One long walk home later. Vinyl paused, and took a moment to stretch out in the morning light. She felt her joints pop, and the subtle warmth soothed her aching muscles.

"Y'alright there toots?" A voice sounded from the near the apartment lobby.

"Yeah, Mr. Trotsloski, I'm fine. Just a little sore after a long night is all." Vinyl threw on a fake smile as her temperamental landlord stepped into view.

"Right, right... Look, I'll cut to the chase: I need that rent money, you're a week overdue, and this needs to stop. You got a three-thousand bit record player in your room, and you're tellin' me you can't pay the rent?" The older stallion took on a wide stance.

"Hey now, it's not a record player! Jeez... And yeah, no problem. I got the bits right here." Vinyl levitated the full pouch from her saddlebag, a pang of loss filling her chest as it fell into the stallion's hooves.

"I ain't gonna keep cuttin' you slack, ya hear? You gotta pay the rent on time just like everypony else 'round here. Got it?" He turned and pushed through the lobby entrance, then paused with a hoof on the door. "And the rent's goin' up next month, don't forget."

Vinyl nearly dropped her glasses. "What?! Again? That's crazy, nopony can afford another increase!"

"What can I say? Bad economy and all. Details are pinned to your front door." He let the double-doors swing shut behind himself without a second glance.

"Are you kidding me?" Vinyl muttered under her breath. "I need a new place to live..."

Broke, and more flustered than ever, the troubled mare headed in and up the stairs to her messy apartment, snatching the note off her door on the way in.

10% increase for all residents who have fallen below good-standing status.

She crumpled it up and tossed it behind her, then fell to all fours and trotted into her room, where her turntable was. Placing her shades aside, she gazed forlornly at the machine, and wondered how much she could actually get for it. It'd be nice to leave all this mess behind... Never look back... Where would I even go?

Vinyl placed her hooves over her eyes and fell backwards onto her bed. She lay still with her eyes closed for several minutes, her thoughts chaotic, then, slowly, a smile appeared on her face.

"Wait, what?! I can't dance, no no no, there must be some mistake! Why would you do this to me?! I... wait, just hold on a minute!"

She began to giggle at the memory. Octavia's shocked face was one of the funniest and cutest things she'd seen in quite a while.

Letting out an empty sigh as her mirth drained, she rolled over and stared at the empty pillow next to her, wondering if there'd every be a very special somepony in her life to fill that space.

"You're nuts, Vinyl..." she murmured to herself, before slipping into a deep sleep, exhausted from a long, but fun, night of work.

"Hey there newbie. Doing well? I just wanted to talk to you about a few things, if you don't mind."

Startled, Octavia jumped and turned her head. "Oh! Yes I'm well, and no, not at all."

"Calm down, calm down. I'm not gonna hurt ya. I just, uh... Well, we're going in the same direction anyway, so can I walk with you?" Raindrops smiled widely.

"Yes, I'd like that. We'll be safer if we stick together. This city is crawling with scoundrels just biding their time, waiting patiently to strike!" Octavia glared into the shadows in alleyways, clasping her bucket of bits tightly.

"We're fine, nothing bad ever happens in this end of town." Raindrops shook her head and started down the street, taking her wing off of Octavia.

"Well, we can't be too safe, that's for sure."

"Hmm, that's strange..." The yellow mare raised an eyebrow.

"What? What's strange?" Octavia looked up with wide, curious eyes.

"Oh, nothing. It just seems like a lot less than half of those bits ended up in that bucket of yours." Her gaze shot straight forward and she gulped, wondering what Vinyl would think.

"This is..." Octavia stuck her muzzle in the bucket as she looked more closely, taking in rough estimates to count. "Seems like more than my fair share if you ask me."

"Well, as long as you're happy." The pegasus fluttered her wings and let out a deep breath. "Okay, so here's the thing. You've only known her for one night, but Vinyl seems really open with you. You guys have done things together already that I've only ever dreamed of doing with her. I just... Well, I was wondering if you could maybe help me out... I really like her, and I want her to notice me more. Do you think you could put in a good word for me?"

