Prologue
The evening’s festivities were coming to a close. The patrons of the latest Canterlot garden party had all left. The other waiters had clocked out. The band had all put up their instruments and gone... except for one. You flap your wings once and carefully glide over to the single musician still at the stage.
“Hello, Miss Octavia,” you say.
“Good evening,” she replies. The gray mare with a coal black mane continues putting her prized cello in her case.
Octavia Philharmonica. The cello player of the most renowned orchestral quartet in Equestria. Also one of the reasons you look forward to your job overseeing such garden parties like the ones she would play. Or rather, you look forward to when they conclude so you two may chat.
The other waiters who worked with you swore to never bother the band. They said that they caused somepony to lose their job by asking if he could help them. Because of this, when you first started, you were afraid of them.
However, as you gathered experience with your job, you began to see certain signs signalling that somepony was hungry or in need of a drink. One night, you saw such signs on the lovely cello player as her band concluded playing. Licking lips, occasional swallowing, all pointing to a mare who needed refreshment. You were already off the clock, but deciding to take a chance, you walked over and asked if she needed anything. She was surprisingly delighted by your offer.
The two of you had what would be the first of many chats after a formal gathering. She commented how none of the other waiters would serve them ever since the last incredibly rude one. You asked about this particular waiter and found that he had been rather insulting so they put in a complaint. He had many complaints against him already, so this was the final straw before he was fired. You tell Octavia about how the story was spun and you both laughed about it. Many gatherings from then had you and Octavia in pleasant conversation after the band had finished.
Which brings you to right now. “So, I liked that little improvisation in the third song,” you tease. You had heard enough classical music in your time waiting these types of parties to know when somepony might mess up. You caught her stumble a bit, but she picked it up beautifully so that anypony listening would have never guessed she made a mistake.
She closes her case with a little more force than normal.
“I-I’m sorry...” you stammer, seeing Octavia’s clearly not in the best of moods.
She sighs. “No... that was a little thoughtless of me.”
“Something wrong?” you ask.
“Just... little annoyances. That’s all.” She sits up, facing towards you.
“Care to share?”
“Nothing much worth talking about,” she replies.
The movement is slight, but you see it when it happens. Her tongue pokes out, just a bit, pointing up and then rolling downward before disappearing back behind her lips.
“A drink for you this evening, perhaps?” you ask.
She chuckles a bit. “That would be lovely. Is there anything left?”
“I shall see,” you say, taking off with a flap of your wings towards the refreshment table. Only a couple wine glasses remain which you take under a wing aside from the leftover hors o’dourves. However, there seems to be nothing on top of the tablecloth to fill them with since the party’s conclusion.
Fortunately for you, under the tablecloth is a different story. An open crate with half a dozen bottles of some of Canterlot’s finest are still there. Taking a bottle under your other wing, you trot happily back over to the thirsty musician.
At this point, you contemplate the same thing you contemplate every party, and quite a few times out of parties as well. 'Would you like to have some dinner with me tomorrow, Miss Octavia?' you think to yourself, trying to psyche yourself up. You had considered asking out the lovely mare many times before, but her mentions of busy schedules, rigorous musical practice, and constant traveling made the idea of vocalizing such a request difficult to the point of stilling your tongue as if made of rock while in the presence of the gray beauty. And tonight, she obviously had something else tiring on her mind, so the evening would be sure to play out like many before it.
You suppress a sigh, going back to the stage where Octavia was waiting. She meets you with a grin as you return, presenting the glasses and wine. “Alright, I saw you reach under the table for it. Are you allowed to do that?”
You shrug. “They considered this all to be gone before anypony showed up. They shouldn’t mind.” Pouring the two glasses half full, you give one to Octavia. “Maybe after this, you’ll feel like telling me what’s on your mind.”
She shakes her head with a smile. “Oh, don’t think I’ll just open up and let loose after a little wine,” she says.
“You might feel better, just getting it all out there,” you say. “Although... there’s no real hurry, I suppose. We do have all evening.”
“True,” she says.
