The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Chapter 102 - Music & Honesty

It was always a pleasant day in Ponyville when music seemed to fill the air. However there was one home in town where music was quite literally in the air almost every single day. Just as early sunlight began to rise over the horizon, so too did a pair of slight golden gray hooves lift themselves out of bed.

A grown earth pony mare hummed merrily to herself. Stepping softly past a sleeping roommate she made her way into the restroom and began brushing her teeth. She continued to hum as she brushed her long ashen black hair in the mirror.

After coming out from the restroom Octavia looked to her roommate seeing her still laying in her bed. However she knew that Vinyl was now awake since she had her headphones slipped on over her ears. Octavia sat gracefully at the seat to her cello. The musical mare closed her eyes as a beautiful melody began to emanate from the strings of her instrument.

https://youtu.be/XleaVcy4he8

All the while Vinyl was content with simply laying in bed and taking the opportunity to appreciate the beauty that was in front of her. The room seemed to fill with a warm glow as Octavia's music glided through the air. And as the morning ballad came to an end, Vinyl lay smiling at the other mare from still in her messy bed. However it had not been the song that made Vinyl so happy. "That was beautiful, Octavia." She declared, taking the rare instance to actually speak.

"Your praise is most appreciated." Octavia remarked with a sincere smile.

Vinyl respected the fact that everything Octavia did was so sincere. The way she carried herself, the way she stuck diligently to her morning rituals, the way her body took to such a beautiful curvy shape as she wrapped herself around her cello. Vinyl took in every detail, appreciating the sincerity of Octavia's beauty as she secretly did on most mornings.

To Octavia, the stark contrast between the two of them was not lost on her. While she left her bed folded neat and tidy every morning, Vinyl would climb from the catastrophe of crumpled bed sheets and blankets that she slept in and leave it that way. Furthermore, Octavia had gotten into the habit of doing her business in the restroom before Vinyl got up because when the blue maned unicorn would finish there would always be water strewn about across the sink, floor, and infinitely perplexing to Octavia also the ceiling.

Despite these differences though, they had their own ways of managing stress and hardly ever fought with each other. By the time Vinyl would come out of the restroom each morning her bed would always somehow be perfectly straightened up while Octavia continued her morning cello practice. In turn, as the classical music earth pony would lose herself in song, a plate of warm food would eventually materialize itself beside her as her roommate sat happily munching away on whatever frosted breakfast cereal was to her liking on that particular day.

"Oh, did I accidentally skip a meal again?" Octavia stated for the millionth time. Despite the fact that this was a regular occurance morning after morning, Vinyl never got tired of hearing how confused her flatmate's voice sounded as if it were the most absurd mistake she had ever made.

Although no matter how different their individual quirks might have been, their lifestyle choices were almost the same. Both of them were mares with active careers set in the music industry. Octavia worked all over Equestria playing from the most extravagant gatherings to even smaller weddings or birthday parties when her schedule would allow for it. Meanwhile Vinyl Scratch was otherwise known as DJ PON3 in her thriving Manehattan dance club. Additionally she spent much of her off time at home customizing records that were privately contracted just for her by the band Faceless, usually even before their own songs were released.

However with proximity breeding familiarity, and the principles of familiarity leading to intimacy, of these factors Vinyl had no resistance to. Morning after morning, day after day, the two always found small ways of looking out for the other over the time they had come to live together. Vinyl cooked and made sure that Octavia always had the support at home that she needed as she was prone to forgetting ‘the little things’ from time to time. Meanwhile Vinyl was messy and didn’t always have the mind to pick up after herself. Although Octavia never found irritation with picking up after her roommate, respecting instead how hard the other mare also works and understanding that everypony needs a little help now and again.

On this particular morning however, their regular schedule was interrupted as they both heard a knock upon the door. Vinyl watched as Octavia set down her cello and walked over saying, “How very strange. I wonder who could be visiting us? We almost never get visitors. Vinyl, did you order for anything to be delivered?” She asked as the blue maned unicorn shook her head.

Once the door was opened both mares stood in surprise at seeing a black stallion with long wavy hair standing in their doorway. “Good morning and please forgive the intrusion. My name is Rayne and I was hoping that I might impose upon the two you about a musical score that I have been working on.” Octavia hadn’t had much interaction with Rayne up to this point but Vinyl slid her sunglasses onto her face which did nothing to cover the sudden blush on her cheeks for she knew exactly what the real reason was for Rayne visiting this morning.

