Mistakes
*Click*
“Vinyl? I know you're there. I'm not mad at you, I just feel like we need to speak more. This endless work you've been having as of late has been... growing out of hoof. Can you please see me after work? I understand you've been busy composing your latest projects recently, and it takes up plenty of your time, but I just wish you'd come over. Neon can survive a night without you, can't he? Listen, all I'm asking for is just us, a dinner date. Sounds fun, right? If you don't mind, just get back to me when you can. I love you Vinyl. I'll see you later.”
*Click, bzzt*
“-can. I love you Vinyl.”
Hoof steps.
*Click, bzzt*
“I love you Vinyl.”
*Click, bzzt*
“Vinyl, cut that out.”
“I love you-”
“Vinyl!”
Vinyl sat up suddenly in her chair, eyes flashing in the direction from which her name was called. Neon was standing just inside the front door, grimacing at her as though he'd eaten worms for breakfast. She exchanged a similar look with him, dropping her eyes back to the answering machine in front of her. It was just a voice message, but it made her feel better. The time stamp was from a year ago, just before she and Octavia moved in together. A sad grin played across her lips at the memory of seeing Tavi after she'd heard this message for the first time. Vinyl had been working nonstop on her first album to get her hoof in the door of Canterlot's social graces, and the attitude she'd been getting at the time from the more elite members of the city's population wasn't exactly welcoming, per se. Octavia had understood, even if Vinyl wasn't exactly the most grown up mare in the world.
Relationships changed things like that.
Neon took a seat on the couch next to her chair, leaning forward, and pulled the machine ever so gently from her grasp. For a hesitant moment she didn't want to let go, but in the end, she let him move it, her hoof resting on the cold oak nightstand now. She raised her gaze, magenta pools watching him, annoyed. She hated it when he tried to play big brother, and of course, he'd been true to his word, staying over for the past three days, going so far as to bail on a gig in Fillydelphia that he'd been planning for the past two months. Vinyl had called him crazy, but inwardly appreciated the gesture; Her silence on the subject of the breakup remained as resolute as ever though.
“You going to talk?” He asked, taking off his shades and resting them on the table.
“About what?” Her ignorance wasn't fooling anyone, especially him.
“Vinyl.” He fixed her with a hard stare that she had a difficult time looking away from. Escaping her was impossible, and here he kept bringing up the worst part about it. She mumbled unintelligibly at her name but didn't really give him a response. He must have taken that as a 'Go ahead', because to her aggravation, he began his preaching.
“I know it's been rough and all, but have you considered talking to her? I mean, she's had a few days to calm down and all, maybe she'd be willing to go over it with you. I know she loves you, I could see it in her eyes every moment she was around you! You just going to give up?”
Tears threatening to fall once again, she forced herself to be angrier. It helped stave off the sadness. She knew Neon was only trying to help, but that couldn't stop her from silently hating his ignorance on the subject. She had tried. She had begged. Octavia wouldn't budge... at least not then. His words began to infect her with a bit of hope, however, would a few days really change her mind?
“I doubt it.”
“You doubt it? Is that really the best you've got? Because if I had to say it, I'd say you've given up on her.”
'Resist the urge to punch.' She thought to herself furiously, hoof twitching. 'It's Neon for crying out loud.'
“You're not helping.” Vinyl muttered darkly, turning her head so that she was looking out a window in the opposite direction.
“I'm-” He groaned out loud, sulking into his seat.
“What?”
“Don't you see it?”
Feeling like her life was a broken record, she tried once again to remember what she could be missing now. Racking her brain, which altogether had no answers for her either, she bit back the urge for a sarcastic retort. He was the only one willing to stick with her now, and she'd be in hell if he left now.
“Vinyl. You've been in the house since you got back. You barely leave your room, and when you do it's just to do things like this.” He remarks, tapping the answering machine to emphasize the point. “You either need to talk to her or move on.”
Leave it to her living conscience to bring her up to speed quickly.
“I don't know man... I mean. You should have seen her face. You should have seen the tears.”
“Would you rather just give up and let her go?” Neon questioned, the now skeptical expression on his face painting the truth to his words for her in bright vivid colors.
Vinyl herself wasn't really as into the idea as Neon was, and with good reasoning, but his words had merit. Of course Vinyl didn't want to simply let Octavia walk out of her life! But if it had been as easy as talking to get the mare back, Vinyl likely would have solved this problem on their first night. But what if she had been too angry to deal with Vinyl that night? It wasn't really a leap of logic to find a glimmer of light in these words, but she'd promptly snuffed it. The deejay regrettably had a funny feeling that said she'd already had plenty of chances to talk about this before, squandering them like garbage littered in a park.