You lift your glass and Octavia follows. Slowly, you bring them together for a tiny ‘cling’.
“Cheers,” you both say.
===
You slowly open your eyes, but the invading sunlight makes you clench them shut again. Head spinning, body aching, mostly above the neck; yep, you were certainly hungover. You feel yourself in a bed, but it’s much softer than the one you were used to. You also felt something... warm. And soft. Something warm and soft against your right side.
Taking a breath to prepare yourself, you open your eyes again, fighting the light to keep them open and get them into focus. As soon as you can make out shapes, you have a thought.
'That’s not my ceiling.'
You hear a light groan and a murmur from whatever is next to you. Knowing that you’re going to regret it, you begin to look over.
No amount of light would keep your eyes from being open in shock from what you saw. A gray mare with a coal black mane, snuggled up against you. Her breathing was slow and steady, signaling that she was still far off in slumber.
You swallow around the dry lump in your throat, heart beating faster as the reality of the situation sets in. You just woke up hungover in a strange bed next to Octavia Philharmonica.
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Yes, I ended on the cliffhanger I warned you about.
BUT! I have a reason for doing so!
You see, I've been having trouble getting myself motivated to write. I had this already written, ready to go and with it I'm hoping to get some feedback along the lines of people demanding more, thus driving me to write more. You guys are the reason I do this.
If you read my journal, you already know what happens next. Although, I'm sure you want to see it more in depth, so I'll try to get the next chapter done as soon as I can.
My shutter shade vision spotted this:
"The movement is slight, but you see it when it happens. Her tongue pokes out, just a bit, pointing up and then rolling downward before disappearing back behind her lips."
Is this perhaps a non-poker "tell" that you're trying to communicate to the readers? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_(poker)
Very well written.
2nd person view? I LOVE STORIES IN 2ND PERSON VIEW! Thumps up on you mister!
Hmmmm... I love a good cliffhanger...
It may just be a prolouge but you've earned my thumb and track... Not many can say they have... And I've read a shit load of stories...
Cheers,
-Dashie
425462 I got a series of second person... Not the best of the litter but if you're looking for them then you know where to look.
425477 well um you haven't published anything...
425477 and btw you are not the author of my little dashie, right? its just a name, right? :3
425537 No I'm not the author. That ROBcarakeron (IDK how to spell it) And I have 5 published fics just click my name. Don't bother with the first three just read 'The Life of Tragedy Series' thats the first three combined and then I'm branching off it.
-Dashie
P.S. Author you might want to delete these comments later...
425145
It is, in fact. Licking of lips was explained earlier as a sign that one might be thirsty.
425580 That'd be an interesting character, someone who could perceive almost unnoticeable tells like gaze twitching into another direction for a split second when one lies.
425589
Hmm. Well I was planning a little bit of that, it wasn't going to be to any sort of extreme. Could definitely make for a good story, though.
425589 Sherlock Holmes much?
As for the story, in my (rather unexperienced) eyes (when it comes to literature) this is well written (no typos or grammar mistakes). I am intrigued as to how they ended up in the same bed.
Not a bad start, I'll keep an eye on this.
425589
Sounds like "Lie To Me". Great show.
Please continue I really wanna see how this turns out.....and if you don't Fluttercry will be sad
....And we don't want that now don't we
Night Train - Guns N' Roses
OH FUCK
that is not something you want happening
well maybe it is but not in that way
Amazing! Simply amazing. I commend you, great author, upon your achievement of such satisfactory literature. Please, do continue this magnificent tale!
Lol relevantheavymetal posted a song link on my story too. It was annoying at first, but as I see him doing it to other writers, I find it hilarious. Please check out my stories, by the way. I get lonely.
And nice character description. He is obviously a good bartender/waiter to be able to see the telltale signs of somepony wanting a drink.
This looked good. But then I saw "The bass player". I was like "Nope"! I will read and favorite if you change it to cello! and only then!
426024
Oh, dammit! I had poured over the chapter multiple times to make sure I didn't make that mistake, and... UGH!
Thank you for pointing it out. It's fixed now.