“Oh uh, a musical score you say?” Octavia muttered. “Please forgive me but this is highly unusual to have somepony calling upon us at home. Were you to happen upon us on the street or visit us at a recital then perhaps one of us could entertain your request… But this is where we live. And neither my roommate nor myself have a habit of inviting strangers into our private residence.” Rayne could tell that Octavia was trying to be polite but her tone made it clear that he had offended her.

“Oh do please forgive me, I did not mean to intrude.” Rayne replied as he gave her a polite bow as a sign of respect. “I do come unannounced but I am actually a close associate of Vinyl’s and she had given me a previous invitation to stop by sometime. In hindsight, I probably still should have arranged this meeting in advance and I had also expected she to be the one to answer the door.” Rayne stated in a sheepish attempt to redeem himself.

Octavia just pursed her lips finding that to hardly be an excuse. But when she looked over to Vinyl the other mare did nod that what Rayne had told her was true. “Well be that as it may...” Octavia stopped and took a moment to regain her composure before pushing her tone in a different direction. “I apologize, a friend of Vinyl’s is of course welcome to visit. It is just early and you caught me by surprise is all. Please, do come in.” Stepping out of the doorway she held the path open for him.

Rayne smiled at getting an inside view of their home. It really was just as small as it had looked in the wedding episode of the show where Cranky Doodle finally married the donkey Matilda. Their living space was shared and separated only by the differences in their decor. They had a small restroom in the back but otherwise cohabitated in a shared single room home.

“So, you said you had something for us to review?” Octavia asked while noticing what appeared to be sheet music held in one of his hooves. “How is it that you and Vinyl know each other again? You said that Vinyl is an associate of yours? Under what pretense, may I ask?” She had allowed Rayne inside but her questions still showed that she had a reservation about having an outsider violating the sanctity of their abode.

“Oh well the two of us write songs together I suppose you could say. You see, I have an abundance of lyrics and musical beats floating around in my head. But I’m afraid that all the magic in Equestria could not help me with transcribing these tunes into written form.” Rayne admitted and Vinyl leaned her elbow across her mixer while smirking that it was true.

Octavia on the other hand seemed to be losing her patience with Rayne. “You write songs with Vinyl... and yet you can’t write sheet music?” The scowl on her face looked as if that were the most preposterous thing that she had ever heard.

“We all have something that we’re naturally bad at.” Rayne defended rather simplistically.

Stepping toward him in a somewhat combative manner the mare asked him, “And just what genre of music is it that you claim you are good at? Mister not-composer?” She quipped at him.

Taking no afront to her question Rayne smirked right back saying, “Oh I have a taste for pop, metal, jazz, country, blues, mainstream rock, rock n roll, rhythm & blues, the occasional latin beat, and I’ve always found showtunes to be rather catchy. But for this piece I’m working on now I thought I might branch out from my usual flow and trying something with a more classical mellody to it.”

The look on Octavia’s face appeared almost appalled in her disbelief to the stallion’s statement. “You are telling me that you have an inherent musical aptitude for ALL of those genres and yet you cannot memorize basic note structure on paper?!”

Rayne thought it over for a moment before smiling toward her and saying, “Yes?”

Behind them Vinyl did a hoof plant to her face and stared at the other two seeing that tensions were only rising. “This is Rayne, Octavia. The pleasure pony. You know, the one that the whole town has been making a fuss about recently?” The DJ said to her flatmate, hoping that would help her to understand.

“Hmm, yes that does sound familiar. But you’ll have to forgive me. I never really gave the subject much attention. So as a pleasantry pony or whatever you call yourself, that makes you good at... what, everything?” She asked him, not trying to sound rude but simply being unable to muster any enthusiasm for the stranger.

“I would say that it makes me helpful.” Rayne responded to her. “My tastes in music are my own and yes I am aware that is a very broad set of interests for the musical profession. I just have an enormous respect for the art of auditory performance as well as for the musicians who play it.”

Octavia’s skepticism seemed to persist but Vinyl encouraged her again saying, “Trust me Oct, this stallion knows what he’s talking about.”

Octavia gave a sigh as she relented saying, “Well, you might still be just a vagabond wondering in from off the street... but if Vinyl is willing to vouch for you then I suppose you must have something more to you than you appear. Very well, let me take a look at what you have there and we’ll see what we can do with it. I warn you, you won’t find any rock guitars or jazzy saxophones in this household.”

