//------------------------------// // Romantic Cruise, GO! // Story: Sharktavia 10: Shark As A Knife // by Masterweaver //------------------------------// "Oh dearest Octaaaaaaaaaviaaaaaaaa," sang the unicorn as she burst through the front door. "I've got a surprise for yoooooou!" "Mnnngh." With a sigh, the gray mare delicately put her cello in its stand and turned her gaze on her. "Hello, Vinyl Scratch. What is it this time?" The white mare reached her magic into her saddlebags and, with a flourish, produced a small set of seashells strung together with what seemed to be fishing-net string. "Taaaa-daaaaaaaa! For you, my lady." Octavia took the object, carefully turning it around in her hooves. The shells had strange letters etched on them, and an odd white carving of a fish was hooked on between them. "...what is it?" "It's a bracelet! The guy who I bought it from says it represents some guardian spirit, so I thought you'd like it. You know, a way to keep you safe if you're ever out on the ocean." "Vinyl, when would I ever be out on the ocean?" "Funny you should ask that!" the unicorn replied. "You know how our anniversary is next friday?" Octavia leveled a look at her. "It's next thursday, actually." Vinyl winced. "Oh. Well... then it's a good thing I got week-long cruise tickets!" Her magic shot into her saddlebags, pulling two slips of paper out, and she waved them in the gray mare's face with a wide grin. "Eh? Eh?" "...A cruise." "Yep!" "...A cruise." "...You're... not hydrophobic, are you?" Vinyl asked. "No, I just... why a cruise?" Octavia asked. "I mean, you don't usually go all out like this. Did you win a raffle?" "Wh--no! I just..." Vinyl sighed, walking over to the couch and sitting down. "I... I know my job keeps me away at nights, and for long stretches of time. I... know we don't see each other as often as we used to, and... I just thought, if I could be with you, for at least a little bit, if I could... we've gotten a little distant, I think. I want to change that. I do. And getting away from it all--just you and me, on a ship to Haywaii, maybe we could, I don't know, rekindle the fire." Octavia managed to keep her surprise down to a simple blink. "...You... actually want to do this for... us?" "Yeah." The cellist took a moment to examine the bracelet still resting in her hooves. "...I have to admit, you... do have a point. We haven't seen that much of each other, recently." "I know, and I... I'm really sorry, Tavi. I really am." "...why is it," Octavia mused, "that whenever I think I have you figured out, you surprise me?" Vinyl grinned. "You want the philosophical answer or the snappy quip?" The gray mare rose an eyebrow. "I suppose I should hear both." "Well, the philosophical answer is that people are constantly experiencing the world and internalizing those experiences into processing, resulting in a constantly evolving personality that can produce unexpected results if given enough time." The unicorn leaned into the couch. "The snappy quip? I remix everything, babe." Octavia shook her head, though there was a faint smile on her lips. "I should have expected that. Oh well, a cruise actually sounds like an incredible idea." She gave the unicorn a sly glance as she sashayed out. "I can't wait to see you in a swimsuit." "...Vinyl Scratch, why are you wearing broadshorts?" "Okay, first of all, they're trunks--they don't go below the knee." The unicorn flipped her mane. "And, well, they cover my cutie mark. I don't want to be distracted by fans asking for autographs--this week is about you and me, not DJ PON-3." Octavia sighed. "I... suppose I can see the reasoning behind that," she grumbled. Vinyl smirked. "What, were you hoping to get some fine flank view? Cause you know, that can still happen at some point." "What I was hoping for," the gray mare deadpanned, "was to see you embracing your feminine side." "...I'm interpreting that as fine flank view." "And maybe a little maturity." "I can be mature!" Vinyl protested. "See how I'm not staring at how incredible your flank looks in that one-piece? I'm treating you like a person, not a pinup." Octavia blushed. "That--I--you can't--" "Unless," Vinyl cooed, "you want me to treat you like a pinup. Say the word, Tavi. Just say the word--" The flustered gray mare shoved her suitcase at the unicorn. "Just--I--I'm going to find, find a place on the deck for us. Take these to our room, please?" "Sure. Oh! You still have the bracelet, right?" Octavia rose her hoof with a small grin, showing her the ring of seashells. "Yes, I still have the bracelet." "Great! Just want to make sure." Vinyl hefted the suitcase onto her back. "I mean, just in case anything happens." The cellist rolled her eyes. "Do you really think a charm bracelet's going to keep me safe?" "Hey, the guy who sold it to me said it represented a guardian spirit. Kapha... Ka'hoopy..." "You know," Octavias deadpanned as Vinyl pulled a card from her wallet, "if you can't pronounce it--" "No, I got this! Here it is. Ka'ahupahau. She trapped sharks. Or, is a shark? I don't know." The unicorn shrugged. "Look, the point is I trust Ka'hoopy will keep you safe." "Really." "Hey, I paid good money for that bracelet!" Vinyl said. "Even if it doesn't work, it's still pretty, right?" "Well, yes, I suppose it is." Octavia shook her head. "Look at me, being so critical--I really need to relax." "Yeah, this is a vacation." "You know what? You're right." The mare held her head up straight. "I'm going to march right up that gangplank, find a place to tan, and plop myself right down. After all, what's the worst that could--?" "'Scuse me!" A gold and grey pony shot by them and rushed onto the cruise ship. Octavia blinked. "How rude!" "Well, they're departing in, like, three minutes." Vinyl shrugged. "We really should get moving." "Ah, yes! Onward, then. A week of relaxation is just what I need."