“Are you at least willing to put your doubts to the side and try it, like once?”
This was a rhetorical question if Vinyl had ever heard one, having plenty of experience with this. For a moment she tensed. She was angry. He knew what her answer would be, and was using the conversation to push her into a corner, so to speak. Spite at him only seemed to grow, her impatience forcing her to stand up, angrily glaring at him.
“Don't play me like that!” She growled, moving to the door. Neon suddenly stood up, moving after her.
“Vinyl, come on! You know I'm not trying to hurt you. It's just so hard to see you like this.” He explained quickly. “I know I sound a bit... harsh. But this is real! This is Octavia!” Her heart was set ablaze as he mentioned her name, as though he understood the aching pain in her chest better than she did herself. She couldn't help herself.
“Oh, I'm sure it's so difficult to sit and watch the suffering I'm going through.” She hissed back venomously, wrenching open the front door with enough force to slam it into the wall.
“Wait- where are you going?” Moving closer, he would have shifted in her way, but she wasn't having any of that. Horn glowing a bright blue, she gripped him in her magic, lifted him clean off the floor, and put him right back on the couch. A shocked expression on his face, he sat up as though to continue. She hated herself for it, but she pushed him right back down.
“I'm going to get this over with.” She muttered angrily. “Obviously you won't leave me alone about it, and I'm sick of hearing it. I just want to forget it, but the world just wants to keep bringing it back!”
She never gave Neon the chance to reply, stepping out the door and slamming it behind her. Mane a mess, no real destination, it was just an unbridled fury that kept her from turning back and crying in his hooves. However much she wanted to cry, she couldn't seem to bring herself to tears, the unicorn instead turning to the thing that drowned everything else out, Alcohol; Haymaker whiskey in particular as of late.
That sounded like a plan.
II||♫♫||II II||♫||II II||♫♫||II
So much for that.
Apparently the bartender at Club Canterlot had been requested that Vinyl shouldn't be allowed on the premises for a while. For a little while at least. This was the excuse that greeted her as she stepped through the door to grab the first drink of many in this late morning when the club was nearly empty in itself. He offered his apology that he had to turn down one of his favorite customers, yet all Vinyl could think was that Neon really needed to stop being such a worrisome meddler, good intentions or not. Storming back out, it had been a brief trip before she'd realized how tired she still was, exhaustion tugging at her eyelids. Oversleeping had been a common issue for the past few days, seeing as she'd barely left her room and for the moment, entertainment options had been scarce, if not downright unsatisfying.
So for the moment, she was sitting at one of the booths in one of Canterlot's more prominent coffee chains, Starbits. The familiar tan walls, plush velvet seats, the familiar scent of pastries and espressos lingering in the air, and familiar conversation making a pleasant ambiance, Vinyl sat there, waiting for the coffee, two creams one sugar, and chocolate doughnut that she'd ordered. The tone of the world seemed a bit brighter since she'd left the house, and though she regrettably wished she hadn't been so rough on the poor stallion, she did resolve to properly apologize to him when she got back. If he was still there.
A velvet pegasus with a short turquoise mane donning the signature outfit of the shop trotted over to her booth after another minute carrying a tray in her mouth, which she gently rested on the table, before giving Vinyl the practiced smile most prominent among waiters, bartenders, and several other similar jobs.
“I have your medium coffee, two creams one sugar, with one doughnut, just fresh out of the oven!” She informed the unicorn, her strained, yet jovial tone bringing very little concern to the unicorn, who merely nodded her head in thanks before lifting the cup of warm liquid with her magic, bringing it closer to her lips. She was a hair's breadth away from her first sip, before noticing the pegasus was still there, watching her expectantly like a dog about to do a trick. Vinyl gently rested the coffee back onto the table, eyeing the mare with confusion evident in her expression. What else did she want?
“Uh... thanks. That will be all.” Vinyl finally told her, grinning sheepishly at the slightly disturbing amount of attention she was receiving from the mare, who's cheeks shifted to a bright red.
“Oh um, sorry. But I just thought I recognized you.” The pegasus admitted. Admittedly this cracked a smile out of Vinyl, the deejay leaning forward with mild interest.
“Really now? I don't get that much lately.” She remarked casually, running a hoof through her mane to ruffle it up a bit rather than attempt to tame the spiked up hair that was a blue and cyan striped explosion from her scalp.
