#renfaire song

[meimeiherokitten]

This song and this show are both very special to me.

Here's a health to the dear lass that I love so well

For her style and her beauty, sure none can excel

There's a smile on her countenance as she sits on my knee

There's no man in this wide world as happy as me

[delaneytalks-tostatues]

I did in fact write a Mechanisms version of The Mermaid. Unfortunately, all I can do is sing and strum a bit on a ukulele (Technically I can also kind of play piano but I don't have a piano rn) so no one will ever get to hear it--

[theplasticman]

I do nawt trust any white USAmericans who identify as Irish/Scottish

[skelevision]

guy who speedran the vocal melody for a second cover in 1 day cause theyre gonan be gone all weekend with no computer............

[dandelionjack]

starting a band called ‘courtly love’ we perform exclusively covers of hole (band) songs on medieval instruments dressed as knights and ladies from a preraphaelite painting. we’d be a hit at renfaires from year to year

[sealinredshoes]

Big Four Month Day 1 : Origins

I'm late for the Big Four Month but here we go. Here are some of my headcanons for a Big Four first meeting because my life is a little shitty righ now and I don't have the time to write this as a one shot

Let's be honest, the time line for the RotBTD crossover is way too complicaded. So you know what ? May the RenFair setting be upon you.

Merida is in her best medieval dress but there is a viking boy staring at her from across the food stand like the autism creature so she leave toward the dance area

They are playing songs from ages long forgotten. Music that makes her feel alive, make her feel like if her body is bigger than her bones, spreading freely toward the sun and the sky like if she had already walked this Earth before and know all of its secrets.

Suddently, boom, she end up dancing with Hiccup kingdom dance style and even if they are weirded out, it feel so natural to keep dancing , because there are old souls in young bodies and an old soul know another

Hiccup eventually apologize for staring at her earlier because he is not a creep he just wanted to steal her Mor'du's pin.

"Dude you know Mord'u ?" "Of fucking course I know Mor'du, it's a classic tale !" "Bro, litteraly no one know Mor'du, there is like nothing made around this tale !" "Bro, I know, that's such a shame !" "My life is in shambles bro." "Mine is meaningless without this pathetic bear king !" "He is such a wet cat." "The stinky"

They keep infodumping over celtic tale and legends, Hiccup explaning why trolls are a matriarcal society, Merida making theories about King Arthur's return. They go buy crepes and keep talking with their mouth full, being use as a bad examples for the kids around them.

The Mor'du pin is actually just a wooden bear pin Merida customized. She agree to bring Hiccup back to the stand, because this old lady make such cool things.

There is mostly bears, but also some fantasy book pins, and because I like to think Hiccup would be a Terry Pratchett fan, and that selling Discword inspired art is now illegal, he is very happy to find a beautiful Librarian carving, the only one of his kind.

Wouldn't be a shame if some white haired sheperd just came out of nowhere wainting to buy it too ?

It's time for some roast battle with Merida as a back up (making weird faces behind him) (she is very bad at back up) until they suddently realise the pin isn't here anymore and that a girl in a purple princess dress is ready to pay for it and putting it on her bag.

"Okay, no, you have to fight for it like everyone else !" "*gasp*Is this some kind of mexican standoff situation ?" "What ? No ? I don't no shit about cinema theory ?" "Mexican standoff is a cinema stuff ?" "Anyway, when will you three gonna fight ?"

Of course they are not going to fight right here over the old lady stand so they just walk around the Ren fair for seven minutes to find some Hnefatall board to set it up.

The party is so long, everybody is screaming, Rapunzel is pulling the biggest cheating move without knowing it, Jack contemplate his life with horror and Merida is so frustrated some time that she just move the pieces herself.

At some point, they are not just playing anymore, they are making silly scenario about the pawns and pretending to be merciless gods and causing chaos. It's being hours. People hate them because they doesn't share the board. The old lady is gone.

They end up being forced to leave the board to other kids and go find some food, enjoy the fair, spend to much money over costume pieces. Laughing all the way.

Slowly the sun is getting down, they don't think in matter of time anymore, they watch the acrobatic spectacles from affar. Jack is showing of his backflips skills. They found one of those climbing polls at the children area where they can pretend to be knigh in training. There is no kids anymore, they have it all to themselves. Someway Rapunzel end up at the top of the poll.

"Okay, how do I get down, know ?" "How do you get on this on the first place ?" "I don't know okay ?" "I'm sure we can use her hair to help her down." " How exactly, like by knittting it ?" "Or braiding it, like this girl on tiktok, you know ?" "Okay but will this be enough to hold her weight ?" "Guys, can you shut up and just help me ?"

She fall down on them and they are screaming so loudly they end up being kicked out of the fair

The nigh is young, they souls are old, they feel bigger than their bodies, today is meant to never end, they get lost on the parking lot, drip down on the mud, fall all the way down a small hill.

