The Other Side (Anon x Scratch)

>You are Anon
>You're just about to enter Manehattan's public library, where you plan to return some books you borrowed and take home a couple new ones
>Fairly standard stuff
>After depositing the books you had with you at the counter, you walk into the maze of shelves that make up the 'Fiction' category
>Non-fiction was never really your thing, here in Equestria or back on Earth
>It just lacked the action and unexpected twists that a work of fiction could have
>Lately, you've taken more of a turn towards science fiction
>The ponies' version of it was a bit different than what you were used to, which made it that much more interesting
>So, you slowly browse through the available titles, scanning the backs of the covers for something that sparks your interest

>For a while, nothing really catches your eye
>A lot of the books appear very similar
>That is, until one stands out to you
>A navy-colored back, with the words "THE OTHER SIDE" in a much lighter blue and rather strong typeface
>You kneel slightly so your head is roughly level with the book, and reach out towards it
>Just as you grab hold of it, the pinkish aura of some unseen unicorn envelops it as well, slightly tickling your hand in the process
>Surprised, you loosen your grip of the novel, and it is rather unceremoniously yanked out of your hand
>Well then
>Now you're curious as to who is your mystery assailant, so you get closer to the shelf in order to peek through
>You see the book float out of the way, making place for a white unicorn wearing large purple shades
>A vaguely familiar sight, and even though she's hardly mundane, you can't quite place her
>She lowers her glasses in a particularly smooth fashion to reveal her violet eyes looking quizically at you

>"Heh. Guess you're just a little too late, buddy" she says
"Too late? I was holding that book before you mercilessly ripped it out of my hands!" you say, in a mockingly dramatic way
>"Perhaps you should've held onto it a bit tighter, then! Life isn't always easy, colt!"
>Now things are getting personal
"THIEF!" you say with a raised voice
>Perhaps a bit louder than would be desirable in a library
"Prepare to be destroyed for your foolish actions! I will seize you!" you continue as you start to rush around to the next aisle
>When you reach the other side, the cold-blooded thief has taken a defensive kung-fu like stance, protecting the book which is now floating behind her
>Not to be outdone, you make some gestures that would fit right in a Jackie Chan movie
>At least, that's the idea
>You lock eyes with your nemesis, trying your best to retain a serious expression on your face

>After a few seconds, the unicorn can't hold it back any longer and bursts out laughing
>This, in turn, sends you over the edge as well, and you nearly fall over from your one-legged balancing act
>The two of you share a rather long moment trying to recover from the absurdity of your impromptu rivalry
>Once your sides have returned to their regular location, you decide to pursue some actual conversation
"Heh... So, anyway, is the book any good? Or did we fight over nothing?"
>"To be honest, I have no idea. I've never heard of it before, it just looked kinda interesting."
"Same," you reply, "it caught my eye too. What kind of books do you normally read?"
>"Dunno, just fiction kind of stuff. Science fiction sometimes, fairy tale type things the next."
>"SSSSHHHHTTT!
>Both you and the electric-blue-maned mare turn to look towards the end of the corridor, where an older beige pony is wildly gesturing at you
>Oops. Yup, that was a bit too loud

>Your former enemy flashes a sheepish grin at her, while you attempt to express remorse without saying any more
>The librarian seems to accept your reaction and moves on
"Well," you say, as you lower your voice to a whisper, "fun is clearly not allowed in here"
>The white unicorn tries to repress a snicker, but doesn't completely succeed in doing so
>There seem to be no direct repercussions, however, so you decide to advance the conversation
"So, anyway...  I feel like I know you from somewhere, but I can't figure out why. Uhm, ... I'm Anonymous, by the way. But everyone just calls me Anon."
>The mare in question sticks out her foreleg as a greeting, and you shake it willingly
>No matter who she is, the pony standing in front of you is rather pretty indeed
>That pristine white coat, with the stark contrast of her mane, and those gorgeous eyes
>You don't doubt that a considerable amount of mares would be jealous of her looks
>"Hah, the name's Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch. I've done a few gigs in a club here in town, so maybe that's where you recognize me from."
>Yup, that makes it click. It's that pony from the Black Saddle club, with the energetic EDM set. Somewhere far away, you remember looking at her from a distance while having your Celestia-knows-how-manieth beer of the night

>"... At least, I'd hope so. You don't seem like the crazy stalker type"
>Seems like you got lost in thought for a moment
"... Yeah. Yeah! Right, sorry. That's indeed where I know you from. You're a pretty good DJ, for what it's worth."
>"Aw, shush. Don't go kissing my flank, now, 'Anon'.
>Vinyl avoids eye contact, but you can't help but detect a childish joy in her expression
"Sorry. I guess giving a compliment is a bad thing."
>Now, she looks up at you, ever so slightly annoyed
>"Shut up. You know what I mean."