DUN DUN DUNNN
426052 Yay! Will read and favorite!
426052 Read and Favorited, very well done.
425462 If you love second person, then check out what I've written. Four stories, all in second person.
Woo, new story by Whirring Gear. Pinch me!
Good start, with cliffhanger as well
Loving it, looking forward to the next chapter. Again, nice character description and integration.
All-in-all, a great story. This is number one on my top favorites list. Love you man, for letting us see your masterpiece. This beautiful piece of literature.
Nice art, too. Is that custom?
Checked the source. There should be other 'good morning' pieces.
426024 There are plenty of pieces of evidence that show that Octavia plays the bass, and not the cello. One, the cello is not played standing up like that. And two, check out this video: http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/09/ponies-still-wondering-cello-or-double.html?m=1
It's the right height to be a double bass, and Octavia's standing height is tall enough to play said instrument. Please do check out the video. It makes me sad to see people mistaking Octavia's instrument for something it isn't. I apologize if it was intended to be a cello in the show, but the math says different. Just thought I'd add my two bits about this debate. Ciao!
I'm interested..
I'll be watching.
Just can't wait for the sequel. I'll be watching. This story is a prospective hit.
Lol! I just realized that I know someone who lives in an apartment building, in room 213!!
I NEED more....
Moar. Please? For the love of Celestia, moar! This is good stuff. Well written, and I certainly like Octavia.
I need a sequel, soon. I'm sorry if it feels like I'm rushing you, but I'm freaking desperate!
I know that you can't rush art, but I'm dying here.
this is pretty interesting. other than that, all i gotta say is:
MOAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/279/040/d98.png
431454 Just wanted to add my two cents to this conversation as well but this debate was pretty much settled at the beginning of December.
From EQD:
One of the pre-readers actually sent an E-mail to William Anderson (The FiM Background Music guy) and came out with this:
"david,
i am not sure how accurate the visuals are, i thought it was two violins, cellist and harp.
i believe that's how i wrote it as well, violin I, violin II, cello and harp. i think i arranged a mozart string quartet for this instrumentation?
i just get the picture and score it!
cheers,
wil"
http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/12/sweet-and-elite-episode-followup.html
===========================
Interesting video that you posted all the same brokemaniac.
On to more pressing issues...
I am truly enjoying this story so far and I greatly look forward to more chapters. Keep up the awesome work Whirring!
456235 I'm sorry that I didnt notice that article on EqD. I know now that it was intended to be a cello, even if the visual evidence doesn't support it. Thank you for enlightening me. I am going to continue thinking about it as if it was a bass, though, if that's alright.
Aww yeea, woke up in bed next to a famous pony
*Clap Clap*
You know, First I saw Sophistication and Betrayal with rarity and now I'm seeing three additional, if not more, of these second person ship fics. Colgate (i think), AJ, and now Octavia. All of them are surprisingly unique and very well written. I like the cliffhanger here and also the whole "did I really just 'buck' Octavia or did we just like cuddle or something?" This style really needs some love and I applaud your budding addition.
Don't use Philharmonica. Create your own. Philharmonica is Algerrezza's Octavia, and she is with Vinyl. It just confused me is all.
426153
Dammit! You beat me to it!
Up votes, then reads........... Oh yeah! I beat the system!
This could be a good thing!
This could also be a bad thing...
This could also be a very very VERY good thing!
431454
Contrabass is traditionally played standing up, yes, but it also is usually shaped differently from a cello where the neck joins the body. Not only that, but the Contrabass is tuned with a set of gears, has a bridge that is much taller and thicker than that of a cello, and has a body that tends to be noticeably wider than that of a cello. The only pony I can imagine playing the cello in the proper position, is Lyra. She likes sitting like a human, after all. I think playing the cello while sitting would just be downright awkward for a pony. :)
ps, those are some pretty big apples if 18 stack up to the height of a Contrabass
Nicely written prologue. I shall be tracking this and looking out for more.
P.S: I love Octavia a whole bunch.
ok a fan fic second person all right!
ok ok ok
ending:OH SHIT!