Not minding her sarcasm Rayne handed the sheet music over to Octavia for her to read over. “Please forgive me if it’s a bit rusty. I had Rarity and Fluttershy help me with what I have so far. I’m afraid I don’t know many musically inclined ponies here in Ponyville and my connections in Manehattan, Phillydelphia, and Canterlot are less than trustworthy with unreleased content. Copyrights and all that, I’m sure you can understand.”

Quirking an eyebrow and fully believing in the charlatanry of the stallion’s statements she mockingly asked him, “Oh my… you do sound as if you get around, don’t you?”

At this point Vinyl was starting to frown and she gave an apologetic glance toward Rayne for the way in which he was being treated. He just waved it off that he wasn’t taking any offense to it as he watched Octavia reading over what he had brought her. First one page and then the second, slowly the skepticism on her face turned to wonder as she stared up at the stallion with disbelief.

“I have to say, it is more than a melody that you have here sir. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen a song like this one before. It certainly isn’t very traditional for a classical piece, if that is indeed what you’re aiming for.” She pointed out to him, half concerned that he might have stolen the sheet music from somepony else if not for the fact that it clearly wasn’t finished and needed correcting in the structure.

“The song is done almost entirely by cello only which is why I wanted to run this by you.” Rayne pointed out. “I will admit that I am much better when it comes to lyrics, but alas, this song has no words to it. It is all about the feeling and the emotion that is being conveyed.”

“Hmm, feeling and emotion indeed.” Octavia responded after shoving his sheet music back to him. “I now remember where I know you from. And it has nothing to do with the nonsense that every pony in tone is spouting about you. You’re that philanderer who sings at that disreputable establishment across town! The 'Hot Hoof' I believe it is called. Music full of crowd pleasing maneuvers and repetitive chords. Hardly an ounce of musical creativity at all!” She shouted.

At this point Vinyl was looking nervous. She had invited Rayne over to help her charm Octavia, not to be berated by her. But even as the cello player’s temper seemed to escalate out of control, Rayne simply waived to Vinyl again that it was all okay and she needn’t worry. “It is as you say. I am Filthy Rich’s business partner and also his lead singer for Ponyville’s only nightclub.”

Now Octavia became slightly red in the face. “Oh! An admission of guilt! And you dare to come here and pass this fanciful farce of music onto us! We are REAL musicians Rayne! Music is not some weekend hobby of ours! We are not the Ponytones meeting once or twice a month for the fun of the experience! We are not some garage band spewing out whatever rhythmic nonsense that first comes to our thoughts! We are professionals Rayne! Music is our career! It is our livelihood! Unlike you, I actually travel to WORK in those cities you mentioned. And the hard work that Vinyl does is played in the most exclusive venues all across Equestria! Can you even for a moment imagine what that is like and the responsibility in which that entails?!” She shouted at him at the top of her lungs.

The room was dead silent after Octavia had finished screaming at Rayne. Their home was mostly soundproofed due to the constant music that Octavia and Vinyl would regularly rehearse. But even so, a couple passerbyers outside the home looked on in concern hearing the heated voice shouting from inside.

“Why yes, in fact I can. I know exactly how much work Vinyl is doing at the moment.” Rayne responded as if the facts couldn’t be simpler.

Octavia stood there seeming about to pull her mane out in frustration to his nonchalant tone. “And HOW could you POSSIBLY know anything about that?!” She shouted at him again.

With a soft smile Rayne looked her in the eyes and said, “Because the work that she's doing is mine.” He explained to her.

“What?! Have you lost your pleasure ridden mind?! She is working on exclusive soundtracks for copywritten material for some of the most elite musical geniuses in Equestria! This is content so high-market that most ponies never get to hear it even AFTER it has been released! How could you possibly claim that has anything to do with a walk-in off the street such as yourself?!”

Octavia was almost huffing now from how angry she had become. But she jumped in startlement when Vinyl actually raised her voice in distress in a way that she had never heard Vinyl ever do before. “Oct! Would you just stop?! Would you stop it, please?! You are embarrassing me okay?! Why are you acting like this?!”