Octavia grinned slyly as she trotted ahead, her bit-bucket clinking as it bounced against her flank. "Ah, so you have a crush? Well, you know what they say, right?"

Raindrops shook her head and shrugged.

"They say you should never get involved with your coworkers." Octavia nodded matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, whatever, so will you talk to her for me or what?"

"Okay, fine. But don't say I didn't warn you. If things get awkward, don't go blaming me." The earth mare turned away toward her hotel.

"Hey, come on now ye of little faith, I really like this mare..." Raindrops sighed and let her ears droop.

Octavia felt a pang of guilt pierce her heart. She looked down for a moment, then turned around. "You're right, I'm sorry. I'll say what I can, but I barely even know Vinyl at all. I doubt she'll take anything I say seriously. I will try my best though, I promise you that."

Raindrops looked up into Octavia's pretty purple eyes, shining in the rising sunlight. She put on a genuine smile and reached out to hug the young mare, who tentatively returned the embrace.

"I think you and I are gonna be good friends." Raindrops rubbed up and down Octavia's back as she spoke.

"Good friends you say? I couldn't agree more." Feeling a little awkward, Octavia pulled away.

"Okay, I'll see you tonight. Thanks again newbie." Raindrops waved her off and took flight.

"Yeah, my name's Octavia by the way..." The young mare whispered to the air, before turning to head back indoors and get some much needed sleep.

She made her way upstairs and into her room, stopping at the miniature refrigerator for an apple. Trotting over to her nightstand with the apple in her mouth, she reached up to undo her bow-tie before realizing her neck was bare.

Heh, stupid... She shook her head and took a seat on the soft hotel mattress .

Staring at the floor, she slowly crunched her apple, an empty pit in her stomach that she couldn't quite explain. Finished, she lay back and stretched her front hooves toward the ceiling, twirling her ankles around. They were surprisingly loose, and popped as they rotated. Only a couple of days had passed without practicing her cello, and it was already quite apparent. She began to wonder how it would affect her playing, or when the next time she'd even have the chance to play would be.

A deep and forceful huff carried those thoughts away, and all that remained was a tired mare laying in a big, empty bed.

Several nights later, Octavia stood in front of the bathroom mirror in her hotel room. She fixed her mane up, brushing her bangs to one side and splashing water on her face. She then looked herself in the eyes, a crooked smile forming on her face.

"Happy birthday, Octavia." She stifled a chuckle and turned away to head out to work.

The walk was short, but her hooves ached by the time she reached the club. She stopped outside and leaned against the wall to rub them before going in.

Before she finished, a voice caught her off-guard. "Hey there Oatsy!"

Vinyl appeared, trotting up to her and wrapping a foreleg tightly around her neck. "Come on you, let's get in there and earn some bits."

The excitable unicorn trotted ahead and Octavia regained her balance before smiling and following after her.

"Vinyl, wait up. What's got you so excited today?" she asked as they went through the back room.

"Nah, nothin'. I'm just always in a good mood when they light up the center stage." Vinyl pushed through the double-doors and pointed to several musicians setting up for the night.

Octavia's eyes widened. She watched the ponies as they moved their equipment across the wide stage and mingled with one another.

"Wow... Are they all performing tonight? Individually?" She looked up at Vinyl questioningly.

"Yeah, and looky there. She's the fiddler I was telling you about."

Octavia's eyes followed Vinyl's outstretched hoof over to a light gray pegasus tuning a small violin with a black cord attached to it. Interesting...

Vinyl clapped her hooves and snapped Octavia out of her curious trance. "Alright you, we better get on our stage. Although I don't see us being the center of attention this time."

"Oatsenburg, happy birthday." Breezy Blue trotted across club floor, speaking almost absentmindedly as she scanned over a clipboard.

