Lemons
Lemons
This day was going to be perfect. The kind of day of which I've dreamed since I was small....
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My name is Octavia Philharmonica. I'm one of the elite. The sophisticates. Some might say that I give off an air of nobility. Ponies often say I was born lucky; With a silver spoon in my mouth, but that is not to say that I haven't worked hard to get where I am today. Music has always been a passion of mine. Of course, as an Earth Pony, many would assume attempting to make a career out of anything other than vocals would be a wasted effort.
They would be wrong.
I’m a cellist by trade, and at the risk of sounding arrogant, quite a good one at that. It was no easy feat to get where I am today. Many of Equestria’s greatest musicians are Unicorns; the utility of magic gives them much of the dexterity needed to handle instruments. At least.... thats what I’ve been told. I don’t have that luxury, and honestly, I never really wanted it. Theres a certain closeness I feel to the music as I personally draw the bow across the strings. I don’t think I could ever give up that feeling..... that personal relationship with my cello...... I couldn’t imagine playing any other way.
I could detail how I got to where I am today, but perhaps some other time. I’m beginning to ramble.... Actually, what I really wanted to talk about was.... well, where all of this has taken me. The fruits of my labors. I was excited when I got the letter, you know.... Straight from the Princess herself! To perform at the Grand Galloping Gala is a dream come true for a mare like me. But.... of course, things never seem to go as intended, do they? Hahaha. Still, every dark cloud has its silver lining....
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Octavia let out a long sigh, resting her hooves on the bar counter, using them to prop her head up as they rested on her cheeks. Her cello case was leaning against her body as she shifted her weight on the barstool. The bartender called out to her, but she was too lost in thought to notice. “How did this even happen..” she muttered to nopony except herself. “How -could- this have happened..”
The bar was abuzz with chatter, almost entirely drowning out the smooth jazz playing over the Jukebox in the corner. It was a busy night; it was the night of the Gala, after all, and it had ended not an hour ago. Still, even the noise could not snap Octavia out of her trance. Only when the bartender lightly rapped on the case of her cello, did she snap to attention. “Sir, I would appreciate it if you did not do that! She’s very delicate, and I don’t want her to get damaged!”
The bartender took a long look at her, before his lips curved into a small smile and he chuckled. “I’m sorry, miss.” He began, as the unicorn levitated a glass over towards himself, along with a washcloth, as he began cleaning the glass, “I meant no harm. Just thought you’d like a drink. Thats what most ponies come here for.” Octavia nodded at the stallion, letting out another sigh, and with that, the bartender put down an empty glass. “Well then, Miss... do you have a preferred poison?”
Octavia idly tapped on the counter with a hoof. “Macoltan.” The single word elicited an impressed whistle, as the bartenders horn began to glow, bringing a bottle of amber liquid into sight. “You know, I don’t usually get you fancy types in here. When I do though, I’m usually serving them Maretinis. I like you though. You go straight for the scotch!” Octavia wordlessly nodded, as the unicorn poured the contents of the bottle into the glass. Octavia stared into her glass without a sound, using her hoof to fiddle with the glass. For a while, she didn’t even bring the golden treasure to her lips.
“Troubles?” The bartender simply asked, and finally Octavia took the container up to her mouth and drank, if only so she didn’t have to answer. Of course, it was only delaying the inevitable, as the unicorn did not magically disappear when the sauce hit her gullet. Placing the glass down and looking at the stallion, she responded with a simple “Yes.”
The bartender’s eyes wandered over to the door, as another mare entered the bar and sat in the stool next to Octavia. Octavia didn’t put forth the effort to look over at her new neighbor. It was impolite to stare, anyway. “Well, I won’t bug you about it, but If you feel like having someone to talk at, just call me over. Serving drinks isn’t the only thing I’m here for.” The bartender directed towards Octavia, before making himself available for the new patron. “Its always nice to see your face around here. The usual?”
Octavia once again became lost in her own thoughts, although this time she mechanically took a drink every once in awhile. It wasn’t long before her thoughts became slightly cloudy and distant, but even so she couldn’t shake the events of earlier that night from her mind. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into an hour, and one drink turned into many more. Eventually, her alcohol riddled mind just couldn’t bear to hold it inside anymore. “Damnit!” She exclaimed, slamming a hoof on the counter in frustration. “Tonight was supposed to be perfect! I’ve worked my entire life for this moment! And then a few mares from who-knows-where completely trash the gala and turn it into some kind of... of zoo!”
An unfamiliar chuckle filled Octavia’s ears as the mare beside her couldn’t help but interject. “Sounds like my kind of party. Wish I had been there. The gala always seemed a bit too stuffy for me. Guess I was wrong!” She exclaimed, continuing to chuckle. Octavia scowled at this, as she turned to face the mare. The pony she was looking at was a unicorn. Her coat was white, but what was really eye-catching was her unkempt mane with a ridiculous blue and neon blue color to it. If that wasn’t enough, she wore a large pair of purple tinted glasses that made it impossible for her to see her eyes.
