Vinyl smiled and followed her grey mare. She kinda liked take-charge Octavia, even if at times it was a pain in her flank. In her previous relationships, Vinyl was always the alpha; the one that decided what they did and when they did it. While listening to another, letting another take the lead was an… adjustment to say the least, that didn’t mean it wasn’t fun, at times anyway.

She followed that flank into the restaurant, smiling as she saw how nicely Octavia looked in this new dress. Sure, it wasn’t to her tastes, like the one she had worn last night had been. That dress had been amazing. This one still carried an aura of… refinement to it that made Octavia look just as lovely. Then again, to Vinyl, Octavia would look nice hairless, so that went without saying.

“Good evening, madams. How can I help you?” the waitress asked them as they walked in. She was a yellow unicorn mare with grey mane, smiling politely at them.

“We should have a reservation under the name Philharmonica,” Octavia replied.

“Ah, I see. One second please.” The yellow unicorn paused to double check her notes. Her eyes started to dart over the paper before finding what she was looking for, with a smile she looked up. “Octavia Philharmonica, always a pleasure to serve you. Table for two, correct?”

“Yes, that is right.”

“Would you follow me to your table, please?” The waitress asked before picking up two menus in her magical grip and taking the lead.

Octavia and Vinyl followed behind her, Vinyl’s eyes kept darting to and fro, taking in the nice atmosphere even through the high-class ponies that decorated the place. “What do you think, Vinyl?” Octavia asked.

“It’s… umm…. nice?”

“Nice?” Octavia asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, I mean it’s… okay I guess, it’s just not my usual style is all,” Vinyl replied.

“Oh,” Octavia said, stopping as she looked around. In truth, in that dress, Octavia thought Vinyl looked great, that she fit right in, but now that Vinyl had said that, Octavia couldn’t help but see how awkward it was for her. She started to not see the mare in the refined dress, but the DJ in a strange, unusual setting. “If you don’t like it, we can… we can go someplace, well, more to your liking?”

“Huh? Tavi, no, I don’t mean we should go someplace else, I just mean this isn’t me is all. Not the sort of place I’d go—”

“Where would you like to go?”

“—without you,” Vinyl finished.

“Vinyl?”

Vinyl smiled as the turned to Tavi. “I’m perfectly happy right by your side, be it in the concert hall, or some fancy restaurant.”

“Vinyl,” Octavia said with a smile as she nuzzled her marefriend affectionately.

“Madams?” The serving pony asked as she turned around.

“Sorry, we’re coming,” Octavia said with a blushing smile.

The yellow unicorn led them to a nice table on the window side with a good view over the restaurant-owned fountain in the middle and outside onto the parks. It was beautiful to say the least. Both mares sat down and the waitress levitated them the menus.

“What can I bring you to drink?”

“Please, bring us your best wine and two glasses of water,” Octavia replied and the waitress moved off with a thank you.

“What’s the water for?” Vinyl asked with a sarcastic smile.

“You think you’re cute, don’t you?” Octavia asked with a grin.

“Bitch, I’m adorable.”

“Vinyl!” Octavia all but shouted. “Language, we’re in a nice place.”

“Okay, fine, sorry,” Vinyl replied back.

After a moment of silence, Octavia broke tension by saying, “Although you are adorable.”

Vinyl smiled, her gaze never leaving the mare in front of her. Even while Octavia read through the menu twice, Vinyl never managed to tear her gaze away from the refined mare that she loved with all her heart. Soon, Octavia noticed this too and raised an eyebrow questioningly at the unicorn.

“Not hungry?” Octavia asked, confused why Vinyl hadn’t even bothered to open her menu, much less pick out something to eat..

“Oh, uhm, yes,” Vinyl blushed before opening her menu.

Hmm… food, food, food, something worth snacking on, well, other than the hot piece of flank in front of me that is. Stop it Vi, she’ll like it more if you behave yourself. Wait? What is this crap‽ Fresccaaa… Fresccaa what? I can’t even read this. It quickly became apparent to the unicorn that whatever language the menu had been written in, it wasn’t Equestrian. The words were practically foreign to her, with only a convoluted explanation of what was in the dishes to go off underneath their names.

Vinyl was left with the horrible option of either picking something at random and facing the consequences of whatever in Tartarus they brought out, or admitting that she hadn’t a clue what she was looking at. In the end, she went with the latter. “Octavia…”

“Hmm?” Octavia placed her own menu down and looked up at the frustrated unicorn. “What’s wrong?”