"It's your birthday?! Why didn't you tell me? How old are you?" Vinyl grinned widely as she turned to look at Octavia.

"I didn't think it mattered. I guess it just never crossed my mind." Octavia headed toward the dance-stage, trying to avoid the topic as much as possible.

"Doesn't matter? Oh, come on! We're friends now, right? We should celebrate when we get out of here!" Vinyl followed her friend onto the stage and began to stretch, since only a few ponies hung around the club so early.

"Thank you. I appreciate the offer, I really do, but..." Octavia cleared her throat and cringed beneath Vinyl's enthusiastic grin. She had never been the most social of mares, and friends didn't come easily.

"But what? You already have plans?" Vinyl asked, her face falling.

"No, not really. I mean, other than working all night tonight. I'm tired as it is, I doubt I'll be able to stay up long after the shift's over," Octavia confessed, a little embarrassed.

"Oh. Well, that sucks." Vinyl shrugged and continued her stretching. "Ooh! I bet I could get Breezy to let us go early tonight. Dancers aren't really needed on nights like tonight when the big-shots show up."

"I couldn't... I mean, that would be great, but I don't want to impose... I don't mind working the whole shift. I'll have plenty of birthdays to celebrate in the future, this one is no big deal, I assure you." Octavia blushed and backed away, worried that she was creating an unnecessary hassle.

"Huh. Well, that's a load. How old did you say you were again?" Vinyl asked as she cracked her neck and shoulders.

"I'm, uh... Well, technically I'm of age now..." Octavia blushed and lowered her ears, not sure why, but feeling self-conscious about her young age.

"Really? Wait, you mean... whoa. Was it even legal for you to be dancing up here all week?" Vinyl looked genuinely concerned as she lowered her glasses.

Octavia simply shrugged and smiled a little guiltily.

"Oh snap! This should be your best birthday ever! I'm definitely getting us out of here, trust me." With a devilish grin, the unicorn slipped her shades back into place and stood up. "For now, let's just dance for a while until the main attraction starts.

"... If you say so." Octavia nervously accepted her friend's plan, and began doing stretches of her own.

Ponies gradually began flowing in through the main entrance. There seemed to be some important patrons arriving, with elaborate outfits and small crowds hanging around them. They took seats in private booths on the second floor above the dining tables, straight across from the stage. A few began to look down at Octavia, who felt a nervous pit growing in her stomach.

"Vinyl, who are those ponies?"

The unicorn glanced up and spotted a few familiar faces. "They're not your average customers around here. Some thugs and criminal types right off the streets of The Flats."

"The Flats?"

"Yeah, the city behind the mountain. It's like crime central, where ya been kid?" Vinyl shook her head at the young mare.

"How am I supposed to know these things? I've never left this part of the city." Octavia stood up and and noticed that the music was turned unusually low today. "Why is it so quiet in here?"

"It always is when there's a big show. This only happens once or twice a month, and the tough crowds don't show up for free-performance night, which would normally be tonight." Vinyl sighed and grabbed Octavia's hoof, standing her up on her back legs. "Look, just don't worry about it. I gotcha, alright?"

Octavia nodded, her sudden insecurities slipping away.

"Close your eyes and follow my lead. Tonight'll be over before you know it. Happy birthday, by the way."

Vinyl wrapped a foreleg around Octavia's hip while the other hoof interlocked with hers. She pulled her around the beam and spun her about to the light background music. Octavia smiled, her eyes still closed, and let herself get carried away by Vinyl's flowing movements.

As they twirled around, a voice sounded from below. "Hey! You guys are hot!"

Vinyl dipped Octavia down backwards and leaned over her body, their chests rubbing together. "Thanks, we know," she said as she lowered her glasses with her magic and winked.

The small group generously placed their bits on the stage. Octavia nervously winked at a colt and blushed, flirtatiousness still not coming as easily as she'd have hoped. They waved and casually backed away toward a table to be seated, before a lone stallion approached the stage.