They are tired, and messy, and covered in dirt. This is the best nigh of their lives, they feel like they were born again this night

I hope I will catch up on the list tomorrow, I didn't even have the time to check everyone else work.

[percheduphere]

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHO LOKI CHOOSES

I've previously discussed romantic tropes in the Loki series in my meta here. This meta supports the former by counting each of Loki's decisions with each of Loki's love interests (Sylvie and Mobius) and where those decisions occur in the progression of the overall story of S1 and S2 combined. The end of S1 is the midpoint of the whole story. Bear this in mind as I track how Loki's decision-making shifts. You can even choose to view Loki's decision-making with respect to Mobius as platonic if you want. It doesn't change the plot, count, or character development.

I have to give Sylvie attention and credit where it is due. To not do so would not only ignore her legitimate importance in the series and Loki's development, but it would also undermine my own credibility as an essayist. Feel free to comment, but here are my ground rules: no hate and no yucking other people's yum.

S1E1: Loki chooses himself. We could make the argument Loki chooses to trust Mobius here, but I don't think we see Loki start to like Mobius as a person until S1E2.

S1E2: Loki straddles between choosing himself and choosing to help Mobius because he actually wants to. It helps that the latter serves self-preservation. Loki most obviously chooses himself when he bullshits Mobius at the RenFaire. His choice is more gray when proposing the apocalypse theory. To be conservative, I won't count this in Mobius's favor. However, I feel fairly confident Loki chooses to help Mobius (1) sift through the possible apocalypses because of this genuine reaction:

Loki is starved for praise. He's a centuries-old god for goodness sakes.

When a third option presents itself at Roxxcart, Loki chooses himself and Sylvie (1).

S1E3: Loki chooses to: 1.) help Sylvie through "attempting diplomacy" with the widow (2), 2.) help Sylvie with his "shit plan" disguise (3), 3.) be vulnerable with Sylvie on the train (4), 4.) sing Sylvie a song (5), 5.) help Sylvie get to the arc (6).

S1E4: Loki chooses to comfort Sylvie by holding her hand; their feelings for each other trigger a giant Nexus Event (7). Loki chooses to tell Mobius the truth about the TVA; if he didn't care about Mobius, he would have withheld this information (2). Loki chooses to trust Mobius (3). Loki chooses to reciprocate Mobius’s feelings of friendship (4). Loki chooses, with Mobius, to find and rescue Sylvie (8). Loki chooses to combat Renslayer with Sylvie (9). Loki chooses to confront the Timekeepers with Sylvie and gets pruned (10).

S1E5: Loki chooses to share a blanket with Sylvie (11). Loki chooses to stay in the Void and follow Sylvie to the end of time, "Where you go, I go" (12). Loki chooses to hug Mobius (5). Loki chooses to trust Sylvie's insistence that he intrinsically knows how to enchant (13).

S1E6 (THE MIDPOINT): The confrontation with HWR is tricky. Loki chooses to slow down and think about the consequences because he's learned the value of slowing down and thinking from Mobius (6). Loki chooses to kiss Sylvie back (I realize this is debatable for many Lokius fans, but I'm not going to argue this; 14)

S2 NOTES: For the sake of my own sanity, I am not counting Loki's unconscious and conscious timeslipping. You can refer to the counts for that in my meta here. I will also not be counting the near-infinite number of loops Loki refuses to kill Sylvie for "the good of the multiverse."

S2E1: Loki chooses to seek out Mobius for help (7). Loki chooses to be vulnerable with Mobius in the hallway (8). Loki chooses to trust Mobius's judgment that they only have one shot at stopping the timeslipping (9).

S2E2: Loki chooses to protect Mobius from Brad (10). Loki chooses to help Mobius reverse-engineer Brad's TemPad (11). Loki chooses to comfort Mobius in the pie automat (12). Loki chooses to follow Mobius's intimidation plan for Brad (13). Loki chooses to convince Sylvie to join his and the TVA's cause (Sylvie declines #1; 15). Loki chooses to hold hands with Sylvie to combine their blast power (16). Loki chooses to follow Mobius back to the TVA (14). Loki chooses to ask Sylvie to stay and help (Sylvie declines #2; 17). Loki chooses to comfort Mobius in the Control Room (15).

S2E3: Loki chooses to humor Mobius's sightseeing (16). Loki chooses to try cracker jack (and hates it; 17). Loki chooses to prioritize the Loom per Mobius’s advisement (18). Loki chooses to give into Mobius's tandem bike request (19). Loki chooses to plead with Sylvie to spare Timely and asks for her help (NOTE: this is Loki's 3rd request; writers love the significance of threes and Sylvie turns Loki down all three times; 18).