"So, anyway. Vinyl, you were saying how you mostly read fiction?"
>"Yeah, recently I've been really into the Dark Emerald series, it's really cool with all of the..."
>A long conversation about Equestrian literature ensues, in which Vinyl demonstrates her excessive knowledge on the subject
>Though you don't like to admit it, you were a bit prejudiced about her before you actually got to talk to her
>And even though you were aware that she produces her own music, it was very easy to judge
>She looks, more or less, like a stereotypical pretty rave girl, all looks but no brains
>But no, there's a lot more to this mare than it would seem
>As the two of you walk towards the reception, your discussion draws to a close
>You're armed with some books Vinyl recommended, along with a plethora of reasons why they're worth your time
>The normally quiet receptionist even mumbles something that sounds rather positive at your choices
>Not that you needed any confirmation of Vinyl's know-how, but it's still nice
>The DJ, too, has checked out a couple of novels (including the one she so brutally stole from you), and joins you in your short trip to the exit

>You don't really have any plans for the afternoon, but you're fairly sure that this unexpected encounter with Vinyl is about to come to an end
>The subject matter of books is pretty much depleted in terms of conversation material, and the white unicorn seems like the busy type
>Before you can say anything, though, she breaks the silence
>"Well, Anon, you seem like a pretty chill guy. I, uhm, dunno, maybe you'd wanna grab some lunch?"
>You're not gonna say 'No' to that
"Hmmm... I think I can clear up some time in my oh-so-busy schedule... "
>"I feel truly honored," she says in a flat tone of voice
"Rightfully so. Anyway, I assume you know a place?"
>"Yeah, couple of blocks from here. The weather's good, so we could walk through the park on our way there."
>Not a bad idea
"Cool, that'd be nice."
>So, the two of you set out towards the city's large urban park

>On the way there, you make small talk with Vinyl
>Basic things, such as where both of your apartments are, what you do for a living, the like
>When you've reached the park, the sun peeks out from the clouds it was hiding behind, making everything a couple of shades brighter
>Thinking of shades, you wouldn't mind having a pair of your own at the moment
>Vinyl slid hers back on as soon as she went outside, which was a little odd, but nothing worth mentioning
>Surely she has her reasons
>Now you're squinting your eyes from the glaring reflections of all the buildings in the distance
>All the while, you can only guess what the unicorn is looking at
>Which is a shame, because it makes it significantly more risky to glance at her
>The light really brings out her coat, almost shining with its brightness
>It accentuates her curves quite well, and there's plenty of those to be seen
>Vinyl's not skin over bones like some of those model type ponies you've seen around in the city center, oh no
>She's got all the right curves, in all the right places, namely her backside
>"Hey there buddy, whatcha looking at?"

>Fuck
>Not smart
>The way she said that tells you all you need to know
>She's fully aware of what you were doing, and drowns you in awkwardness for it
>You consider saying you were looking at her cutie mark, but there's no way she'll fall for that
>Gotta say something, though
"Uhm... Your tail is nice..." you stammer
>She stops, and cocks an eyebrow at you in a decisively unimpressed look
>There's no need to say 'That's the best you could come up with?', her expression does it for her
>After a second or so, she continues walking
>"Staring's rude, you know."
>It takes a moment before you decide to just catch up, lest you give her the impression that you're doing some more ogling
>What the fuck were you even thinking, she can probably pick and choose stallions as she wants anyway
>Any minuscule chance you may have had is probably out the window now that you've made yourself look like a creep
>Damn it, she just went out of her way for the sake of being nice and then you do this

>Vinyl seems to have dismissed the whole thing, as she calmly walks along
>You try to read her expression when you're side by side again, but those damned shades of hers make in nigh impossible
>Well, nothing much you can do about it now anyway
>It's probably better to just try and enjoy the lunch, and come out of this whole thing with a new acquaintance, perhaps even a friend
>Never a bad thing to have some more of those
>As casually as you can manage, you continue a conversation from earlier
"So, you were saying before how you were asked to perform at some local festival thing?"
>"Oh, yeah, well it's not a festival, really. Just a public EDM thing a local open stage is hosting."
"Still cool though, right? What kind of set is it gonna be?"