"Hey, you two! My boss says he wants to buy your eh, company for the rest of the evening." The shady stallion pulled a small wad of paper-bits from beneath his scarf and waved them back and forth.

Vinyl's eyes widened as she saw the amount of cash he was offering, but then her eye caught on Octavia's nervous expression. "Hey, um." She sighed and looked up toward the booth the stallion had come from.

There were several other large stallions sitting around a big black unicorn with a cigar in his mouth. "Is that Smokey?" She looked back at the would-be buyer.

"In the flesh." He raised his eyebrows and tipped his hat.

Vinyl gulped and let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry sir, but what you're asking is against the club's policy. I apologize for any inconvenience."

"Right, sure thing miss. I'll be sure to let 'em know." He tucked the bits away and headed back to the table.

"Crap." Vinyl placed a hoof on her forehead.

"What? What's wrong? Who's Smokey?" Octavia twirled around and lifted her friend into her forehooves.

"Ah, it's nothin'. That's just a bad crowd I don't want you near quite yet." Vinyl sighed and smiled a little.

She looked the young mare over, wondering just why she felt so protective of her suddenly.

"Why did you say 'crap' then? And why do you look so bummed out?" Octavia placed a hoof on her chin and cocked her neck.

"I just really could have used those bits is all." The unicorn shrugged it off and twirled around by herself for a little while, easing the tension she felt.

"Ahem!"

Octavia jumped at the sudden sound of a pony clearing his throat, and quickly turned toward the source of the noise.

An older-looking stallion wearing a black cloak and holding a pipe in his mouth stood in front of the stage, waiting for acknowledgement.

"Um, can I help you with something sir?"

Vinyl covered her mouth to stifle a giggle, amused by the jumpy mare beside her.

"Yes, indeed. I saw you dancing here at my son's bachelor party last night, and I couldn't believe my eyes. Little Miss Oatsenberg has become a dancer, how bizarre." The older unicorn chuckled and puffed on his pipe.

Octavia let out a disdainful huff and raised an eyebrow. "Did my father send you here?"

"No, no. This recognition is purely coincidental, I assure you. The reason I came back, however, was to return to you an item you seem to have lost." He levitated a bow from beneath his cloak and placed it atop the pile of bits on the stage.

"My bow? I..." Octavia blushed, a little confused as to why he'd bring it to the club of all places.

"Dear, you have talent. And I don't just mean your ability to perform classical pieces, but your ability to improvise and create. You're a natural musician and you're wasting a very unique talent here. If you want to be who you were meant to be, get in touch. I expect to hear from you soon." He dropped his card onto the bits, then turned and trotted toward the front door.

Octavia leaned down and picked up the small piece of card. DonCello – Equestrian Musical Enterprises

"Who was that?" Vinyl asked curiously.

"Just some guy from a thing," she said listlessly, staring at the card.

"Oh, okay. That explains everything." Vinyl leaned over and glanced at the card in Octavia's hooves. "Oh, EME. That's cool."

"You've heard of this?" Octavia snapped back to reality, glancing up, surprised.

"Yeah, who hasn't?" Vinyl looked down into wide, perplexed purple eyes. "Right. Well, they're a big deal in the music world. They own a pretty popular label that you've probably head of: HayMaker Records? They have a few others too, but they all focus around originality and innovation. If you have his attention, you must have made an impact."

"Hey yous two broads! Make with the dancin' already!" The shout from the floor made them both turn to see a rugged little earth pony glaring up at the two mares, clearly disgruntled.

Vinyl raised an eyebrow and snorted. "Uh, excuse me? How about you get the buck outta here before I come down there and..."

Octavia placed a hoof over her friend's mouth and looked down with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry sir, she's having a bad day."

She scooped the tips into a bucket, then led the angry unicorn off the back end of the stage. "Whoa there, what's gotten into you so suddenly?"

