Vinyl was laid out on the sofa in the living room. It was about 4 in the afternoon, and upstair she could hear Octavia getting ready to head out for the monthly meeting of the Ponyville Music Co-Operative Board of Directors.
For as long as Vinyl had known Octavia the earth pony had been a member of the organization, and Octy had enjoyed her time in it. In fact she’d gotten some of her first gigs as a result of the connections she’d made there. Vinyl wasn’t a member but a few years ago she’d attended a few of the meetings with Octy. At the time it seemed like a rather chill group of musicians. Not ponies that Vinyl would usually hang out with, but hey they were enjoying themselves.
However in the last 18 months a new pony had become the head of the board. A mare by the name of Harsh Tone, and since then they’d initiated a series of very unpopular changes to the co-operative’s charter. This along with pushing out several longtime board members, and replacing them with ponies that were friends of Harsh Tone. This had resulted in a lot of grumbling in ranks. Some members had even allowed their memberships to lapse and had left.
Even Octavia who’d been a staunch supporter of the co-op had expressed her growing frustration numerous occasions to Vinyl. She disapproved of the direction Harsh Tone was taking the group . But at the same time the mare been reluctant to abandon the group.
Eventually Vinyl heard their bedroom door open upstairs and few seconds later the sound of Octavia coming down the could be heard. Then the sound of her hooves could be heard approaching. The white unicorn looked up from her laptop and whistled as her partner came into view.
For this afternoon Octavia was definitely wearing something she’d never worn to a co-op meeting. Vinyl had seen the mare wear the short black leather jacket, even shorter black leather shorts, and the not so short thigh-high leather boots before, but never together in this ensemble. Of course Octavia’s signature mauve bow tie and white cotton collar was around her neck.
As was usual for these meetings Octavia had her black leather attache case with her. What was not usual was the fact that she was borrowing one of their pairs of handcuffs from their toy box. She had one cuff locked around her wrist and the other end attached to the attache case.
Octavia stopped in front of the sofa and looked down at her partner. “Well darling. I’m off the meeting. I should be back around 8pm.”
Vinyl arched an eyebrow. “Never seen you wear a getup like that to one of these meeting?”
The dove grey smiled sardonically. “Well our Great Leader Harsh Note recently enacted a change in the dress code for meetings and formal gatherings. A jacket and tie are now mandatory. Octavia looked down at herself “She didn’t say how that had to be done. Just a jacket and tie. This is how I choose to interpret it”
Vinyl chuckled. “Oh that should get Harsh all bent of shape!” Octavia tossed her mane.
“I really don’t care how she feels about it. The co-op is suppose to be a fun, casual gathering. Not some blasted boardroom meeting.” She glanced over at the attache. “In fact I have drafted a document spelling out my concerns and recommended changes the co-op should enact immediately.”
Vinyl gave Octavia a serious look. “And if she and her friends disagree with them?”
“Then I’ve already drafted my letter of resignation effective immediately, and I’ll give it to them. To be honest they need me more than I need them these days. In fact I am their best connection to Canterlot and the Royal Palace. So I think they maybe hesitant to act against me.”
Vinyl sat up on the sofa. “And if they call your bluff?”
Octavia looked back at the handcuff around her wrist. “Well. Then I get my Thursday evening back.” She casually rocked the case back and forth in her hand causing the chain on the handcuffs to rattle. “And we get to spend more together on that evening.”
Vinyl grinned. “So true babe!”
A moment from my main Anthro MLP dreamscape.