>"True, it's the first thing my own music's gotten me since I started producing, so that's nice. They haven't finalized the line-up yet so I don't know what kind of time slot I'll get, but I'm hoping for something later at night. I'd like to try some harder stuff, since the club usually only lets me play the more tame songs."
>"I've got a whole bunch of work-in-progress stuff for it, no matter what kind of set it ends up being. It's kinda bad, actually. It's like 20-plus songs, none of which are really finished yet. I keep hopping from one project to another."

"Hah, nice and chaotic. That's my style, too."
>That earns a slight chuckle from the DJ, which feels quite relieving
>"Heh... And what about you, then? What kinda stuff are you into?"
"It changes, really. I like the calmer indie dance kind of stuff but at times I can rock out to hardstyle as well. It all has its place. There aren't many EDM subgenres that I straight-out do not like."
>"Mm-hmm, agreed. I have the same thing."
>Vinyl flashes a short, but warm and genuine smile
>"Ah, here it is."
>As you round the corner, a cool-looking lounge bar comes into view
>Relaxing, ambient EDM plays in the background, fitting well with the grey sofas surrounding the tables
>Already, you can see yourself coming back to this place
>And it's just the kind of place you'd imagine Vinyl hanging out, too

>The ivory-colored unicorn picks a spot, sits down and lies back on the soft-looking couch
>You are right behind her, and mean to sit down as well
>The only problem is: where? You could fit next to her but it would be a bit snug, and with your brain fart from earlier fresh in your memory, that may not be the most tactical option
>On the other hand, due to the spacious nature of the place's design, taking a spot across the table seems like an awkwardly big distance
>Why can't even basic things like these ever just be simple
>You make sure to grab the menu from the table, in order to not look too weird staring around the place whilst standing
>It's not much, but it'll buy you a few more seconds
>Alright, gotta stay focused. Just a meaningless glance at the menu and then--
>Hot damn. 5 bits for a large beer? That's certainly not the best deal around
>That significantly reduces the bar's potential for a new hangout
>"I don't wanna judge, but the idea of a lounge café is generally that you, you know, lounge." comes Vinyl's particularly snarky voice
>A look at her reveals a smile that just screams 'Smartass'. At least, as far as you can tell
>Because however nice it is to be seated outside, one major downside of it is that those damn glasses are here to stay

>Time for your best 'every large company, ever' impression
"Thank you for your feedback. We dearly value your opinion and will keep it in mind moving forward."
>"Yuck, don't give me that politically correct stuff. Here, c'mon."
>She scoots ever so slightly to the side, and pats the empty half of the couch
>Well, that minor dilemma played out quite well
>You sit down eagerly
>Gotta admit, this is one very comfortable sofa
>You could sleep on this thing, easily
>A waiter comes over, and she seems to recognize Vinyl
>After a simple 'Hi' from your end, you turn your attention back to the menu while the ladies engage in some small talk

>It doesn't surprise you, but yeah: Vinyl is a regular here
>You look through the menu; even something as simple as a coke is three bits
>No size is listed, so it had better be a full bottle
>Your expectations aren't very high though
>So far, the place hasn't really lived up to their prices yet
>Either the DJ has the money to spend it here, or there's free refills or something
>Another option that pops into your mind is that she only comes here with stallions, so she doesn't pay much, if anything, herself
>For the short while that you've hung out with her, she doesn't quite seem like that kind of mare, but she would almost certainly have the option
>The girls' conversation seems to be over, and indeed, Vinyl orders some exotic cocktail you've never heard of before
>"And for you?" asks the waitress
>Deciding that you don't want to be 'that guy' who orders tap water, you order a coke
>Time will tell whether or not you're getting ripped off