"Ugh, nothing! This is why I stopped dancing in the first place! Slimy, no good..." Vinyl angrily trotted into the back room, the sound of loud music starting up drifting in from out on the main stage.

Octavia quietly followed, feeling a little nervous, not having seen her friend so angry before. "It wasn't even that... well, uh... Well, I've heard a lot worse said to you before."

"I'm sorry Tavz. I didn't mean to blow up like that." Vinyl huffed and crossed her hooves.

"Tavz?" She shuddered a little. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, I don't think."

"Right, like I'm gonna apologize to that piece of crap. Let's get out of here." Vinyl headed back out onto the dance floor and Octavia followed.

Breezy Blue was standing at the edge of the crowd, occasionally looking at a clipboard and glancing around to make sure every member of her staff was functioning appropriately.

"Hey, Breezy, Oatsavia is really sick and I need to take her home. Don't worry, it's no trouble at all, I'll get her home and I'll be back as soon as possible." Vinyl lowered her glasses and looked straight into her boss' eyes.

"You mean Octavia? She looks fine to me." Breezy stared past Vinyl and raised an eyebrow.

Vinyl snapped her head back and gulped, not realizing the mare was right behind her. "Yeah! No, I mean look at her!"

Octavia glanced side to side, then began holding her stomach and groaning. "Yeah... I'm... I'm gonna hurl. I do believe I'm quite sick. So sick, I've never felt so sick in fact, and nopony's ever been sicker."

"See? She's crazy sick. I'm gonna get her out of here before she grosses everypony out." Vinyl blushed and wrapped her hoof around Octavia's neck, slowly dragging her sideways to the exit.

Breezy immediately saw through their not-so-clever ruse. "Right, have fun you two. Just know, Octavia: I don't normally allow this, but it's your birthday and I don't need dancers anymore tonight, so I'll make an exception. Now go on and git before I change my mind."

"Right, thanks!" Vinyl pulled Octavia quickly toward the door, shooting their boss a grateful look as they left.

The two mares clumsily fell through the back exit and laughed together, both a bit stunned that they had actually gotten out of work.

"Wow, it's dark out here," Octavia noted as she regained her balance.

"Yeah, it is. Looks like the streetlights are out. Doesn't matter. Now, where should we go, what should we do? The birthday girl gets to decide." Vinyl eagerly trotted in place, grinning excitedly.

"I... well, uh... How about you pick for me?" Octavia blushed and lowered her ears.

"Well, you're of age now. Have you ever had a drink?" Vinyl asked, already guessing the answer.

"A drink? Well, my dad let me try a sip of wine at dinner when I graduated from the Junior Music Academy." The young mare smiled widely at her friend.

"Cute story, but that's not what I meant and you know it." Vinyl shook her head and turned away. "Let's head back to your place, we'll buy something along the way."

Octavia cringed, not wanting to bring her friend back to a hotel room. "Uh, how about your place? My place is... Yeah, your place would be good."

"Okay, whatever works for you." Vinyl blushed and turned her face away, fully aware that her apartment was embarrassingly messy.

With a sigh of relief, Octavia followed as the other pony trotted into the darkness. She glanced around herself, suddenly taken aback by the silence.

"Weird, it's so... creepy out here."

Vinyl gulped and slowly continued forward. "You're telling me. I wonder why the power's out on this block?"

"EEEEP!" Octavia jumped and wrapped her hooves around Vinyl's neck.

"Yikes! What's up?!" Vinyl asked, gently pushing the mare away.

"I... I heard a sound..."

"Oooooooh, a sooooound!" Vinyl giggled. "It's just trash, get used to it on this side of town."

A tin can skidded across the road in the breeze.

"Right... Trash." Octavia gulped and attempted to suppress her shivering.

"D'awwwww, is somepony afraid of the dark?" Vinyl teased.

"No! I certainly am not afraid of... of anything." Octavia puffed her chest out and pressed forward. "How much further to your home? I'm starving. I trust you have some kind of decent food? Or do you stock up solely on booze and pizza crusts?"