Octavia took a deep breath to calm herself down, and looked at the mare in annoyance. “Well, I wouldn’t expect you to understand. Not that it is any of your business.” This caused the mare to cock an eyebrow in return. “Now hang on there, filly. I’m not the one shouting her troubles to the whole bar.” She replied, causing Octavia to look around the bar; watching as eyes from all around stared in her direction. Octavia slightly blushed in embarrassment, and let out another sigh. “...I was just about to leave anyway. Sorry, everypony.”
Octavia learned two things in that moment. The first thing, was that she had too much to drink. The second? Lugging around heavy objects when you’ve had too much to drink is a recipe for disaster. As she got to her hooves, her cello case that had been resting on her back was reintroduced to the floor, as gravity toppled her over. She began to glow even brighter in the cheeks as her dignity vanished. “Just kill me now...”
To Octavias surprise, the mare with the outlandish mane and glasses offered a hoof to pull her up. Reluctantly, the hoof was accepted, and Octavia pulled herself back up to her own hooves with the help of the mare. “You’re that sloshed and you can still form proper sentences with no slurring? Color me impressed. Are you going to be good heading out with that big honkin thing on your back?” Octavia glared at her for a moment, before relaxing her face. “I will be fine carrying ‘her’. I do it all the time.” As she said that, she began to step towards the door, only to have the weight of her cello carry her over to the side, almost tripping up once again, if she had not bumped into the bar counter first. “...But perhaps calling me a coach wouldn’t be such a terrible idea...”
. .
“I was just about ready to head out myself. Mind if I hitch a ride with you? I’ll pay half the fare.” Octavia had just gotten inside the coach, with a little help from the mare in the bar. She had to admit, the mare was rather nice, even though she looked a bit like a hooligan. “Names Scratch, by the way. Vinyl Scratch. I don’t think I caught yours?” Octavia looked at her for a moment, and nodded, waving her hoof to invite her inside, as Scratch got inside the coach with her. “Octavia Philharmonica.” She replied, before turning towards the pony who would be pulling the coach. “1748 Canter Heights, please.”
Vinyl leaned back in the coach and made herself comfortable, resting her forehooves behind her head, and crossing her back legs while gently bobbing her hoof up and down. Octavia couldn’t help but stare, but Vinyl paid her no mind. For a moment, anyways. When Vinyl noticed Octavia’s gaze, she gazed back behind her purple shades, before saying “...What? Is there something in my mane?” Octavia broke the gaze immediately, being caught off guard by the sudden question. “Oh... no. You just never told the coach horse where you were headed.” Octavia replied, quickly thinking up an excuse.
Scratch slowly began to grin, before leaning in closer to Octavia. “Ohhh, I see. Wanted my address? Perhaps interested in hanging out again sometime? You know, my bed could fit two-” Octavia didn’t even give her a chance to finish, before snorting indignantly. “Oh please! What do you take me for? I don’t even know you. Besides, I am not that kind of mare.” Octavia crossed her forlegs and her face shifted into an annoyed expression, as she turned her neck away from the unicorn, and began to look out of the window.
Vinyl sighed, shook her head and shrugged. “No sense of humor. It was just a joke. J-o-k-e. You fancy types are never any fun.” Octavia rolled her eyes. “ I can be plenty fun. You just have a crude taste for humor.” She retorted, but that only egged Scratch on. “Oh, is that so? Well then, let’s hear a joke.”
“What...?”
“You heard me! Let’s hear a joke! I’m dying to know what you types find amusing, cuz I sure as hay haven’t seen anything that can even get a smile outta you stiffs.” Octavia gave a deep sigh and shook her head. “After today I am in no mood to make jokes. I just want to get home, take a long relaxing bath, and then go to bed.” Vinyl frowned and closed her eyes hidden behind those shades of hers, letting out a sigh. “Like I said.... Never any fun...”
The ride became silent for a long while. It was one of those awkward silences, where either of them felt like she should be conversing, but there was nothing really to say that readily came to mind. Octavia continued to stare out the window, shifting every once in awhile, but while she was looking outside, her mind was elsewhere. It was Vinyl who first broke the silence, after watching Octavia just stare out into space. “So.... this gala thing has really got you down, hasn’t it? What exactly happened anyways? The whole story.”
This unicorn was very observant. Annoyingly so, in Octavias mind. “I really do not want to think about it right now, Miss Scratch.” She replied with a sigh. Vinyl, however persisted. “But you’re thinking about it right now, aren’t you? What’s the harm in spilling it?” Octavia rubbed her temples with her forhooves, nursing a frustration headache. “Listen, I am very grateful for your help and generosity, and I do not mean to be rude, but quite frankly, I-” But Octavia was cut off, as the coach began to slow to the stop, and the coach horse broke his complete silence. “1748 Canter Heights. That will be 36 bits, Ma’am.”