>"So, neat little place, huh? I love coming here, it's very relaxing."
"Yeah, I guess. This sofa is pretty comfortable."
>"I know, right? I love it." she says, her lips curling up into a giddy smile
>To illustrate her point, Vinyl gets extra comfortable on the soft cushion in a rather playful manner
>You really don't want another awkward moment, but good god is it adorable
>Ideally you'd want to just scoop her up and hug her right about now
>Too bad this isn't a dream
>"Hmmm... So, anyway, have you seen the new Daring Do movie yet? I heard it's pretty bad."
"No, what about it?"
>Vinyl goes on to tell about the things she heard about the movie from her friends, and you get into a conversation about movies in general
>She's seen most AAA-level films, and while you haven't really gotten invested in most Equestrian pop culture, it's an interesting subject none the less

>When you're discussing some weird comedy series of films, your drinks arrive
>You get a rather disappointing amount of cola, while the cocktail is absolutely massive and luxurious
>It's like feeling underdressed, only with beverages
>"Cheers!", and 'cling' go your glasses
>"So," Vinyl opens, "what are your plans for the rest of the day?"
"Nothing much, really. Don't have to work until noon tomorrow, and my incredibly busy schedule inexplicably has a bit of a gap in it."
>"Hmm, how odd."
>Nope, you really had nothing to do for the rest of this Wednesday
>If you hadn't run into the lovely mare next to you, you would probably be at home right now, playing some vidya
"What about you?  Wednesday isn't a very busy day in terms of nightlife, right?"
>"Nah, besides, I don't usually work on Wednesdays anyway. I'm probably try and get some producing done tonight."

"Cool. Which one of your bazillion works-in-progress are you going to work on?"
>Vinyl cocks an eyebrow at you, as if to imply that the tiniest amount of offense was taken.
>"I'll tell you. I have this great track - no idea what I'll end up calling it yet - that's practically done. It's all I've worked on for the past week. Very melodic and upbeat, it makes me ridiculously happy to just have the tune in my head."
>"All that needs to be done about it is some details; percussion and the like. Maybe change a few drum patterns here and there. I'm hoping I can get it done tonight."
"Sounds neat. I imagine that you can sink a lot of hours into a single track, right?"
"Yeah, it kinda depends. Sometimes you go through ten different versions of the same song, other times it just feels right the first time."
>You simply nod and take a sip of your drink

>The two of you keep up the conversation, ranging from more about music production, to food, to nightlife, and so on
>Meanwhile, your coke seems to be evaporating a little bit more every time you even dare to look at it
>Before long, it's all gone, ice cubes and all
>Vinyl, too, is making quick progress on that monster of a cocktail she ordered
>Right after you make a remark on the way local bouncers pick their crowd, the unicorn falls into silence, apparently lost in thought
"Uhm, Scratch... you alright?"
>You attempt your best cocky smile
>"Wha-- Oh, yeah, I'm good. Just thinking, is all."
"Thinking about what?"
>"Nothing important. Anyway, we were talking about that unfinished song I was working on earlier, right?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
>"... Maybe you'd like to hear it? I mean, it happens a lot that a musician thinks they've made a masterpiece, only to be slammed by everyone else."
>Huh. Didn't see that one coming
>The way she phrased it made it seem like Vinyl was really anxious, nervous even, about the song
>Not quite what you had expected from the DJ
>She seemed to be full of self-confidence, and simply laying eyes on her revealed multiple reasons for it

>But now, she's basically inviting you to her home
>A bunch of lewd thoughts storm your mind, but you clear them out in an attempt to remain realistic
"Sure, I'd love to see what you're up to. In terms of producing, I mean."
"I can probably make a little exception in m--"
>"That wasn't even that funny the first time."
"Sorry, didn't know you'd get angry." you say with a cheeky smile
>"Tsssk. Hush, you."
>Well, this day was turning out a lot more interesting than you had anticipated
>Time to pay for your drinks and get out of here
>Vinyl already asked for the check
>You go to pull out your wallet, an action met with surprising resistance
>"Don't worry, I got it."