"What? Why would you... You mean because of my saddlebag? Yeah, one pizza crust got in there. Just wait and see." Vinyl began trotting faster, more nervous than offended. "That's my place right up there."

They headed up to the building and Vinyl unlocked the door. She sighed as they made their way upstairs, and stopped at her apartment door.

"Alright, I'll admit I'm not the most organized of mares. This place is uh... Well, it's probably not quite what you're used to." Vinyl shrugged, smiling nervously as she opened her door.

Octavia kept a straight face as she headed in first. "Hmm... Not so bad." She hesitated, holding her front hoof just above an empty pizza box.

"Oh, that's empty. Just step on it, or over it, whatever." Vinyl pushed forward, shutting the door behind herself and leaping over the mess onto her sofa.

"Step on it?" Octavia laughed. "You're really something else, you know that?"

"Uh-huh. Now dear, fetch us some refreshments." Vinyl tilted her nose up, waving her hoof in the air.

"Seriously?" Octavia kicked an empty pizza box off to one side and plopped down on the couch next to her. "How about you fetch us something that isn't disgusting."

"Fiiiiine. But only because it's your birthday." Vinyl jumped over the back of her sofa and headed into the kitchen. "Looks like I'm all out of the disgusting cheap booze, sorry."

"Whatever you have will suffice, I'm sure."

Vinyl came trotting back into the front room with a couple of glasses and a large clear bottle of some white liquid floating in front of her. "Smarenoff Ice," she said, shrugging. "I thought I had beers, but I guess they're all over there." She gestured to a small trashcan overflowing with empty cans.

"Classy..." Octavia frowned and felt a strange pit in her stomach. "You have party guests often?"

"No... not really. You're the first in... well, since I've been living here you're just the first." Vinyl admitted, not sure whether she should be ashamed or not.

"So, you drink alone then? That seems... unhealthy. I think."

"As cute as your concern is, I'm fine. Now come on, we're celebrating your big day. So tell me more about yourself. We've been dancing together for a week now, and I still feel like I hardly know you at all." Vinyl eased the cap off the bottle and poured them each a glass of the drink.

Octavia lifted her glass and placed it beneath her muzzle, taking a long whiff. "I'm... not quite sure what to say. How about you start?"

"Yeah, sure." Vinyl took a long drink from her glass and set it down, leaning back and taking her shades off. "I'm just your average Manehatten mare living in Canterlot. I ran into some trouble with my family over there, so I moved in with my aunt and uncle here for a while."

"You had a falling out?" Octavia queried, concern in her voice.

"You could call it that. More than anything it was that my parents and I were on different pages. I wanted to have a musical career while my parents wanted me to climb the corporate ladder of some business."

"And you're still pursuing that career?"

Vinyl was silent and looked down into her drink, then downed what was left. "I don't know. It feels like wasted effort."

Octavia sipped from her glass and thought for a moment. "That's a little funny."

Vinyl narrowed her gaze at the mare next to her. "Funny?"

Octavia smiled and waved her hoof back and forth as she took a larger swig of her drink. "No, I mean, it's a little funny that I'm in a similar situation. I had the same problem with my family, except I was being forced into a musical career. It's a path I'd rather avoid – I'd just like to find my own path through life for now. I have this dream, a distant blurry goal, with no clear trail leading up to it. I just know who I want to be, and where I want to be in life. The problem is that I have no idea how I want to get there."

"At least you have that much. So what, you didn't wanna be a Gala Girl?" Vinyl laughed and poured them each another glass.

"Absolutely not. It just isn't for me." She shivered and quickly downed her fresh drink.

"Hey, easy there Fido. Nopony's gonna steal it from ya." Vinyl refilled her glass, staring her down with one wide eye.

"Yes, well... What can I say? It's rather yummy." Octavia covered her mouth and giggled.

