-) Gifts can be a wonderful way to express your feelings for a dear friend, but it wasn't enough. At least, for Octavia. To do a truly meaningful act for her friend, Octavia had to do something she never thought she ever could. She was offering Vinyl an opportunity to win her heart, her mind, even her body. Just the thought of being with Vinyl in that fashion used to send her into a panic. But now, here she was, taking the first step herself. "Would you do that for me, Vinyl?" Octavia asked. "Will you take me on a date?" She was embarrassed and unsure as she said it. She wasn't unsure of what she was offering, she was unsure of Vinyl's answer. Would Vinyl accept her attempt to set things right, or had she already ruined the chance of a relationship between them with her self-centered way of thinking? Well, Vinyl's response was to stare, mouth slightly ajar, with an empty expression. Octavia had already given her two fantastic gifts in one sitting, how could she also be asking this? She wanted to date now? Vinyl didn't believe she heard right. She thought about it, she pondered on it, she struggled with it and she came to the conclusion she had heard correctly. Vinyl's mouth changed from somewhat open to gaping wide as she finally understood. "Yes," Vinyl said. Her voice was uncharacteristically soft, but it grew louder with each word as she continued. "Yes, obviously yes. A thousand times yes!" Excitement burst out of her, much like it does with Pinkie Pie. "Octavia, are you serious!? If this is some kind of joke-" "It is no joke," Octavia quickly interrupted. "I would never trick you like this. I am completely sincere." Even as nervous as she was, Octavia was confident in her sincerity. She'd thought long and hard about this. "Octavia!!!" Vinyl exclaimed as she grabbed her friend in affection once again. But it wasn't so much hugging her this time as it was clasping her. Squeezing Octavia's helpless forelegs to her side, Vinyl twirled around, taking Octavia with her for a spin. Vinyl buried her face as deeply as she could into Octavia's chest and screamed, "I can't believe it! I can't believe this! Aaaaaahhahahahaha! Hahahaha!!!" Her emotions peaked and she started to laugh. She couldn't remember when she had last been this happy. Maybe there had never been a time this joyous. "This is so unreal!" "I assure you, this is very real!" Octavia responded as the endless spiraling started to make her dizzy, but luckily not nauseous. "Ahahahaha!!! Ahaha! Aha. Ha... Wait...?" Vinyl slowed her spinning down to a stop, much to the relief of Octavia, as she realized something. "But... Octavia... You... You said you could never feel that way about me? And you're not gay... so why would... ..." "Well, I admit I said those things..." Octavia started to explain, but Vinyl let her go, and the unicorn started to back away. "You- ...Is this about pity?" Vinyl asked with an accusatory gaze coming from her dangerous red eyes. "Is this all about pity? Are you pitying me?" "What? No, Vinyl..." "'Cause if you're just gonna pretend to date me because you feel sorry for me-" "Vinyl, that is not what-" "That's what it is, isn't it? Poor little Vinyl gets rejected by every girl she opens up to! Well, you can just forget it! I'm not gonna-!" "VINYL!!!" Octavia shouted as she slapped Vinyl across the face. The resounding SMACK! attack stopped Vinyl's nonsense spouting rant, leaving her stunned. She turned to Octavia, unbelievably shocked. Octavia softly grabbed Vinyl's cheeks and placed her forehead against Vinyl's. They were muzzle to muzzle and looking deep into each other's eyes. Vinyl became entranced in Octavia's beautiful purple ones. "You listen to me, Vinyl Scratch: this offer is genuine. I do not pity you," Octavia lectured with heartfelt purity. "It took an immense amount of courage for me to propose this. If being in a relationship with me makes you happy, then I am willing to participate. I am giving you the opportunity to earn my heart, Vinyl... If you succeed and this relationship makes me happy too... then... then maybe..." Octavia trailed off and looked away blushing. "...Maybe?" Vinyl asked timidly. "...Maybe I can fall in love with you, as well," Octavia answered as she released Vinyl and backed up a little, giving them both space to breathe. There was silence for a moment. The stereo was still playing, but neither pony could hear it, even though they were standing right next to it. "Okay..." Vinyl said plainly. It wasn't a very eloquent response. "Quite," Octavia replied. There was more silence. "So... we're dating now?" Vinyl asked, hope slowly returning to her voice. "*Ahem*" Octavia cleared her throat. "Well, not quite yet, I am afraid. You see, you have not even invited me to an outing," Octavia pointed out. "If we are going to see this through, it must be done properly. Go on then." Octavia waved her hoof at Vinyl like she was giving an order to fetch a drink or something less immense. "...Oh. Oh! Okay! Um-!" Vinyl's behavior became peppy as she thought about how to go about inviting Octavia on a date. "Um-! Hold on! ...Okay! Um-! *Ahem!