"Nah, let me pay. You've been nice enough to take me here in the first place."
>"I can pay for myself, you know."
"Well, so can I, and I'm picking up the rest of it, too."
>"Don't get all 'gentleman' with me."
"Well, too bad, that's exactly what I'm gonna do."
>To illustrate your point, your pull out 15 bits and place them on the table
>Within seconds, they're floating back in front of you
>"Hey. I asked you to come here in the first place, and if I wanna pay then I should damn well be allowed to. Okay?"
>Vinyl is surprisingly firm, almost stern, about this
>She's got a point though
>You mutter something resembling agreement, and collect your money from her magical grip
>Promptly, she has a sufficient amount of bits on the table
>"If you, somehow, feel that you owe me anything, I guess you'll just have to give me extra detailed feedback on the song."
>The faintly humorous tone in Vinyl's voice redeems your sense of confidence in this whole thing
>Yeah, this is just gonna be fun, right? You're spending the day with an incredibly cool, friendly, and not to mention beautiful pony who shares your sassy humor and relaxed attitude
>Really, what more could you ask for?

>Leaving the whole thing about paying behind, you and Vinyl take your leave from the bar
>On the way out, she is once more greeted by the staff, a gesture she returns eagerly
>For a moment, though, you walk in silence, making your way downtown
>It is at this moment that you realize that you didn't even eat anything at the lounge bar
>Because you got caught up in the situation, not because some omniscient voice forgot to include it or anything, that'd be weird
>Yeah, that seems right
>As long as you have something to focus on, it's not too much of a problem anyway
>If your memory serves you correctly, Vinyl's apartment is rather close to some convenience stores, where you'll be able to pick up some dinner on your way back home

>After a short walk, during which you talked about whatever you happened to pass by, the two of you enter the city's downtown area
>Many skyscrapers, adorned with massive advertisement billboards, surround you
>Even though you come here often enough, the sheer dimensions of the place impress you every time
>It's no secret that apartments here are rather pricey; they're quite spacious but their location really drives their value up
>You start to wonder what kind of place Vinyl has, since you didn't really hold her for the rich type
"So, we nearly there yet, Scratch?"
>"Yeah, 'Nonny, it's actually just around the corner."
" 'Nonny' ?" you ask, surprised at the rather odd name she called you
>"I don't know, I guess it's not the best nickname around..."
>Even from behind those shades, you can recognize a devilish expression forming on the unicorn's face
>"... but you seem to hate it. So we'll stick with it."
>sigh
>Perhaps you should've seen that one coming

>"C'mon, it's in this building."
>You walk through a generously-sized hallway, into one of the many elevators
>Said elevator takes you sixteen floor up, some ambient jazz music playing in the background
>This really is the kind of building you'd expect from a five-star hotel
>Either that, or some loaded businesspony
>But no, Vinyl pulls a keycard out of her saddlebag and slides it through a door with a large, golden number 4 on it
>The door swings open, revealing an absolutely beautiful apartment
>Very minimalistic, with a lot of white and very modern-looking furniture
>"Well, 'Nonny, make yourself at home. Want something to drink?"
>She instantly heads to the kitchen area, which is connected directly to the living room
"Yeah... A beer sounds pretty good right about now."
>You try to sound casual, but your mouth is still agape at the sight of Vinyl's home

>After a moment or two, Vinyl returns with some drinks, while you're still busy looking at her living room
>You take your beer from her magical grip and mutter something along the lines of 'thank you'
>She lays down on a bright-red couch, across from you
"Wow... I gotta say, Vinyl, your place is really nice."
>"Heh. Thanks." she says in that slightly cocky tone of voice you'd hard from her before
>It doesn't sound like it's intended to be bragging, and douchey, however
>You consider asking how she could afford this place, but decide against it since it's only been a single afternoon since the two of you met, and money tends to be one of the more personal subjects around
>It's not that you get the impression that the unicorn would have a problem with it, just the social norm, really
>Anyway. It's probably a good idea to make some conversation
>Just before you go ahead to speak, you notice what Vinyl is drinking
>Not quite what you had expected, to be honest