Vinyl huffed. “I… I can’t read anything in this. I don’t even know what language this is written in.”

“It’s Prench, my love. The waiter and waitress can speak Equestrian, but the menu is in Prench as well as the cooks and the owners only speak it,” Octavia replied smiling.

“Umm… okay, that’s impressive I guess, but how am I supposed to order anything off this? I mean I can barely understand the words that tell me what’s in it underneath, much less the title of the dishes.”

With a blush, Octavia said, “You could ask the waiter, or me?”

Vinyl looked at her questioningly. “Wait, you mean to tell me that you can speak Prench?”

“Well, yes, my mother taught me,” the grey mare said with an embarrassed smile.

“Octavia, that’s amazing,” Vinyl said, blinking. “I can barely speak Equestrian, and I’ve never known somepony that spoke Prench before. How come you never told me?”

“It never came up,” Octavia replied.

Vinyl just gave the menu one last look before putting it down on the table with a huff. She smiled at the simplest solution came to mind, one that fixed all their problems. “Why don’t you just order for me?”

“Trust me that much?” Octavia asked with a smile.

“With my life. Given that, I’d say trusting you with my food is no big deal.”

Octavia chuckled at that as the waitress came back. “Madams, are you ready to order?” She asked, holding up a notepad in her magic with a quill ready to take down their order.

“Of course,” Octavia replied and gave Vinyl a wink. “We both take the Soupe à L’oignon as appetizer, the Blanquette de Veau as main dish and the Gougères as dessert.”

It all sounded like gibberish to Vinyl, but she really wasn’t paying attention to anything else but the mare in front of her. The noise of the restaurant simply ceased to be.

“Excellent choice, ma’am,” the waitress replied, smiled, and collected the menus before leaving again.

“And what the hay did you order? Exactly?” Vinyl asked.

“I thought you said you trust me?” Octavia asked in a faux hurt tone.

Vinyl blew her a raspberry. “You know I do, I’m just curious what I’m going to put in my mouth.

“You didn’t seem to mind last night.”

“Tavi?!” Vinyl said, wided eyed and shocked.

“Too much?” Octavia asked.

Vinyl sat back in her chair, Vinyl sunk back into her chair, amazed and bewildered in equal measure. “I love you so much,” she said after a minute, her smile growing wider.

“I know,” the grey mare replied. “And I love you too.”

Vinyl chuckled at that. More from the fact that the great Octavia Philharmonica had made a sex joke in the middle of a fancy restaurant than anything else. “I’m rubbing off on you in all the right ways.”

“You can say that again.”

“But seriously, what’d you order?”

Octavia smiled. “Oh relax, you’ll see when it comes out. I hope you like it, it’s my favorite.”

Vinyl smirked. “All you’re going to give me, huh?”

“Gotta have some mystery, my love.”

“I guess that’s true,” Vinyl replied, grinning. “So. Not to change the subject but why did she teach you Prench? Your mom, I mean.”

“Well, we went on a lot of…. occasional parties and some other important events. Some of them were more traditional since we lived near the border of Prance at that time. So, she told me I’d have to live up my attitude and learn their language so I wouldn’t sound like a ruffian,” Octavia said, rolling her eyes.

“I think that’s amazing,” Vinyl replied, impressed.

“Not really, it was more work than I care to admit.”

“How so?”

“Did I ever tell you any real details about my family, other than the fact that my dad basically owns the classical music industry?” Octavia asked.

“Uh, just the music bit. I’m sorry, I don’t remember anything more,” Vinyl smiled sheepishly back.

The grey mare sighed and looked out of the window. “My parents… they love me, I know that. But what they really cared about, what they pushed on me was that their small filly was the best; that she played her part. They pushed me to and past my limits, demanding more and more with my age. Vi, do you know any other earth pony that plays a string instrument like I do?”

Vinyl thought about it. In truth she didn’t know any, not really. But now that Octavia said something, she also couldn’t picture any that she had seen either. The thought was both strange and confusing. “No, not really, but I guess that’s because you’re amazing!”

“No, Vi. It’s because string instruments were made for unicorns and pegasi. Earth ponies were never meant to use them. I had to learn over seven years. Seven years, everypony in my family demanded more and more from me.” Octavia paused and looked back to her mare, locking gaze with those ruby eyes she loved so much. “Vinyl, my fillyhood wasn’t as nice as it might sound. Yes, I had everything I ever wanted, but… not what I needed.” Octavia paused for a moment, looking down at the table. “Money doesn’t buy you caring parents and an easy life. They loved me, but they never cared.”

“That… that sounds horrible.”