The mare giggled, Vinyl's cheeks tainted with a faint pink tinge before that cocky smile sprang back up to life for the first time in days. Already having figured that the mare knew her from her music (And rightly so, thought Vinyl), the deejay, however, was not used to ponies giggling with excitement at the sight of her, especially mares. More often than not, her appearance before fans was greeted by a chorus of cheers and requests from fans, including, but not limited to 'Here, have a drink on me!', to 'Fuck yeah, it's DJ-PON3!', or admittedly, her personal favorite 'Can you sign my flank?'. It was a fairly crazy fan base, but she would be lying if she had said those types of crowds weren't the most fun stallions and mares Equestria had to offer.
“Seriously? I mean, I totally have your first two albums!” She said in an undertone so their conversation couldn't be overheard by the patrons at the other tables, who hadn't really paid them much attention either way. “You're like a pioneer in music! I've listed to all your songs from A-Z, and let me tell you. Mind. Blown!” Vinyl couldn't help but chuckle at the giddiness painting the mare's face before she leaned in and whispered. “Do you think if... maybe I could grab one of the disks I have in the back you could maybe.” She paused nervously. “Sign it?”
Vinyl quickly agreed. The mare leaping with glee, she seemed to race to the back of the shop, passing by her confused manager, an older, somewhat larger mare with a long blonde mane, who seemed to watch her with a clueless expression, before turning back to the next customer in line. Vinyl kept herself content for the moment by turning to look outside of the window, watching ponies and carriages pass by on the street, the clear blue sky stretching out like an endless blue ocean above them. That was until the carriage pulled in front of her window, blocking most of the view outside the window, to which she groaned in aggravation. Even the view couldn't last more than a minute or so at this point.
When the carriage moved, her heart seemed to stop. Rolling from view, the breathtaking sight it revealed sent her heart in flutters, that luscious, silky black mane pouring down like a fountain, gray coat seeming to shine in the afternoon sun like a picture straight out of a five-star movie. She shivered, scooting closer to the window with interest before heartache and longing began to loom in overhead like dark clouds before the deluge of rain.
Vinyl's train of thought was broken by the mare resting a disk case right in front of her, her own image printed on the front cover. Her head turned to look at the pegasus, before turning back to look at Octavia. She was walking away, further and further. Mild discomfort on her face, she hastily searched for a pen. The Lavender mare noticing such a plight, she frowned, beginning to search her uniform for one as well. Another hasty look and Octavia was further away, across the street. The crowd was growing thicker, and Vinyl stood up, moving to get out of the booth, The mare taking a step back, confusion riddling her face.
“Listen, I've got to go. Right now, like-” She turned back. Only a glimpse of Octavia's head was visible now above the crowd. Heart thumping against her chest like a jackhammer. “It's an emergency!” The sudden commotion brought the eyes of everypony in the shop on her, but Vinyl wasn't paying attention. She stopped at the door, the disappointed expression of the mare looking back at her with a weak grin, to which at the sight of, Vinyl paused.
“I'm sorry.” She echoed lamely, before galloping outside after the cellist.
Galloping across the road, a nearby carriage driver halted barely a yard away from her, followed by two more who hurled insults at the unicorn as she hastily made her way through the busy street in a fashion that would have made a frog jealous, practically bouncing over and dancing around ponies, carts, and carriages that had the misfortune of getting in her way. Eyes searching for Octavia, she caught a glimpse of her as she walked around a nearby street corner, and out of sight. Knowing she'd likely lose the mare if she didn't speed up. She disliked the necessity of doing so, but it became apparent that the crowd was growing too thick on Canterlot's busiest sidewalks to navigate quickly, so with a great effort she began pushing her way through the wall of ponies, occasionally using her magic as well to gently push someone to the side so that she could pass. Shouts and cries of anger followed in her wake, one earth stallion going as far to try and hit her, but she deftly avoided the blow, before finally resuming a strong gallop as the crowd began to thin. Turning the corner, she spotted Octavia continuing to trot down the sidewalk, though thankfully much closer now than she'd previously been.
Vinyl was weaving in and out of passing groups of ponies in her way, trying to get within a good distance to grab Octavia's attention. The opportunity was quickly lost however as the mare turned, opening the door to the building ahead, and made her way inside. 'Well.' She thought 'At least I know where she is now.' Picking up the pace, she approached the door and was about to open it, when she read the sign above the double doors.
Canterlot Symphony Hall.
Complications soon began to become much more obvious now.
II||♫♫||II II||♫||II II||♫♫||II
It was safe to say Vinyl scratch wasn't very welcome within the walls of the building, and not simply because of the issue between her and Octavia. In fact, her very presence within the hall outside of such matters was treated as though it were a sacrilegious act within the confines of a temple. Dirty looks following her throughout the rooms, her attitude was quickly put on edge after her first attempt at asking somepony where Octavia was.