Octavia sighed, a bit out of relief, before turning her attention back to Vinyl. “My apologies, Miss Scratch, but this is my stop.” She said, as she began to take her leave. Octavia stumbled a bit as she payed the stallion, still hazy from all the alcohol. Vinyl couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. “Holy hay, ‘Tavi, you really -are- quite talented to be holding conversations with THAT much in you.” Octavia paused for a moment, looking back at the unicorn and arched an eyebrow. “.....’Tavi?” The confusion was swiftly met with Vinyl mustering up the most posh voice she could, saying “....Miss Scratch.”
Octavia blinked at her for a moment, before lowering her head with another sigh and shaking it with her eyes closed. “..Have a safe night, Miss Scratch.”
“And to you too, ‘Tavi”
. .
*DING DONG*
Octavia’s head began to throb as she was stirred from her rest. She threw the quilt over her head and tightly wrapped herself in it, in a futile attempt to stifle the dreadful noise.
*DING DONG*
Octavia groaned at the second sounding of that infernal bell. She rolled over, only to realize that there was no bed beneath her, as the tumbled to the ground, tangled in her sheets.
*DING DONG*
She wrested herself from the dumb fabric that imprisoned her, holding her head and gritting her teeth as the throbbing continued. She looked over at the wallclock on her wall. “T-three in the morning?!”
*DING DONG*
Octavia let out a frustrating cry. “UUUUUURGH! What pony in their right mind would be up at this hour?! A crazy one, that’s who!” Octavia began to make her way towards the front door at a brisk pace. Her house was rather large, however, like most upper class Canterlot real estate, and she had to suffer through another doorbell before she could open the door.
“IT. IS. THREE. IN. THE. MORNING!” she briefly lost her composure, as she shouted before even seeing her tormentor. Her mane was in all sorts of a mess, as she did not have the chance to fix her bedmane, and the bags under her eyes were apparent. She glared daggers straight into the eyes of the uninvited guest...... except there were no eyes. Just endless purple.
“Oh, hey ‘Tavi! I was worried I might have gotten the wrong address. What took you so long?” Vinyl replied, paying no mind to the anger Octavia had displayed. Octavia was dumbfounded. “What... what are you-?” But before she could finish stumbling over her words, the unicorn explained herself. “So... funny thing happened, actually. Er... you see, I was minding my own business.... just relaxing a bit while listening to some soothing music when.. well... my landlord was a bit upset at that. Hes not much of a music fan per se. Says I was noise polluting....... so, I’m in a bit of a situation. Don’t have much of a place to stay right now, y’know? You seemed like a nice enough filly, so I thought I’d ask you to put up with me for a night. Or two. You know, until I can find another place, or my landlord cools down. We’re friends, right?”
“Whuh... huh?! Now hold on a-... I just met you! Tonight! At a bar!” Octavia protested. She was still unsure what to make of this. It was so surreal. She would have sworn that she was still dreaming, if it were not for her splitting headache. “......But we’re friends... right?” Octavia’s was at a loss. There was so much information to take in and so many questions that were raised, but she couldn’t put them into words “But...! What...How... Why?!”
Octavia’s brain overloaded, as darkness began to overcome her. Vinyl’s voice became distant, even as the unicorn tried to call out to her. “Hey ‘Tavi... are you alri.....”
And then nothing.
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The different colors of text is a little jarring for me, but the writing seems solid and i like the story so far. Keep up the good work. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
1984606 I'm sorry about the text. I try to differentiate who is speaking in case my writing makes it ambiguous sometimes. But I can try it without colored text for next chapter if enough people don't like it.
The colored text was getting to me too. It was very good writing though. Few errors other than not starting a new paragraph when a different character speaks. I will keep an eye on this.
1984610
The colored text is not necessarily a bad thing, it's really not and it could just be more that I was reading this on my phone that made it stand out even more. That, and it's also something of a personal taste. That being said, the story was really good and I enjoyed the set up so I can ignore the color text if you decide to continue with it :) Looking forward to the next chapter!
Okay, I think I'm going to be experimenting with a slightly new style. Looking back at my first chapter, while I want this to follow Octavia from her point of view, I felt like I made her a little impersonal from a purely narrative standpoint. I'm going to try to include some inner monologue and her thoughts. Don't know how successful I'll be, but I am hoping it will lead to people feeling a lot more closer to her.
A very nice story begining, can't wait what's next
the colored texts (just the grey ones) were a bit tough to read, but i blame my screen's setting for that
So far so good, I look forward to later chapters.