Vinyl Scratch was exhausted.
She'd played for so may hours she'd lost count, and now, she was using the last of her strength to heave a very disgruntled and drunk Octavia down through the doors of Vinyl's house.
"Vinyllll~" Octavia purred and reached out for Vinyl's face with her hooves.
"Ohhh no." Vinyl levitated the yawning mare further away from her.
"But.. Vinnyy?" Octavia whined softly.
Sighing, Vinyl trotted through the still-messy house, keeping Octavia floating close behind her.
"Wheee-eee.." The gray mare giggled happily and rolled around in the air.
Vinyl couldn't help but smile. She wandered into her small kitchen, and sat Octavia down in a chair. Confused by the sudden change in location, Octavia blinked at Vinyl.
"Just hold on." Vinyl assured. She opened a cabinet and peered inside.
Behind her, Octavia made sad little bubbling noises, and shielded her eyes from the kitchen light which dimly illuminated the room.
"There!" Vinyl murmured, reaching for a small bottle on the oak shelf. She pulled it out triumphantly, and turned around to face Octavia.
She looked at her, and stifled a laugh.
Octavia stood on the chair looking directly at the lightbulb on the ceiling. She had daintily extended a hoof toward the light, and had a determined look on her face.
"I wouldn't touch that, doll." Vinyl said calmly.
Without looking away, Octavia responded intellectually, "Bright."
Snickering, Vinyl nodded. "Yes, bright, but you can't tou-"
"Oww-wwww!" Octavia howled and fell off the chair.
"Aw, Celestia!" Vinyl shook her head and jumped over to where Octavia lay, mewling. She levitated the mare once more, and carried her over to the couch.
"Here," She spoke softly, "Drink this, okay?"
Octavia sniffled, still holding her hoof close to her body. She blurted out, "No!"
Vinyl gazed imploringly at Octavia, and said, "Please, don't make this difficult on yourself."
Octavia sniffed, and regaining some of her sober self's qualities, announced, "I will not put that in my mouth!"
Vinyl sighed. She'd worked with animals once or twice before, and she'd learned that the best way to get them to take medicine was to trick them.
"Okay, you don't have to drink it. I'll save it all for myself. Besides, you're too uptight for this." Vinyl spun around and trotted back to the cupboard.
"Uptight?" Octavia squealed. She jumped onto Vinyl's back, and grabbed the drink.
Laughing, Vinyl watched as Octavia drank from the small bottle.
"Eeeeeew!" She stuck her tongue out and crossed her eyes. "What wath that?"
"Pickle juice." Vinyl laughed at the horrified expression on Octavia's face. "It'll help with that hangover tomorrow."
"Oh.." Octavia put her tongue back in her mouth and looked around the room. She yawned, and Vinyl smiled.
"Alright, let's get you to bed, Tavi."
Swinging an arm over Octavia's back, Vinyl guided her carefully into Vinyl's bedroom. Wincing at the sight of the mess, she stepped over the remnants of the past week's parties.
Carefully, she lowered Octavia onto the white silk sheets of the bed. Octavia stretched and yawned innocently, turning onto her side. Vinyl grinned, and covered her with the duvet. Violet eyes opened, and arms outstretched to Vinyl.
Gently, Vinyl pushed away her arms, and she brushed Octavia's mane out of her eyes. "Goodnight, Tavi." She whispered.
"Vinyl?" Octavia looked up, confused, her arms still held out.
Smiling slightly, Vinyl stepped toward the door. "I'll see you in the morning." She stepped out of the room, and quietly closed the door.
Silently moving the darkened room, Vinyl used her magic to light her way to the white couch. Yawning, she pulled a blue striped blanket off the back of the sofa, and crawled on top of the freezing fabric. She dropped the blanket on herself, and attempted to fall asleep.
All she could think about was those huge violet eyes, the ones that always seemed to drive her crazy. The adorable way she fluttered her eyelids when she was tired, how they brightened at the prospect of excitement, and the dark undertone they took on when she was angry.
Vinyl couldn't help but think that Octavia was really made for her. They were such opposites. They clashed, as expected. With such different tastes and styles, you'd think that the two mares wouldn't even be able to converse. And yet.. At the same time.. There was an undeniable force that pulled Vinyl closer and closer to her. No matter how often she tried to convince herself otherwise, Vinyl couldn't lie to herself anymore.