"Yummy, huh?"

"Yes, yummy. So tell me then, what do you do? Your cutie mark says you're musically talented, as does mine. I'd love to sample what you have to offer." Octavia stood up off the couch and glanced around. "I don't see an instrument of any variety..."

"Ah, follow me. I'll show you what I do." Vinyl jumped up excitedly and headed into her bedroom while Octavia followed closely.

"Oh, I see. You have a flat piano. How perfectly bizarre." Octavia placed the tip of her hoof on a key, expecting a sound but not hearing anything.

"That's a keyboard, and it isn't bizarre at all. That isn't what I wanted to show you anyway. Behold!" Vinyl flipped a switch, illuminating a large interface screen and several other parts of a peculiar setup, including a big button with a glowing blue ring around it, and a pad of several smaller buttons.

"Ooh, what is it?" Octavia stared at the equipment like a bewildered foal.

"I'll show you." Vinyl unhooked her keyboard from another device and plugged it into the console in front of her. "All set. Now, let's get this party started."

She hit the glowing button, starting a soft, arpeggiated intro that began to ring out as she slowly allowed the filter to open and added a light reverb on top. The quick but simple melody's pitch danced upwards just as she tapped a key and a kick drum entered, pounding out a steady, pulsing beat which made Octavia want to tap her hoof. Vinyl cocked an ear, listening to where the tune was going, then quickly set up a warm, fuzzy pad to sidechain with the drum, pulsing with chords and raising in volume on every offbeat.

Bobbing her head along, she let the rhythm sink in for a moment, then cranked a slider up, pulled another down halfway, and slammed a hoof down onto her custom keyboard, letting an acid bass rip through the mix. Octavia's eyes widened as Vinyl quickly hit another button, adding a bit-crusher onto the new sound and making it scream, while still fitting snugly with the main melody.

After a minute of letting that play out and gradually adding more percussion, she began to slowly push another filter, forcing the whole sound to become tinny and harsh, and adding a white noise sweep as well. The overall effect sounded as if the song was being shoved into a distant tin can.

Suddenly, Vinyl pulled every slider down except one, and the music went dead. Quick as thought, she tapped yet another of the console's buttons, and a mare's voice with a slightly robotic edge startled Octavia.

"Welcome. To my paradise."

The DJ unicorn grabbed all the sliders in her magic and shoved them back up, and the song fell back into existence, except it was different now. All the previous elements were there, but there was a deeper sound below it all, rattling Octavia's bones as it blew out of the speakers. The smooth sub-bass bounced along with the kick drum, shaking the ponies a little with its power.

With a final flick of her hoof, Vinyl spun a dial, adding a syncopated and chopped-up vocal line to the song. Octavia hadn't a clue what the words were meant to be; it just sounded like gibberish, albeit very catchy gibberish.

The white mare turned to her younger friend with a wide grin, dipping the volume, but letting the track play out.

"So, whaddya think?"

A vaguely familiar emotion washed over Octavia – she felt as if she wanted to laugh and cry and shout all at the same time. "That was... incredible. I had no idea music like that could be produced. It's as if there's an entire orchestra contained within that elaborate piece of equipment. I can't recall the last time I was so moved by a symphony."

"Well, I'm glad you liked it. It's a breath of fresh air after all that Gala crap, am I right?" Vinyl grinned and nudged her young friend with an hoof before shutting down her console.

"Right. I suppose it is. Actually, I've never heard anything quite like that at all. What they play in the club is interesting, and bassy, but more than anything it's just catchy monotony. You've really got something here." Octavia rubbed her chin with a hoof and thought for a moment, an idea sparking.

"I'll take that as a compliment then. But anyway! Let's get back to those drinks." Ensuring everything was in order, Vinyl trotted to her bedroom door and signaled her friend to follow.

Octavia glanced around one last time, then slowly stepped out. "Oh, I've been meaning to talk to you about something..."