“It is the past. Now, to your question. It was more work because my mother forced me. Learning Prench was not something I wanted to do. It was something my mother demanded I do so she could keep her good contact with the baroness and other royal ponies around the Prench border,” Octavia said. “And trust me when I say, It is not as wonderful as it sounds.”

“But you can speak two languages,” Vinyl cocked her head to the side. “I mean, that’s rather impressive, and amazing, at least in my book.”

“Four.”

“Come again?”

“Four.”

“Four what?”

“I don’t speak two languages, I speak four.”

“Four?” Vinyl said, floored. “I-I-I-I…”

“You’re cute when you’re flustered,” Octavia said, grinning.

It took Vinyl a moment to find out where the cat ran off to with her tongue. As soon as she found it and put it back in her mouth, she asked the burning question. “What else do you speak? Besides Prench, I mean.”

“Trotsky and Germaneic,” Octavia said with a frown.

“Something wrong?”

“Trotsky is… a weird language. Everything that means something in Equestrian, means something entirely different in Trotsky. It was more than difficult to learn.”

Vinyl had to work to move her mouth. “That’s… that’s… that’s amazing! I don’t supose, I mean, umm… do you think you can you teach me some time?”

“I don’t see why not. You want to learn all three?”

“Why not start with Prench?”

“You don’t want to learn the other two?”

“I don’t even know where those languages come from,” Vinyl smiled sheepishly.

“We should go traveling at some time,” Octavia sighed playfully. “Stalliongrad and Germane would be the first on the list, among Prance.”

“Wherever you go,” Vinyl said.

“That’s where you want to be,” Octavia replied back, grinning.

“Madams, the Soupe à L’oignon,” the unicorn waitress said as she brought up a tray to the table in her magic.

Vinyl looked down at the plate that was in front of her. “So now that it’s here, let me ask again. What is this? Exactly?”

“Classic onion soup with bread and a golden crust,” Octavia replied as she lifted a spoon and took a sip. “Hope you like it.”

Vinyl looked up at her and then back down to the soup, she lifted a spoon and took an experimental sip of the broth. Her eyes lit up, much to Octavia’s amusement.

“I take it you like it?”

Vinyl only hummed as she started to eat her soup. The taste was… different than any soup she ever had before. The onion was the main taste, but not overwhelming, leaving enough place for the garlic and the vegetables on her tastebuds.

Octavia had hoped she would like it, that everything would be perfect. She was much closer to her goal of a perfect date that was long overdue.

“Tell me a bit more.”

“About what?” Octavia asked.

“Where you’ve been. Stalliongrad, Germane, and Prance. Where else?”

“Mhh, let me think,” the grey mare hummed. “Ponyriffe, Griffonia and Mareopolis.”

Vinyl chuckled. “And I guess that was only a small part?”

“Yes. I’ll fill you in on the rest another time. How about we do it tomorrow?”

“What?”

“Talk about what we did after…”

“You mean after I left you alone that time…” Vinyl said, her voice slightly broken.

Octavia reached a hoof over, placing it on Vinyl’s. “Vinyl, please. We’re together now, that’s what really counts, right? We have each other, so please, don’t think about it as leaving me. You are back.”

Vinyl looked into her eyes, her beautiful lavender eyes, the very eyes that seemed to just make everything… better. She couldn’t do anything but smile. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, my dear.”

They both continued to eat, the blurring of the porcelain only interrupted by the soft hums and gazes the two shared.

“That was good,” Vinyl explained, as she finished her meal and set down her spoon.

“And it was only the appetizer,” Octavia replied as the waitress came with new plates.

“Blanquette de Veau,” the unicorn waitress said and placed the dishes down.

“And this is what now?” Vinyl asked out of curiosity at the small bowl on the plate filled to the brim with… something she couldn’t quite identify.

“It is a kind of veal ragout, a very traditional Prench meal. I hope you like it.”

“I’m pretty sure that the title of this has more syllables in it than I use in an entire day,” Vinyl said with a laugh. “Besides, veal? Isn’t this more like a griffon dish?”

“It’s to maintain a certain atmosphere,” Octavia replied. “And yes, it is, but it is not real veal. The veal gets replaced by a small tart of vegetables.”

“Doesn’t that, well, kind of betray the name?”

Octavia blinked, not knowing what to say. “That is… kind of right. I don’t know why it still has the name, but it does.”

“Heh, sorry.”

“You are smarter than you think,” Octavia said with a smile.

“Heh. You know all of this so well. Just by it’s name, or did you ever eat it yourself?” Vinyl asked.