“I hardly believe ponies such as yourself need to be interrupting our musicians while they're here. This is our place of work, not a party house you hooligan.” The stallion replied stiffly, straightening his collar as though her very presence had diminished his outward appearance. “Now leave! Bother somepony else!”
Unsurprisingly this only darkened her mood further, the now aggravated deejay pushing past him gruffly, following the directions on the sign stating the main auditorium was straight ahead, to which she was welcomed by a graceful composition that brought her to a halt, magenta eyes locking on the only well-lit area in the dimmed room. Center stage, reared up on her hind legs to support the cello with her left hoof, Octavia's bow crafting an endless stream of notes that Vinyl herself remembered with ease. She'd sworn to herself that tears were beyond her now, but she wiped her eyes hastily to keep them away, memories the only thoughts now keeping her company in the dark room. The endless rows of seating seemed to slide away into the distance all around her, darkness claiming endless lines of velvet chairs, the stage was gone, curtains pulled into nonexistence. It was just her and Octavia. Black and white. Two things that have never been more different, yet Vinyl's mind began to mull over what she'd said that night after her show.
“I... I do love you. But... I try so hard to stick up for you. I have never spoken ill about you to anyone. Even if you can be rough around the edges, you are fun to be with, sweet when you want to be, and you do care at times.”
Octavia did love her. She said so. Yet... Was Vinyl the bad guy here? It wasn't as though she'd purposefully ignored all of the issues that Octavia pointed out to negatively impact their relationship. But was it all as really bad as it seemed? Was there really no hope at all? Vinyl refused to believe this.
“What the hell are you doing here?” A voice hissed behind her. This distraction ripping her eyes from Octavia, she turned to face the owner of the voice, a furious Beauty Brass who was flanked on either side by security guards.
“What's it to you?” Vinyl grumbled quietly. “Last time I checked this is a public building.”
“And last time I checked, the sign just inside the door says no loitering. Do I have to ask again?” Vinyl stared at her in amazement. What the hell was her problem?
“Look, if you really need to know, I came to talk to Tavi.” Vinyl admitted,
“And you think that's a good idea?” Beauty replied sarcastically.
Vinyl couldn't help but pull a face at this. “Well, I'd like to..you know. Talk about it. We're grown mares, right?” She replied, Neon's words beginning to unravel into a sensible argument. Oh, she was definitely apologizing when she got back.
“I don't want you near her. In fact, I don't even want you here.” Beauty shot back, raising her voice. The music paused.
“What? Come on, It's not like I'm trying to drag her back or something. I know I'm not, you know, the greatest pony ever but-”
“And you've never said anything truer!” She growled, tapping Vinyl's chest for emphasis. The deejay's insides began to boil once more as she gave the tuba player just as nasty of a look as Beauty's contorted face of rage brought down on her. “You've been a misfit from day one, and I never got what she saw in you. You're a bad influence, now get out before you make things worse!”
“Beauty? Is that you? What's going on?” Octavia's voice was like a soft silk blanket of music hanging in the air, to which Vinyl turned to look at her. Beauty however, gripped her shoulder, turning her back around.
“What the fuck?” Vinyl really did not like ponies putting their hooves on her without her consent. Trying to hold back her rage, she swatted the hoof from her shoulder. The guards watched impassively, but they twitched at that. Fuck them too.
“Leave. Right now. Don't you dare even speak to her.”
“Keep your fucking hooves off me.” Vinyl spat back.
“Then go!”
“I can't. I love her.” The words leaped from her mouth without her thinking them. This was the liberating truth that had sunk her lower than the deepest depths of the ocean, and yet now, they seemed to raise her higher than the sun and the clouds, as if she'd grown wings and transcended into enlightenment. “And she loves me.”
Beauty gave a mirthless chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief. “And that's why she left you then, is it?”
Vinyl hadn't meant to do it. It obviously wasn't the right thing to do. She'd followed Octavia here with intentions bordering on saintlike, and yet now they were soiled. A loud smack cracked through the air as Vinyl's hoof slapped into Beauty's face, sending her sideways into the row of chairs, both security officers watching in stunned disapproval.
“How fucking, dare you?” Vinyl snarled, her body visibly shaking as she fought tooth and nail to prevent herself from lashing out further.
Vinyl was barely standing for much longer as the two guards gripped her under her fore hooves and pushed her roughly into the wall to subdue her, the mare struggling violently to be free of them.
“Let go of me, she fucking deserved it!” Vinyl shouted, back hooves flailing as they dragged against the carpet floor.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Octavia, quickly heading over with an expression of mild shock on her face. Oh thank Celestia, Octavia could help her sort all of this out.