* Octavia! You are more beautiful than the sun and the moon and all the flowers in Equestria!" Vinyl exclaimed, putting on some sort of stage persona and dramatically twirling her hoof. "I must... um... implore you to grant me... um.... courtship in the uh, eve of the morrow!" "What was that!? Heehee-!" Octavia asked, muffling her laugher with a hoof. "That did not sound at all like anything you would ever say!" "Yeah, but... I thought you'd rather have a fancy proposal?" Vinyl admitted sheepishly. "Just do it like yourself, Vinyl! I would not have it any other way," Octavia encouraged. "Proceed." "Okay..." Vinyl thought for a moment, then bluntly said, "Octavia you are so totes hot. Date me." "Pfffftt!" Octavia nearly burst from the ridiculous confession. "I cannot tell which version was worse! Ha ha ha ha!" Her uncouth laughter made Vinyl blush. "Cut me some slack! I've never asked anypony out before..." "Heehee! It's okay, it's okay! *Ahem* I mean, it is alright, Vinyl. I accept," Octavia said after regaining her composure. (Such a truly fancy pony.) "YES!" Vinyl celebrated like she didn't already know the answer. "Awesome! Let's um, go to a movie and have dinner, or something! Right? Is that what we're supposed to do?" she asked. "Well, I do not know for certain, Vinyl. I have never been courted before," Octavia pointed out. "I suppose it varies between individuals... Perhaps we should do whatever comes to mind naturally..." "Sweet! We'll just figure it out as we go along! That's my kind of style!" Vinyl's casual smile turned to childish giddiness. "Hahaha! Omigosh, this is the best thing that's ever happened to me!" Vinyl danced on the tips of her hooves as she expressed herself and leapt at Octavia for another hug. "This is... this is better than the FiM-9001X!" Octavia blushed as she received the adoration. She smiled. She smiled for real. "I am pleased to have made you so happy, Vinyl," Octavia said as she was being crushed by affection. "But, I gotta ask..." Vinyl questioned as she stopped bouncing and hugging at the same time. "Why'd you change your mind? Not to ruin the mood, but you were SO against it yesterday." "Ah, well... the truth is I had an experience with Miss Rarity, and it... it made me realize some things of importance," Octavia summarized, not wanting to explain all the intricacies of her thought process at the moment. "An... an experience? With Rari?" Vinyl asked warily. The joy in her face drained quite suddenly. The happiness in her voice stopped. Her tone was now cold. "What, uh... what kind of experience would make you okay with dating another mare?" "She... showed me some kindness during a storm by offering me shelter," Octavia answered, unsure about the mood of this situation they found themselves in. "Really...? Just shelter, huh?" Vinyl tapped her hoof anxiously. "Are you sure it wasn't something else you did with her?" "What... what exactly are you accusing me of?" Vinyl stared angrily at Octavia, trying to pry the truth she feared existed out of her. However, the cellist only returned the assault with sincerity and concern. Vinyl had seen Octavia's troubled expression many times before. It seems Vinyl's friend/soon to be fillyfriend was prone to worries and maybe even depression. She was fragile and that fact suddenly struck Vinyl's heart. 'What am I saying?' Vinyl thought, her ears dropping in disappointment. 