Now the golden gray mare stared wide eyed. “Vinyl, I... I don’t know what to say. I didn’t mean to-”

“You want to know the truth?!” Vinyl shouted and it was clear by this point that she had lost her temper as well. “The truth is that he knows all about these songs that I’m working on because he is the one who wrote them, okay?!”

“What?! Vinyl, you can’t be-” But she was interrupted again because the DJ was tired of listening to her flatmate’s rejection of Rayne.

“It’s true! All of these!" She gestured to the mess of records around her mixing table. "You know that I’ve been getting exclusive unreleased content for the band Faceless! Yes, I was under contract with a non-disclosure agreement to never tell anypony about how I knew the band or the reasons as to why I had a partnership with them when nopony else does. But you know those songs had to come from somewhere!" She argued with her soft voice sounding strained now by frustration. "I am a DJ Oct! I don’t write lyrics for the kinds of songs that Faceless produces! But HE does! Him! Rayne! He’s the genius behind all these tracks I’ve been working on!”

At first Octavia didn’t know what to say. She felt terrible for having upset her friend so badky. But after thinking over what she had just been told she instead started to believe that Vinyl had lost her mind as well. “You are telling me that this stallion right is the songwriter for Faceless? The most up and coming musical talent of the year? This stallion is their writer?”

Again, Vinyl did a hoof plant with her face in agitation before throwing her mane back and screaming, “NO! I am not saying that Rayne writes for Faceless! I am saying that RAYNE, IS, FACELESS!”

Rayne had to pause for a moment and quickly peek outside to make sure no pony else was around to overhear. But after returning inside he nodded while admitting, “It’s true, every word. Vinyl was sworn to secrecy due to a different contract of exclusivity that I have in Philydelphia for my albums. But she always spoke so highly of this amazing cello player here in Ponyville and I made a promise to myself that one day I had to come to meet you. I am just sorry that my presence here has caused such a disturbance to your morning.” Rayne said with poise and distinction.

Octavia’s jaw was dropped as she could not believe her ears. “Y-you?! You, you are Faceless? THE Faceless himself? You expect me to believe that?” She stammered out even as both Rayne and Vinyl nodded together.

With a sigh Rayne cleared his throat and stood up straight. Then his horn shined with a dark purple hew before his mane extended from his face until his entire head was covered. After that he lifted the hair showing that there was indeed no face beneath the flowing wavy strangs. No eyes, no nose, and only an empty gap of nothingness as he opened his mouth. “’Cause when it comes to music, we all lose it when it’s heavy!” “Nothin' I do is new to you, I smack up the world if they rude to you. Cause baby girl you're so beautiful.” “I'll never be your beast of burden. I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting. All I want is you to make love to me!” Rayne sang, changing seamlessly between several of his greatest hits from various albums.

Octavia almost fell back onto her flank, half collapsing onto her playing stool beside her cell. “It’s true! You really are THE Faceless! Standing here, in my home! And- oh my… and being insulted by me at every turn.” She suddenly lamented.

Rayne was quick to spark his horn and shift out of his stage disguise. After he was back to his usual stallion self he smiled down to Octavia warmly. “It's fine.” He reassured her. “As I said before, I startled you by showing up unannounced at your home. The fault was completely mine. I guess you could say it was an attempt at a surprise, that backfired.”

Octavia nodded but it was Vinyl who spoke up first saying, “Now Oct, no pony is supposed to know! You have to promise me that you won’t tell anypony the truth about Rayne being Faceless! And I mean not ever!”

Octavia acted as if she could not nod fast enough and added, “Oh of course. You have my word as a musician that I shall never tell a soul.” Then she stood upright again trying to regain what she could of her composure saying, “Well now that I know this is quite an honor. The musical range that you have achieved is simply astounding! Many others have tried to do so in the past but when any musician attempts to branch outside of a single genre it usually ends in failure. The work that you have accomplished is simply amazing! And to think, a great artist like yourself has come here seeking my lowly opinion of a song.”

“Hardly lowly at all from the praise that Vinyl says about you.” Rayne added causing the two mares to blush while exchanging glances to one another.

However Octavia could not resist returning to an earlier point and asking, “All those albums… and you really can’t read music?” Rayne laughed and Vinyl looked as if she were about to throw a record at Octavia.