"Well, don't sound so nervous. What is it? You tryin' to confess your love or something?" The rambunctious unicorn chuckled and poured a couple more glasses of the Smarenoff Ice.

"Not exactly. It's Raindrops." Octavia smiled coyly.

"Whoa, wait what? What are you trying to tell me?"

"It's just that she wants you, I think. She caught me a couple of days ago and wanted me to help her get you to go on a date with her. I don't know how to do that subtly, so I figured I'd just tell you now." Octavia dropped her smile and wondered if she had made the right choice by being so direct.

"A date? Why didn't she just ask?"

"She figured you'd turn her down, I'm guessing."

"She's probably right." Vinyl looked away and lifted her glass.

Octavia let out a huff. "What? Why?! She seems perfectly nice to me!"

"Yeah yeah, she's nice, whatever. It's just that... Ugh, I don't have to explain myself to anypony! Especially not you!" Vinyl snapped and took a swig straight from the bottle.

"Why are you yelling at me?! I just did what she asked me to do." Octavia stomped over to the couch and plopped down.

"I'm sorry... sorry." Vinyl sighed and placed a hoof to her forehead. "I just don't want to mess up our friendship – she's the only friend I have around here. Well, other than you," Vinyl explained, her voice now absent of all its previous anger.

"I see." Octavia twiddled her hooves, then lifted her drink. "Well, either way I think you should talk to her about it."

"I guess." Vinyl glanced away and looked to her wall-clock. "Wow, look – it's getting pretty late, huh?"

Octavia nodded and finished her drink. "I should really probably be starting to head home I do believe."

"Y'alright? I should walk you home." Vinyl stood up and stretched, popping her back and shaking her mane out.

"I'm fine. But if you insist."

"I don't insist..."

"Oh. Well, I'll be fine." Octavia pushed through the door and noticed the long dark alleyway leading to her road.

"You sure about that?" Vinyl chuckled and placed a hoof over the shaky mare's back.

"On second thought..."

"Right behind ya."

The moon was low and the sky was just beginning to glow a very dark blue to the east as the pair headed back out into the night.

"It's kinda chilly out here, huh?" Octavia shuddered and pressed forward.

"A bit. So, where do you live anyway?"

"I uh... Well, right down the street from the club, not far at all."

Vinyl placed a hoof to her chin in thought. "There aren't any houses or apartments on that road..."

"Eh, heh." Octavia blushed and smiled. "I don't live in either."

"Wait, what?"

"I'm staying in the Stabling Inn, actually," Octavia confessed, a little embarrassed.

"Really? Why don't you get an apartment or something? I mean, you can definitely afford it as a dancer." Vinyl gave Octavia a puzzled look.

The blushing young mare gulped and looked away. "I don't know how." Her quiet words were barely audible.

"What was that?"

"I don't know how to go about... I mean, I'm not quite sure how one would, uh, would go about... signing up." Octavia smacked herself in the face and trotted ahead.

"Signing up?!" Vinyl laughed, nearly dropping her glasses. "Seriously? Oh, you privileged types crack me up."

"Well I'm glad my ignorance is amusing to you. It's a change of pace, I suppose!" Octavia snapped and kept looking straight ahead.

"Heh, I'll give you the rundown tomorrow when I'm more... sober. Head on home filly." Vinyl continued laughing as she turned back around toward her own home.

"Right, well then... Goodbye."

"See ya later! Happy birthday, by the way. Sorry you had to spend it with me, but just be glad you didn't spend it all at work." Vinyl jumped up on her back hooves and waved with a bright smile as she walked backwards.

Octavia felt her anger and embarrassment slip away as she headed toward home. She lifted her head and smiled as she cantered back to the hotel.

Vinyl turned back around and landed on all fours. She picked up a quick pace as she made her way back to her apartment, but stopped at the sight of an unexpected face and cringed. Her landlord stood frowning with his front hooves set wide apart.

"That's it little lady. You done crossed the line this time."