"So, you ready to let me hear those masterpieces-in-progress or are you too busy with that whiskey?
>You expect and equally snarky response to your comment, because frankly, it was warranted
>That's not what you get though
>In an exceptionally smooth movement, the DJ takes off her iconic shades, intensely staring at you with her big, amethyst-colored eyes
>Even though it really shouldn't, since you'd seen them a couple of hours ago, the sight takes you aback
>"I can multitask just fine, 'Nonny."
>The nickname sounds almost condescending, but she playfully follows herself up soon enough
>"Now, if you want to hear some 'masterpieces', come this way."
>Only with the last few words of that sentence did she break eye contact, as she got up and turned towards the back of the living room
>Slowly, casually, and almost seductively, she makes her way to a place which undoubtedly contains her DJing equipment
>It really points out the contrast between how tense and cautious you are, and how carefree Vinyl is

>Still keeping an eye on that lovely spring in her step, you get up and follow Vinyl
>She opens a door in the far corner of the living room, alongside the full-height windows which make up the apartment's outer walls
>You're surprised at the fact that you didn't notice the view from here before, because it's nothing less than spectacular
>Being on such a high floor, the apartment overlooks much of the city, with the other skyscrapers barely getting in the way
>You take a moment to admire the sight, from the busy shopping mall on the far left, to the faint green glow of the park you were walking through earlier
>"Neat, huh?"
>She's come back from the other room, standing beside you
>"Part of the reason I love this place so much. Feels like I own the city whenever I look out the window."
"Yeah, you could definitely say that. It's incredible."
>You look over to Vinyl, who's wearing a genuine smile as she stares out into the city
>"Yup..."
>A slight pause. A moment of silence.
>"Heh... And however pretentious it sounds, it's an invaluable source of inspiration, too."
>The mare turns away, and once again walks through the door next to her

>Inside the room, humbly sized in comparison to the living room, stands a desk with multiple monitors, mixing tables and other peripherals like speakers
>Underneath you see the computer, side to side with a massive subwoofer
>Vinyl's horn starts glowing, the computer starts whirring and a multitude of items float around the desk
"So, clearly this is where the magic happens."
>She looks at you with a deadpan expression, apparently not impressed with your clever joke
>You flash the widest apologetic smile you can manage
>"... You're awful, you know that?" she says, spinning in her desk chair, to her work
"That's not a very nice thing to say." you say, a playful tone of taken offense in your voice

>Vinyl stretches out her hindlegs and crosses them atop the desk, forehooves behind her head with her eyes closed
>She can operate the computer just fine without looking, which is not only impressive, but also inexplicable to you
>Fucking unicorns, how do they work?
>"Maybe I'm not a very nice pony."
>You can't see her face, but there's no doubt in your mind that she's smiling
>You step up to the chair, now standing next to it
>The DJ is still reclining, and doesn't look like she intends to stop anytime soon
>She's loaded up some kind of production or mixing software
>Casually, you flick a lock of her mane which was resting on here closed eye away
"Nah, I can't imagine that. You couldn't hurt anyone if you wanted to."
>"I'm gonna take this moment to tell you that you've been warned."
>She looks up at you, with those beautiful eyes of hers speaking a million unsaid words

"You couldn't hurt a fly. You're just a big ol' softie."
>Now it's your turn to be smug, and it feels great
>It may have been a bit of a gamble, but now you can see that you have the unicorn beat
>While you continue to look at her, with what feels like all the power in the world, she turns her head to the screen
>"Maybe." she mutters weakly
>That's all the confirmation you need. The outspoken, confident mare has a giant golden heart
>"Anyway," she says with a bit of emphasis, "here's that track I was talking about earlier."
https://youtu.be/Osc9W2jFzLw
>The song starts playing, and you instantly recognize the relaxed nature of it Vinyl described at the lounge bar
>She hums along to the vocal clips with the voice of an angel
>Honestly, even the high-pitched notes sound perfect. You hadn't expected that from her, partially because her regular speaking voice is a bit low for a mare

>Completely lost in her own music, she goes on like this for the full length of the song, a good five minutes or so
>Her head bobs along to the rhythm peacefully
>She's truly in her element, doing what she loves
>You just stand there all the while, appreciating both the song and the gorgeous mare who made it
>When the last few notes fade away, Vinyl swings her desk chair around, a massive grin on her face
>"I can dig it. You?"
"Yeah, I can dig it too."
>"Of course you can." she brags, cocky smile in tow
>"Now for something with a little more energy."
>A few clicks later, a high-tempo piece starts up, with a strong bass kicking in before too long
>She stops the track a few times throughout, asking for your opinion on a particular drum loop or synth lead
>Most of your suggestions are mixed right into the track and listened to a couple of times
>A few even make it past the surprisingly professional discussion the two of you have about it
>You don't actually know all that much about music theory, and all of your comments are purely based on gut feeling
>In any case, you can tell that the sound design is very clean and neat, giving all of the tracks a very crisp sound