“Eh, it’s true. When I was little I went from the saxophone, to the trumpet, to the piano, and finally the guitar. I had a different appreciation for each instrument but singing was always a passion I had which far outweighed the others. But no matter what field of music it was that I found myself in, looking at all those notes on the lines and making sense of any of them was always a foreign concept to me. I just couldn’t grasp it.” He said with a shrug, not really having anything else to say about it. Even after having absorbed the talent of every pony in Ponyville, including Vinyl and Octavia’s magic, Rayne still felt a strife whenever even glancing at a sheet music page.

Shaking her head, Octavia decided to move on from the subject and reevaluate Rayne’s request of her. “Please, forgive my earlier sentiments. Let me take another look at that piece you've written. It definitely has merit but I meant what I said in that it is a most unusual score. It is so... dramatic, Rayne. Furthermore, there is no way I could hit all of these notes as only a single cellist.”

Rayne nodded and waved dismissively to that concern. “Not to worry, I would find it a joy if you would allow me to play with you.” He offered. Then as he waved his hoof the most extraordinary thing Octavia had ever seen happened.

A shadow appeared on the floor beneath his reach, which unbeknownst to the mares was an Obsidianwolf in hiding answering it’s master’s call. Then up from the shadow rose a shaping of obsidian stone and magic. First the scroll, then the turning pegs, then finally the neck as a majestic cello suddenly grew from the floor until it was held in the stallion’s grasp. Likewise a stool materialized beneath Rayne as he sat while the strings of the dark cello seemed to suddenly tune themselves.

“I would like to give you the honor of playing the lead whilst I support you with the base.” Rayne offered to Octavia. “Vinyl, I believe that you can synth in the rest for whatever is needed?” He added while duplicating a copy of the sheet music and levitating it over to her.

The golden gray mare choked as she looked to the conjured instrument in dismay. “Faceless... really wants to play an orchestra piece with me? But why? I'm sure there are other musicians that you could play with. Why here and now?” She asked him, but all the same taking her seat and picking up her own cello to be at the ready with him.

Now the stallion flashed a charming smile. “It’s because of her... and the way that she feels about you. This song is the result of that inspiration she provided to me.” Rayne said which caused Vinyl to lower her now blushing face when Octavia glanced over to her. “But it’s something that I think words won’t fully be able to explain. Let’s play the piece a bit to see how far through it we can get. And when it’s done, I think you two may have something very important to talk about.”

After that the two mares nodded and there was nothing else to say. Vinyl synthesized the parts she needed to while Octavia began to run her bow along the strings of her cello while following along with the notes.

https://youtu.be/N-YuSKeFMxY

When the song was concluded all three of them looked up excitedly as they panted from maintaining such a fast pace. Octavia was sweating from her brow and for some unknown reason discovered that she was crying while also laughing. Vinyl had to lift her hooves from her synthesizer and stretch them while realizing that her heart felt to be beating a million times a minute. And even Rayne had to shrug off a case of shudders from how intense it felt that they were all playing together. "Wow." He remarked as the two mares nodded with him.

“There was so much... just, so much feeling in that!" Octavia wept, rubbing her eyes repeatedly and not seeming to understand why the tears were still falling. “The vibrations were so intense. The rush, the beat… the fury and elegance that were all combined into one! What... you said something about that being your inspiration? From what?! What could move you so powerfully?! Please, I have to know!”

Rayne stalled for a bit as if some great struggle was burning inside him. Then with tender eyes he looked up at Octavia and told her, “It was about you... But as I heard of you… from her.” He said before slowly pointing towards the only other pony in the room.

Octavia looked over to Vinyl who was just standing there now with her head lowered and her hooves together. The sight of the DJ with her glasses off always gave such a different view. Vinyl looked smaller somehow, more vulnerable maybe. Her glasses hid how soft her features were and how cute her face really was when her eyes were visible. But those eyes looked nervous now. Not ashamed but surely not confident of herself as she knew she was being stared at.

“Vinyl, what is he talking about? What in heaven's name have you been saying about me to inspire such feeling?” Octavia asked as if there had to have been some mistake.

“I just... I told him what I thought about you.” Vinyl whispered out. “I told him how great you are... to me.” She added in a meek voice that hardly reached past the mixing table she stood in front of.

“How great I am? What in the world are you-”

“Just give her a chance.” Rayne said to shush her so that Vinyl could find the words she wanted to say.

