The Snow on Her Cheek

Chapter Eleven

The House I Live in

***

"Tavi, where the hay is your house?!" Vinyl exclaimed, dragging her hooves along the paved street tiredly. At first, she was awestruck, taking in the breathtaking scenery of the big city, the light and the general feeling of unusualness as passer-bys greeted each other. But now she was simply exhausted, walking through the entire town, led by the grey cellist who would greet some locals from time to time. Seems strange that Tavi knows so many ponies in such a big place, she mused.

"On the edge of town," the grey mare replied in a warm tone, without turning round. "It's not far, I assure you."

"I thought your family was rich and stuff, and you tell me you're living on the outskirts?" Vinyl raised a brow in suspicion but carried on nevertheless. Just what is-

Vinyl's mouth fell agape as Octavia stopped in front of a huge four-storey building, designed in the best traditions of baroque Canterlot architecture, made of finest stone, with what seemed to her an endless garden, and stone-paved wide path leading to the front door - no, it was a gate!

"That's my family's mansion," Octavia said simply, not affected by the glorious building in the slightest. In fact, she was affected, but only in a way that she got incredibly nostalgic. This used to be her house; the house she used to live in; the house where her brothers and she had grown up, where they had played so innocently as foals. The memories overwhelmed her and she hardly suppressed a tear that she felt in her left eye.

"That's not a mansion, Tavi!" Vinyl exlclaimed in awe. "It's a damn castle!" I simply can't believe this is Tavi's house! Just how rich is her family?!

"Octavia!"

They saw a brown earth pony stallion, who apparently had just been strolling in the garden, rush to their side, wide-eyed. Vinyl couldn't help but notice his cutie mark, which was a quill, and his neatly cut light mane, which was a little wavy, despite being quite short.

"Tom!" Octavia shouted, running towards the stallion, throwing her hooves around his neck, planting kisses all around his muzzle. Vinyl frowned, feeling offended and a little jealous. Great, now who the hay is this guy?

As the cellist let go of the brown pony, she turned towards Vinyl, tears streaming from her eyes. Seeing her ma- friend's dismay, she quickly explained, "Vinyl, this is my brother, Tom." She smiled at the stallion, whose face turned soft and pleased. "Tom, this is my... friend, Vinyl." Octavia paused before saying... the word, holding just a little subconscious interval, almost unnoticeable. But was there a single time when Tom hasn't noticed something, even a little detail?

"Oh. Pleased to meet'cha!" Vinyl grinned and extended her hoof. He's just her brother, nothing more! she thought happily, her body immediately relaxing, her attitude no longer hostile.

To her suprise, the stallion didn't shake her hoof, like most ponies, or kiss it, like those high-society ponies. Instead, he came up to her and hugged her, planting three kisses on her both cheeks. Vinyl was a little shocked by such a show of affection, but an approving nod from Octavia told her that it was all right, even if she couldn't quite drive into what was going on.

"It is a customary greeting in Scoltcilia," Octavia explained, just as the brown stallion (Tom? What a strange name!, Vinyl mused) occupied the place next to his sister.

"Wait a minute? Weren't you born here in Chicoltgo?" Vinyl asked, dumbfounded. What other secrets has she been keeping from me? she thought involuntary.

"Of course I was!" Octavia laughed, waving her hoof in the air dismissingly. "My family comes from Scoltcilia," she explained.

Well, that makes sense, given her surname and all... Vinyl nodded, feeling slightly off as Octavia's brother looked at her: he cast but a minute glance, but that glance was enough to pierce her through, scrutinising her very substance, as if the stallion had immediately learned everything about her in a matter of a few seconds. What a stupid thought...

"Octavia, Vinyl, please come with me!" Tom gestured for them to follow. "Father will be happy to see you."

"Father..." Octavia whispered, watching her brother trot ahead. So many years have passed...

Vinyl put her hoof on Octavia's shoulder, trying hard to make it a friendly, supportive gesture and not a show of affection. "It's all right, Tavi. Let's go."

The grey mare smiled and, quickly looking around, planted a small peck on the pianist's cheek. Vinyl blushed very cutely and looked around as well, to see if there was anypony who could have seen the gesture. Fortunately, nopony was around, save for Tom who had almost reached the front door by now. Maybe we'll be able to find a minute alone to share a kiss after all... Octavia mused, trotting towards the door, Vinyl by her side.