'She finally opened up to me and I... I...' "... I... Octavia, I'm sorry," Vinyl said abruptly, as she lowered her head in shame. "I'm just- just so excited, I'm imagining things..." "There is nothing to forgive, Vinyl... you have done nothing wrong," Octavia comforted, not fully grasping what Vinyl was upset about. "Okay..." Vinyl replied, smiling slightly. She glanced at her new stereo system. "Hey, wanna help me set this baby up!?" she asked excitedly, pointing to the FiM-9001X. "You got it started, but I think you may have messed up a bit. Like, no offense." "I would, but it is pretty late..." Octavia pointed out, looking at the clock on the wall. (The one she bought, 'cause Vinyl's way to lazy to get one herself.) "Perhaps in the morning, after we get some rest?" "Oh, pffft! Yeah, right," Vinyl scoffed dismissively. "There's no way I'm gonna be able to sleep now! Come on, help me out! We can bond over manual labor!" "Heehee. Oh, alright, you win." Octavia rolled her eyes as she giggled. She was relieved at how easy this was. After some soul-searching, she had become determined to do whatever it took to make Vinyl happy, no matter how much it would hurt to generously offer her heart up. But the funny thing was, it didn't hurt at all. It felt natural when it was happening. It felt so right. There was no doubt in her actions. And for once, that persistent little voice in her head didn't have a thing to say. Perhaps it was... content for once? Octavia smiled and sat down next to Vinyl, who was concentrating on unplugging several wires. "Actually, while we are working, there are some other things I need to talk about." -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- "I'm telling you, you weren't that bad. You definitely don't have to call yourself 'the most vile pony in Equestria,'" Vinyl pointed out with air quotes before she jumped onto the bed. "But... I was so horrible to you... and everypony else. I never showed anypony my appreciation for how well they have treated me. I just took what they had to offer like I deserved it," Octavia mumbled from under her blanket covers. She fidgeted on the bed as Vinyl got comfortable beside her. "You're overthinking it," Vinyl said, rolling her eyes. "You were just looking out for yourself, Octavia, and there's nothing really wrong with that. We all do it. It's not a crime, for pony's sake," "But- but-" "Just tone it down a bit, and you'll be better with-" Vinyl started to explain as she got under the covers on her side of the bed. "So you admit I was being selfish!" Octavia asked as she sat up, distressed. "No! ...Well... yeah. Kinda," Vinyl admitted after a moment of consideration. "Oh! I knew it!" Octavia exclaimed as she covered herself in the blanket completely to hide from the shame. "Come oooon, Octavia!" Vinyl called, as if she was asking a friend out to play. She nudged the blanket with her hoof, shaking Octavia gently. "Come out from there!" Octavia mumbled something incomprehensible. "It's fiiiine. I'll help you make things right with everypony, okay?" Octavia poked her muzzle through the covers. Her features were barely visible. "You promise?" "Absolutely! As long as you take others into consideration, you'll be fine. That's what friends do," Vinyl explained, being the lecturer this time. "And you can start with yours truly, 'cause if we're gonna be dating, you're gonna have to think about me over yourself sometimes. Do things my way occasionally. You know, compromise." "I will! I will!" Octavia proclaimed, emerging from the blanket. "Vinyl, you are my top priority! And I learned from my mistake. From this moment on, Octavia Melody will be genuine with her friends!" "Well done, student!" Vinyl said with praise, patting her friend on the head. Octavia laid back down and giggled. She closed her eyes and began to doze off, but Vinyl still had something to say. '...It's now or never, I guess,' Vinyl thought nervously. "Octavia...?" Vinyl asked sternly. "Since we'll be dating... does that mean... I get to kiss you?" Octavia's eyes shot open. She blushed, turned to the ceiling and was dead quiet. '.........Calm yourself, Octavia... You have already made your decision about this...' Octavia thought to herself. She took a deep breath, which didn't help her shivering, and began to answer, stuttering as she did, "O-o-o-of course! Having a ph-ph-physical connection is a signi-ni-nificant part of a-a-any romantic relationship..." "When?" Vinyl asked bluntly. "When!? Wh-wh-when what?" "When can I kiss you?" "... ...When the time is right," Octavia said as the stuttering in her voice ended and was replaced by sincerity. "You promise?" Vinyl asked. "...Absolutely." Vinyl giggled and yawned. "Okay. Well... see you in the morning, Octavia." "...Goodnight, Vinyl." The two actually slept well that night. Vinyl had been up for nearly two days and was well exhausted. And Octavia... well, she didn't have any nightmares. Perhaps they slept too well, because when they woke up, it was noon.