There was another short pause but the DJ eventually found her voice again. “Oct, I am a shy pony. I don’t like to talk very much. Words aren’t something that I'm very good at. That is why I decided to apply myself to music. The range of expression that I can create even without having to use a single lyric makes me feel powerful and confident. But music can’t help me explain that I’ve finally found something else in my life who makes me feel just as good.”

Octavia was hanging on the edge of her seat. She had never heard Vinyl speak so seriously about anything before in all the time they had lived together. "Vinyl… you just said who."

“Oct, these past few years that we spent living together have been the most meaningful of my life. At first, I was just happy to have somepony to spend time around who doesn't judge me for how I don’t communicate too much. But somewhere along the line you became important to me. Very important. I can’t say it all now, it’s too embarrassing. But when I explained it all to Rayne he told me he would come up with a song to help put my feelings into music. And he’d do it with all the passion and the ferocity that I felt about you.”

“Oh Vinyl.” Octavia gasped, not knowing what else to say. However the silence that then pervaded the air soon became awkward as the DJ had certainly expected more of a reaction from her roommate

Soon the mood in the room seemed to change as the stallion gave out an exasperated sigh. "I told you Vinyl. I think it's time now."

Octavia suddenly became confused. "Wait, what?" Then she watched as for some unspoken reason Vinyl seemed to become mad.

"No! I'm not doing that!" She stomped her hoof.

"I said the music idea wasn't going to do the trick, didn't I? But you didn't listen to me." The pleasure pony said to the DJ. "It's time for you to drop the beat and be honest with her."

"No, I can't! That's too direct! I can't say that to her!" Vinyl argued as her face was becoming beat red with embarrassment.

"She's never going to understand if you don't tell her honestly how you feel." Rayne looked away as he sassed with a bit of an impertinent tone.

However Octavia became upset about being talked around. "What is all this?! Stop this now!" She demanded. "I can understand the message quite clearly, thank you! That song was entirely Vinyl's style and I found it to be a remarkable symbol of our friendship together!" She announced sure-heartedly. Vinyl just pouted while Rayne gave her an 'I told you so' expression.

"I don't… want to be just friends with you Oct." Vinyl mumbled to her softly. But when the other mare simply stared at her and blinked, Vinyl sighed in defeat and let her emotions fly. "I'm freaking in love with you, okay?!" She screamed and Rayne was content to just sit back and let her ramble as she went in a tirade. "Everything about you amazes me! You're so beautiful, you're so talented, you always have your shit together! I think it's cute when you forget things because you're practicing so hard! I love the shape your body takes when you curl in against your cello! I don't want to be friends; I want to push our beds together and show you how amazing you are through hot, sweaty… well, you know! Think about it Oct… I am a DJ! I can move my hoof back and forth over one spot for HOURS! Think of the implications of that! Think about me walking around town bobbing my head to music for literally ALL DAY LONG! Now imagine what I could do with my head between your legs… My neck, does not, get tired! EVER! Think about what I could do for you if you felt the same way that I do!"

Rayne had to suck on his tongue after that in order to keep himself silent. Vinyl looked over at him angrily as if challenging him as to whether she had been direct enough for his liking. Without a word Rayne raised his hooves in defeat to show that he had no objections. But after that both of them turned towards Octavia who was sitting there beside her cello looking shocked.

"Vinyl… how long have you felt this way about me?" Was her only response.

Feeling it was too late to be bashful now she answered, "Since sometime a little after Cranky Doodle's wedding. It was just so much fun when we played together as we did on the way over to the reception. Then sometime in the days afterwards I realized it wasn't the music that was exciting me to play with you."

Octavia thought back to that date before gasping, "Oh but that was years ago! Have you really been harboring an unfulfilled romance for me all this time?" Octavia asked as if she couldn't believe it. But when Vinyl nodded she didn't challenge her on it. "Well I'll say, Vinyl dear. I am incredibly sorry." Vinyl nodded again as if accepting the rejection until Octavia stated, "It really is a shame, that. I honestly wish you had just told me about your feelings sooner."

"Wait, what?" Vinyl asked, not even noticing when she knocked her sunglasses off her mixer to the floor. Rayne just smirked but kept his thoughts to himself.

"Well what I'm saying is that I prefer mares, dear." Octavia explained in a light hearted voice.

Now Vinyl was the one to express a sign of disbelief. "But-! But-! I've SEEN you flirting back and forth with stallions after one of your concerts!"