“I think in all those years, I have have eaten ever every single Prench meal that exists. Some of them are not so good for the waistline,” she paused with a chuckle. “But they were certainly delicious. Now, we should eat or it will get cold.”

Vinyl grinned. “We’ll go to Prance some day. Promise.” she said before diving into her plate. “Wow, that’s really good.”

“You’re in for a treat. The dessert will be delicious. My greatest weakness!”

“Other than me?” Vinyl asked with a smug grin.

“My only one, besides you,” Octavia said, smirking.

Vinyl grinned. “Prey tell, what is this delicious dessert that seeks to throw me from the top of your throne of weaknesses?” she mockingly asked, her muzzle held high.

The grey mare barely managed to stifle her giggles. “That doesn’t suit you.”

“What?”

“I could never imagine you as a fancy mare. Even if the dress really looks wonderful on you, my dear,” Octavia smiled.

“Yeah, I couldn’t do that either,” Vinyl said. “Prissy and fancy? No thank you. Give me a fat beat and a lightshow any day of the week.”

“The great Vinyl Scratch, taken out of her element.”

“Hey, we all feel more comfortable in our natural surroundings.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“What’s your natural surrounding?” Vinyl grinned.

Octavia hummed, but the answer was easy. At least in her book. “You.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Am I not your natural surrounding?”

“Babe, you are. More than you’ll ever know,” Vinyl smirked.

“Ahem…”

“Why don’t you like that petname?”

“I’m not a cheap whore,” Octavia narrowed her eyes.

“Point taken. Although you know I don’t mean it that way”

“I do but still, I’d appreciate it if you did not call me that.”

“Sorry, sorry,” Vinyl said, apologizing.

“You’re forgiven.”

“But seriously, besides the epicness that is me, what would you say your natural surroundings are? The environment you’re the most comfortable in.”

“Hmm… I guess, I’d have to say the performance hall. When I perform, it’s like the rest of the world just doesn’t exist anymore. Like it’s me and the music, and that’s it.”

“I know that feeling, trust me. Although, based on last night, I’d say you missed your calling.”

“What do you mean?”

“The way you were moving last night. You were like a goddess. And that dress, sweet Luna, it was amazing.”

Octavia blushed, but before she could say anymore, the waitress came back.

“The Gougères, madams,” she said before bowing and leaving with a smile.

Octavia giggled. “Cheese puffs,” she explained without even the need to be asked. Vinyl just gave her an ‘are you serious’ face, before smiling at that.

“Your greatest weakness, right?”

“Mhh, yes. A very delicious weakness.”

“More delicious than me?” Vinyl asked, eyes wide.

“Maybe,” Octavia smiled.

“Hey, no fun!”

“Vi, they only have one taste I like. You have all the tastes I absolutely love.”

However before they could take a bite, there was a loud rumbling coming from the front door, and they both knew exactly why upon the sight of the turquoise pegasus demanding entry.

“Vinyl! Oi, let me in! Let me in, dammit! That’s MY mare there! VINYL!”

“Can’t she ever give up?” Vinyl said through a facehoof.

“I do not think so,” Octavia replied with a scowl. “Waitress? We need the bill, please. And could you pack the gougères up for us to go?”

The waitress nodded while eyeing the pegasus that was even now forcing her way into the restaurant to the table. However rather than head straight back for the kitchen, the waitress took a small detour.

Vinyl looked up and glared at Sassaflash as she approached. “You really can’t take ‘no’ for an answer can you?

“What? You’re betraying me; how should I react to it?” Sassaflash asked.

“I’m not betraying you. We’re over, I told you that! Luna, I have no idea how much clearer I can be. We. Are. Done. Get that through your thick skull.” Vinyl growled.

“Madam’s, the bill and your dessert,” the waitress said, placing both on the table.

Vinyl only took a side glance at the bill and her eyes almost popped out of their sockets. She had never seen such a costly meal before in her life. However before she could say anything, Octavia quickly snatched it up and gave the waitress a big pouch that was almost overflowing with bits.

“Vinyl, dear, we can leave.”

“No, you’ll both stay and explain yourself to me!” Sassa screamed.

“Ma’am, leave or we have to call the guards,” the waitress said firmly, but in reply Sassaflash only snorted.

“Yeah, whatever, do it.”

The waitress turned and Vinyl tried to ignore Sassaflash and get to the door, but the pegasus blocked the path. She tried another, just to be blocked again. “Get. Out. Of. My. Way,” Vinyl growled.