Tom knocked at the door, smiling at his sister and her friend. Octavia gulped, closing her eyes. So many years...

The wooden door opened, to reveal a rather old unicorn stallion standing before it. He was black, Vinyl noted, and his hair was already silver grey, which showed either the burden of age or the weight of experience. Atop his flank rested a rather strange cutie mark - a chain. He was holding a glass of wine in his telekinetic grip, but almost dropped it upon seeing the three ponies standing in the doorway.

"Octavia?" His voice was plain, not emotionless, but just reserved; however, slight reverberation showed that he was shocked deep inside, even if he didn't show it at all.

"Father..." Octavia whispered and, no longer able to hold back her feeling, threw her hooves around her father's neck, tears of happiness and overwhelming emotion streaming down her face.

Vinyl felt her own eyes watering as she watched the reunion, her stupid brain bringing about substitute memories of her own family, which contrasted with the present tranquillity way too much. Stop, Vinyl. Don't you dare cry in front of Tavi's family!

Finally, the black unicorn tapped Octavia on the shoulder politely, and she let him go reluctantly, stepping back.

"I am very glad to see you, Octavia," he said, finally placing his glass onto the drawer in the corner of the wide hall. "As well as you, miss?" He looked at Tom, who immediately stepped in.

"Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch. She is a friend of Octavia," he provided the information.

"Miss Scratch," the black stallion confirmed. "A friend of my daughter is a friend of mine," he said, as if he were reciting a family motto of some sort. Looking at Octavia, who nodded at her father's words, Vinyl got the impression that it was a motto indeed.

"My name is Alexandro Philarmonico, without the H in the middle," he introduced himself, performing the trinity of greeting kisses on Vinyl afterwards. I need to tell Tavi to pick up this custom when we return to Manehattan...

"I'm very charmed to meet you, senor Philarmonico," Vinyl replied with a slight bow, shocking Octavia to the limit. Vinyl... is polite? She even has decent Stallian pronunciation! she mused in awe. Who are you, strange white unicorn, and what have you done with my marefriend?!

"So am I," the stallion said and glanced through a relatively small window, while the two mares followed his gaze. Only now did Vinyl realise that it had already got dark; she wasn't used to such intense illumination which reigned in Chicoltgo, so it was easy to forget they had arrived at the edge of dusk, greeted by the sunset.

"Would you like to have a meal before getting the much needed rest?" Octavia's father enquired, pointing out that they were very much welcome to go to bed directly. Vinyl's sense of politeness was aching, if senses could ever ache. On one hoof, it would be impolite to refuse a treat on the house; on the other hoof, it would be impolite to feast upon the host's hospitality. What to do... Vinyl thought painfully, considering her two equally crappy options.

"Thank you, Father, but we would rather go to sleep now," Octavia said in a gentle and loving voice, her eyes still teary from  the reunion. "Could we get a room?"

Tavi, saving my flank since Celestia-knows-when! Vinyl thought proudly. I can't believe we've been together for a mere week!

Alexandro nodded and opened the door at the far wall, his telekinetic grip firmly holding the golden knob. It's real gold! Vinyl opened her mouth in awe. "Tom will show you to your bedrooms," he said calmly, but his eyes shone with unspokent content.

"Father, that would be too much. Vinyl and I are roommates and are used to sharing a room," Octavia said carefully, not to give away their secret, but still having high hopes about their sleeping together. It's not like I can sleep alone anymore...

"But Octavia, don't you remember we have only single-bed rooms?" Tom chimed in, his eyes inspecting both mares, making Vinyl quite uncomfortable about being examinated.

"Oh, sure. Silly me." The cellist laughed uneasily, almost sweating. Careful, Octavia. Be careful. You know Tom only too well...

Without another word spoken - it didn't seem like Alexandro was a pony of many words - the two mares were  showed into an even wider hall, which, to Vinyl's surprise (Wow. There are still things that can surprise me in this house!) was filled with ponies. Those looked... strange, to say the least. For one, they were all dressed up - not only dressed up, but wearing similar black suits and sunglasses. Sure, Vinyl could relate to wearing glasses indoors, but...

"Who are those ponies?" she whispered, almost mouthed, to Octavia, whose face expression turned into a frown for a second.

"Don't ask," she replied... painfully? "Please. Just... don't ask."

With that, they were led to their respective rooms.