She was absolutely in love with Octavia.
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Vinyl lay curled up on the sofa, shivering. It had dropped several degrees in the past hour, and without her usual blankets, Vinyl was beginning to feel the cold sink in. She wanted desperately to stand up and find another blanket, but she feared the cold would be far worse when she left the safety of her fortress.
Suddenly, there was a creaking on the floorboards. Vinyl flicked her ears up, but, torn between being awake and asleep, she shrugged and dismissed the noise.
Vinyl settled back into her blanket, and she breathed out softly. She was drifting back into a heavy, chilled sleep, when she felt a warm mass dropped onto her stomach. Startled, Vinyl cried out, but was silenced by a hoof over her mouth. Vinyl's breathing became more and more rapid as she felt somepony slide beneath the blankets beside her. Vinyl shot her eyes over toward the figure, and breathed a panicky sigh of relief.
"Tavi?" She mumbled through the hoof pressed over her mouth.
There was a light giggle, followed by a soft sigh. "Shhh." She purred.
Vinyl blushed, nervously removing Octavia's hoof from her muzzle. "What are you doing here, Octavia?"
Octavia wrapped her arms tightly around Vinyl's body and whispered, "I got cold."
With that, there was a slight pressure as Octavia settled her cheek on Vinyl's, and began snoring lightly.
Vinyl was terrified. She wasn't going to lie- She was no saint. This wasn't the first time she'd ever been wrapped tightly in somepony's arms, waiting for morning. But this, this was different somehow.. Something was strange inside of Vinyl.
This felt terribly right, but at the same time, Vinyl was scared she would make a false move and destroy it all. She'd finally found something that made her happy, but yet, she just knew she'd mess it all up.
Maybe.. Vinyl thought, Maybe this is love..?
As her grip tightened around Vinyl, Octavia let out a contented sigh.
Vinyl decided, even if this 'Love' thing, only lasted for a while, it sure as hell was worth it.
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The sun shone brightly through the slanted shades on the living room, and Vinyl's eyes fluttered open. Taking a deep breath, Vinyl looked over at Octavia without moving her position.
Her mouth hung open the tiniest bit, and her hair fluffed casually over one of her eyes. Her breathing was steady and quiet, and it soothed Vinyl to hear. Vinyl sighed, nervously awaiting Octavia to awake. She knew that once the beautiful mare's eyes opened, she'd grow fearful and think Vinyl had taken advantage of her. She'd probably never even speak to Vinyl again..
Suddenly, Octavia stiffened.
Damn.. Vinyl thought.
"V- Vinyl!?" Octavia squeaked, but didn't pull away. "What..What happened?"
"You, um, you were drunk and, and.." Vinyl faltered, suddenly aware how her words were coming out.
"..Oh." Octavia spoke softly. "Did you, um.."
"No!"
"Oh.. Well, um.." Octavia stammered.
"I had let you sleep in my room, but you came out here earlier in the evening.." Vinyl looked away.
"Oh, I, um, I did this..?" Octavia blushed immensely, her arm still over Vinyl's side.
"Err, well, yeah.." Vinyl mumbled. Why isn't she moving away from me?
"Why.. Why did I come here? Oh! I don't mean it like that, I just meant.." Octavia flushed again, looking upward. Why am I not letting go of her?
"You.. Wouldn't tell me where to take you." Vinyl laughed nervously. "You just said you wanted to come home with me."
"Oh! I'm so sorry.." Octavia couldn't move a muscle.
"No, no," Vinyl laughed a bit more certainly now. "I thought it was quite amusing to see you so silly."
Octavia cursed herself silently. Just let go, dammit!
"I.. I understand if you.. Don't want to be around me anymore, Octavia." Vinyl broke the silence.
"What?" Octavia stammered. She sat upright, finally removing her arm. "Why in the hell would I not want that?"
"Well, I, err.." Vinyl sat up too,and looked away.
Octavia stared at her, when something clicked, and she murmured, "Oh, you thought.."
Shaking her head, Octavia placed a hoof on Vinyl's arm. "No, Vinyl, it's nothing like that."
She smiled reassuringly. "What happened.. That was just a mistake. Don't worry."
Vinyl's voice cracked and she smiled unconvincingly.
"Right.. Just a mistake.."
Octavia stood up, unaware.
"So," She winced, holding a hoof to her aching head. "I guess I'll make breakfast."