To that Octavia just scoffed. "Oh forget about that nonsense. I am a renowned musician of notable talent! Of course every composer and half-wit orchestra supporter is going to make a pass at me. And I never said that I wasn't interested in stallions. But have you ever seen me leave with one for the evening? No, because as I stated I prefer mares."

"Since when?!" Vinyl shouted.

Now Octavia began to laugh. "Oh well since always dear. It was shortly after I received my cutie mark that I realized I had an opportunity for greatness as a musician. But I also realized that stallions would probably be hounding me, not for my beauty or my personal merit, but for my success. And to be honest, I knew from an early age that I would just not feel the same way. Also it doesn't take a wizard to realize that there is something off balanced with the breeding genetics of ponies. Some parents can breed two, sometimes three times and only have a single colt if not none at all. Now not every stallion is a catch mind you, but there are far more mares in Equestria these days. Why should I steal away a stallion that some other doe eyed mare could come across when I know in my heart that I simply wouldn't care as much?"

"Well I guess that makes a kind of sense." Vinyl replied, feeling a little unsure about that reasoning.

"Yes well, I was rather young at the time I came up with the notion. But my feelings haven't changed. I'm not a romantic dear, I'm a musician. And a hard practicalist. But, to give your feelings more of a direct answer from me… does your neck really never get tired?" She asked with a smoldering look to her eyes.

Now the two mares stared at one another as Vinyl grinned in response and Octavia smirked right back. Rayne took a surprised step away as Octavia moved toward him. However all the while she never turned his way, instead keeping her gaze fixed intently upon the other mare.

"Yes, thank you very much for the song Rayne. Believe me it was a pleasure." She announced while pushing him towards the door. "I fully understand that I have you to thank for this new union between my roommate and I, and for that I expect will be eternally grateful. Never fear about me spilling any of your professional secrets but as delightful as your company has been, I must now hastily ask that you leave."

Rayne almost tripped over his own hooves while stepping backwards out through the doorway. Octavia finally broke eye contact with Vinyl just long enough to grab Rayne's cello and bow and shove them into his arms outside.

Just then a pair of off-white hooves reached around her torso from behind causing a heavy blush upon the classical music mare's face. Octavia looked up to Rayne while holding onto the door and said, "It was a pleasure meeting you… Thank you for all that you've done… and since I expect Vinyl and I will be much busier at home from now on, please don't ever come back." Then with that the door slammed in his face.

Almost immediately there was the sound of something thudding to the floor just inside followed by a myriad of giggling before several amorous noises could be heard crawling their way deeper inside towards the beds. Rayne just smirked and dusted himself off before the dark cello vanished back into his shadow. Then with an accomplished smirk, he stepped away to leave the musical mares to their privacy.

Author's Notes:

So this was a fun chapter to remind everyone that despite everything that's been going on, Rayne is still hard at work for his job as a pleasure pony.

This ship was hinted at quite awhile ago when it was shown that Rayne and Vinyl shared a short romance when the stallion was first establishing his music career. I think this would be a good time to follow through on that promise. Also I had fun use my different language here. When the story was narrated in regards to Octavia she thought of Vinyl as her roommate. Meanwhile when the story narrated about Vinyl she thought of Octavia as her flatmate. It's the same thing just in different wording, but it was a little aspect that made this chapter fun for me to write.

Yeah, the whole sheet music thing was not a lie. I'm utter rubbish about it. I did change from the sax to the trumpet to the piano and then the guitar to finally singing as I was growing up. But while the practice of the tool was enjoyable, I've proved to be musically illiterate. I'm sure that after obtaining Octavia and other ponies magic that Rayne CAN read music now. I'd imagine he just doesn't enjoy to.

Alright so as it was revealed here, the plan to seduce Octavia with a single was Vinyl's idea and not Rayne's. Let me remind everyone that as a pleasure pony he gets an instinct for what might work and what might not. He told Vinyl originally that he thought it best that Vinyl just come out to Octavia about her feelings but still went through the musical charade to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Also yes Rayne sang a few lines of other songs he's already done in this story. Credit is as previously mentioned in their own chapters.

The first song was a cover of the song Every Teardrop is a Waterfall, as played by 2Cellos. I am a really big fan of this group so it was exciting for me to use them in this story. The second song was another cover by the same group of song Wake Me Up. I went through many different choices of many different artists for this last song but eventually I settled on this one because I felt it was a choice that Vinyl would like.