“Vinyl, what are you- Oh dear. Beauty, what happened?” She didn't approach either of the two, deep concern in her expression, lavender eyes searching for what couldn't be easily discerned.
“I tried to get her out but-”
Vinyl cut the blue mare off, as the guards continued to roughly press her into the wall. “Octavia! Please, I just wanted to come and talk to you!”
Octavia took several hurried steps toward the two, shaking her head in disbelief. “Please don't hurt her, I hardly believe all of this is necessary.”
“Oh you bet it's necessary.” Beauty said, rubbing her cheek with a free hoof. “She just assaulted me!”
Octavia gasped at Vinyl in astonishment. “Vinyl? No, I can't see her simply hurting anypony like that-”
“She smacked me!”
“Oh please, you kept putting your damn hooves on me and insti...insta..” She groaned quietly, unable to think of the word. “You started it!”
“Just get her out!” If there was ever a time to smack somepony, Vinyl couldn't help but believe now had to be the time.
“Now wait a moment-” Octavia started.
However, the guards were not content with waiting, beginning to drag the unicorn to the door, while she continued to struggle. Vinyl didn't want to resort to magic for confrontation, mainly because she didn't specialize in those types of spells, however, that didn't stop the mare from continuing to struggle with everything she had.
“Let go of me! Now!” Vinyl continued to roar. Despite both her own pleading and Octavia's, the mare was quickly dragged from the auditorium, doors slammed shut behind them.
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Beauty deserved to get the shit slapped out of her. And she's lucky that's all Vinyl did. I'm afraid Vinyl will never get over Octavia. I also don't Vinyl can ever 'grow up' either because a mental or emotional block is preventing her from doing so or she just doesn't know how or where to begin. The longer this story goes, the more I worry for Vinyl's life.
Wow, I know she was trying to help her friend and stuff - albeit in her own stuck-up way - but Beauty Brass was a real bitch here...
A pity about the ending, too. It almost seemed like Octavia was actually willing to hear Vinyl out, despite her acting out of anger due to Beauty Brass' blatant spite.
Also, I like the Frogger reference
This story is very well done, I'm looking forward to more!
Well done. Hope there's more of this Vinyl deserved more rep.
Definitely looking forward to more of this
Being a big brother, sticking with your friend and putting their needs before your own, double win.
Concern for your friend and once again sticking around with them, that's another double win. I also want to add that you are really showing how Vinyl has a good friend willing to go the distance to help her out. Good job!
Great description!
Overall this is a great way to irritate the character as well as the reader!
I've read this part twice and it always gets to me the way the stallion speaks to Vinyl as I'm pretty sure this is a public place. Good job on this, getting emotion from the reader is always a win in my book! 
This is just wonderful. You really gave Vinyl an extra layer or characterization here by making it so that she questioned if she was the bad guy or not. This to me shows that Vinyl is more than just a party mare and does want to fix what went wrong with her relationship. Very good work here and of course earns you a Win.
Using logic, win.
Feeling apologetic and wants to talk things out, very mature for Vinyl.
I'm giving you another Win for this as Beauty really gets to me the wrong despite her good intentions for Octavia. Also Beauty needs to be referred to the above statement with the Celestia icon.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but good one for honesty.
Despite preferring never to resort to violence...who am I kidding, WIN!
You can ignore this next comment, but just in case you decide to have Beauty take Vinyl to court for "assault" as this is a drama story, I just want to point out that I believe I read earlier that Vinyl wanted Beauty to keep her hooves off of her, if that's the case then this is a fight as "assault" is defined as unwanted forceful touch which means Beauty started it.
Great third chapter! There were plenty of moments that got some feeling out of me and getting some kind of feeling from your reader is always a good thing!
I have to admit that Beauty Brass certainly adds an interesting element to your story any time she is involved. Out of all three chapters currently out, I have to say this one is by far your best. It has gotten the most feeling from me and that is something that really makes a story good! The only real complaint is that there are only three chapters out right now. 
You left your readers with a bit of a cliff hanger and that, while it can be good, is not good here because that leaves readers wanting more and there isn't any. 
So to recap, great job, you've done very well with this story thus far and there is hardly anything to really complain about other than the few things I've already talked about.
Good job!
I found this quite enjoyable. Nice story. Keep it up!
Noticed your amazing comment on my story "Symphony of the Damned", and just now noticed you also wrote your own stories. Thanks for that, by the way. Really made me and Benny's day.
~ Chapter: 13
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It was a review well deserved. It's only until the last week that I can even look at the title of it without feeling a bit sad in the pit of my stomach. Still my favorite Fimfic.
Can't wait to see how this turns out
Any idea when the next chapter is showing up?