“No! You’re mine!”

Octavia paused as she saw something she hadn’t expected to see, there were tears falling down Sassaflash’s eyes.

“Why are you so… persistent about this?” Octavia asked. “You lost her with your actions, yet you continue. Why?”

“I don’t have to tell you anything!” Sassaflash screamed.

Vinyl lost her patience. Concentrating her magic, she grabbed Sassaflash and levitated her up, then flinged her a short distance behind her, clearing her path and dropping Sassaflash unceremoniously onto the floor. “Tavi, we’re leaving.”

“NO!” Sassaflash screamed, right before two beefy unicorn stallions showed up. One was black as night, the other grey.

“Miss, you’re coming with us,” the black one said.

“No, this isn’t over!” Sassa screamed, grabbing the attention of everypony in the restaurant that wasn’t already looking their way.

Octavia watched the mare get taken away, knowing—in her heart—that Sassaflash was right, this wasn’t over. And it wouldn’t be until she finally moved on.

They stepped out of the restaurant, leaving the rampaging mare behind them. Vinyl took a step closer, snuggling against her. “Ugh, that mare. I… I… I don’t even know what to say. She’s batty to say the least.” She turned to Octavia. “Please, don’t let this ruin a great day.”

“I won’t,” Octavia smiled, then hummed as she gently nuzzled against Vinyl. “Where are we going?”

“Well, you took me to a restaurant that you loved, I think it’s only fair for me to take you to a place I Love. And just like me, I think you’ll love it too.”

Octavia looked at her with a smile. It wasn’t one of embarrassment at such words, but of love, pure and simple love. Vinyl smiled back, right before turning away and flagging down a taxi chariot. As the two approached the small taxi, the chariot driver smiling as they climbed in. “Good day ma’ams. Where can I take you?”

“Celestial road, please,” Vinyl said.

“Are you going to tell me anything?” Octavia asked with a kiss.

Vinyl grinned. “Nope, that’d ruin the surprise, and I want to see the look on your face when you see.”

The ride took them up a small hill where some modern buildings stood. Freshly built, not even two years old. The two ponies didn’t say a word to each other. They simply sat side by side, exchanging smiles and even stealing a few pecks from each other.

The area of Trottingham they went to was recently built, its buildings new, its streets freshly paved, and it’s sidewalks clean. The ponies here looked happier. It wasn’t anything obvious, and yet it was too obvious. It was presented in the way they carried themselves, the way they dressed, and the way they smiled at one another. Part of Vinyl wanted to gag, but Octavia seemed to like it, so she resisted the urge.

Vinyl’s plan was to take her to one of the bigger houses. It was one she had known since it was build, and the description made it the perfect end of her date with Octavia.

“You can let us off here,” Vinyl said.

The taxi came to a stop. Vinyl got out first and then helped Octavia out of the chariot. As the unicorn payed the taxi driver, Octavia walked up to their destination. “The Celestial Tower: Enjoy a beautiful view over Trottingham,” Octavia read the sign.

“That description doesn’t do it justice,” VInyl said with a smile as she lead the way inside. Octavia smiled back as she followed Vinyl into the tower and to the elevator.

The unicorn pushed the button for the top floor and gave a small kiss to her mare. “I hope you’ll like it.”

As soon as the elevator opened it’s doors, Octavia gasped. The top of the building was open to the sky with several tables and chairs around a bar. The border of the roof was protected with railings, but it was the view that struck her.

She slowly approached the edge and looked over Trottingham, bathing in the sunlight. The city was alight at this time of day. The buildings were glowing, the streets bathed in what looked like gold. The sight of it stole Octavia’s breath away. It was a sight she knew that she would never forget. Never, just like the lovely sight of her marefriend beside her.

As soon as she could manage to find the words, Octavia said, “Vinyl, this is lovely.”

“Now you know what I feel when I see you,” Vinyl replied and moved in for a kiss, She pressed their lips together, the wetness on her marefriends lips became self evident as they interlocked with one another. Pressure, heat, and moisture becoming one as the two exchanged the love they shared, the passion they had. It wasn’t their longest kiss by any means, but that didn’t make it any less important to the two young lovers. .

The kiss lasted for several moments, but neither of them cared about the time anymore. It was a wonderful date with even better company, and after all, they had a whole city in their hooves.

Author's Notes:

My apologies if any of the prench sounds weird.
I've only been once to Paris, so not much got stuck lol.
Anyways, have the weekly chapter

The next chapter will be a special and shorter again, sry!
Maybe around 2k but it is really just a short special