>Actually, that makes you curious
"So, Scratch, where did you learn to do all of this? Music academy?"
>"Uhh, difficult question, really. I was messing around with music way before I ever thought about going to music academy. Never produced anything serious until a couple years ago, though. I guess it just kinda happened."
>"I took the DJing job at the club about a year ago, thought it was a nice opportunity to maybe get my name out there a little. It doesn't earn me much... but you've probably noticed that that's not important."
>Vinyl swivels her seat to face the window, and seemingly gazes out into the city
"Well.. yeah."
>...
>"All thanks to my parents, they've put a lot of time and money into me. I just hope that my career takes off at some point, that it hasn't all been for nothing. I want to make them proud."
>With those last few sentences, the conversation took a steep turn into emotional territory
>A grave tone in the young mare's voice, along with the fact that she didn't move her head whatsoever whilst speaking, emphasize her mood
>After another moment of silence, you get up from your own seat and place a hand on Vinyl's shoulder, a gesture she returns by leaning into you arm
>Her shades are in the way, and so she floats them over to the desk
>Her horn lightly pokes your forearm

>"... it's not easy, Anon."
>"O-- of course I have everything I could ever ask for, and I'm really thankful for that, but... but what if I... fail?
>"What if I don't make a name for myself and have to depend on my parents' support forever?"
>Her voice gets shaky as she sniffs, trying to hold the tears back
>"I don't wanna be a failure..."
>Despite her efforts, Vinyl can't stop it any more
>Leaning out of her chair, she grabs you around your waist and cries into your shirt
>Instinctively, you wrap your arms around her head and hold on tight

>She goes quiet after a short while, but the (admittedly somewhat awkward due to her still sitting down) hug lasts a few more moments
>When the embrace finally ends, you look into those beautiful eyes of hers, all puffy and reddish from her crying
"You're forgetting one thing, Vinyl."
"You are an immensely gifted and beautiful pony. Hell, I've heard only about an hour's worth of your own stuff, I don't know a damn thing about music production, but I can tell that you have an incredible talent for what you do."
>A faint smile forms on her lips
"There is not a single fiber in my body that doubts whether or not you'll make it for yourself. And I've only known you for half a day."
>Her eyes are slightly watering again, but clearly it's not out of sorrow this time

>"Thank you, Anon... That's so nice. I--"
>A small tear of joy breaks through
>"... I really needed that." she says, as she once again clutches you, this time with her face pressed against yours
"Hmmm... it's okay"
>It goes to show, even a pony whom you'd have assumed to be so carefree can have their problems and insecurities
>Even when they're gorgeous, well-off and talented like the one who's currently hugging you

>Once Vinyl's emotions have settled, she lets go of you
>"Again, Anon, thank you. Thank you so much. I- I guess I really needed this."
>You can't help but smile at such a gorgeous pony being completely yours, if just for a moment
"No biggie, Scratch. Least I could've done... after you paid my drink for me."
>That earned you a subdued, but not negligible, punch on your shoulder
>"Shut up with the tough guy talk. You know what I mean."
>And you did, of course, but the reaction this slight mix of sass and cockiness induced from Vinyl was kind of priceless
>After all, there was no doubt she realized you were just having a bit of fun with those remarks

>"Seriously though, Anon, I had a great time hanging out with you today."
"Yeah, definitely. Me too, Vinyl."
>"We should do this again sometime." she says, as she turns towards the living room (and with it, her front door)
"Yeah, for sure. Have fun with that book..."
>"I will" comes a very determined reply
>Guess she saw that one coming
"... Thief."
>"Cheapass."
>Damn
"... Well played."
>"Thanks. See you around! We'll text."
>You give her a thumbs-up while backing away
>She winks at you, which leaves you to assume that the meaning of your gesture was what you intended
>Damn ponies and their lack of fingers, they're hard to judge sometimes

>And with that, the door closes and you're left to the luxurious hallways on your own
>Well, today was definitely an experience