S2E4: Loki chooses to defend Mobius in the Pie Automat (20). Loki chooses to compare (through implication) Thor's relationship with Jane with his relationship with Mobius (21). Loki chooses to use this same comparison to assure Sylvie that her mercy on Timely was an act of mercy for all people on all timelines (19).

S2E5: Loki chooses to look for Mobius in the Pie Automat (22). Loki chooses to look for Mobius in the Control Room (23). Loki chooses to recruit Mobius (24). Loki chooses to quote Mobius's "form and function" to Don (25), Loki chooses to help Mobius through the time door (26). Loki chooses to promise Don (Mobius) that he can return him to any point in time (27). Loki chooses to recruit Sylvie (20; she turns him down a 4th time). Loki chooses to argue with Sylvie that Mobius should have a choice (28). Loki chooses to listen to Sylvie that his friends are better off without the TVA (21). Loki chooses to let Don go for Mobius’s own good (29). Loki chooses to control timeslipping upon hearing Sylvie say "Do you think what makes a Loki a Loki is that we're destined to lose?" (22). Loki chooses to rewrite the story to save Sylvie and Mobius (23 / 30, respectively).

S2E6: Loki chooses to reenact all of Mobius's small gestures of kindness even though they cost precious time: he chooses to hold Victor's glasses (31), he chooses to compliment OB's "not to scale" model (32), he chooses to recite an abbreviated version of his and Mobius's bickering over "who's in the suit?" (33), he chooses to finish Mobius's joke about taking OB's job (34). He chooses to seek out Past Mobius for guidance and comfort (35). He chooses to shake Mobius's hand (36). He chooses to talk Sylvie out of killing HWR (24). He chooses to sacrifice himself to save Sylvie and Mobius (25 / 37, respectively). He chooses to listen (and watch?) to Mobius say, "Let time pass" (38).

Loki chooses Sylvie: 25

Loki chooses Mobius: 38

If I missed any decision points for either Sylvie or Mobius, let me know and I'll update the meta and counts accordingly.

Ultimately, Loki's sacrifice is for BOTH Mobius AND Sylvie. BOTH ships are important to the narrative and Loki. However, between the two of them, there is only one person who has consistently chosen Loki since S1E1, never rejected Loki and his requests for help, and who has, in turn, unknowingly been chosen by Loki in kind. Need a meta for Mobius’s decision-making? Here it is.

[nonny-nonny-anon]

It really is, but that laugh catches me off every time, lmao

"What's your music taste?"

It's yes

[pilferingapples]

ALSO I was at the renfaire this weekend, which means I am basically dead for the next 24 hours , my spoons are spont, I am in silverware debt, I will not be found by emails or anything else tonight or tomorrow day

but while there I was having a swell time listening to a band that specializes in music from the 9th-14th centuries when they asked if anyone in the audience knew French, because they wanted something translated before doing their next song

and I very nervously volunteered that I know a little French. I do think that is a fair claim. I have a knowledge of some of the verbs and nouns available. I can describe apples in many ways. I thought, hey , maybe they wanted to see if their audience knew what "chanson" meant, or something. (I know that one!!) The old 'check to make sure your audience is following you' thing.

...Instead I got called up to the stage and asked to translate a long sentence of a title in. Old French. Fkginvdg. Help.

[superblysubpar]

Happy Sunday Rec night! Maybe this is the week I finally get on top of my shit and catch up on reading and post these every week instead of waiting months to make these long ass ones? Who knows. Tune in next Sunday to find out.

Please reblog and share why you love your favorite writer's work! They can't read your thoughts from a simple like. If you can't reblog or comment, consider sending a sweet anon message in support, it could really make someone's day and it will also encourage your favorite writer(s) to keep writing the work you love!💛

Find previous recs on @superbreblogger my fic rec blog or on my pinned post under "critic's choice"

Happy reading and have a great week!

Steve Harrington

untitled mutual masturbation with AIRWIY Steve by @loveshotzz - smut

untitled facial with Steve by @roanniom - smut

untitled father's day with stobin by @shares-a-vest - fluffy angst

melancholy by @rustedhearts - angst

chocolate by @upsidedownwithsteve - smut

untitled sneaking around with Colors Steve by @loveshotzz - smut

untitled kissing all of Steve's moles and freckles by @hungharrington - fluff

Bad For Business: The Bonus Level by @upsidedownwithsteve- smut

untitled romance books by @cherrychilli - smut

steve's reactions to crisis by @hawkins83 - angst

underwear by @upsidedownwithsteve - smut

birthday by @upsidedownwithsteve - smut

untitled birthday with AIRWIY Steve by @loveshotzz - smut

Wake Up Slow by @carolmunson - fluff

untitled giving steve a hickey by @loveshotzz - smut

Melt With You (Pt 1 to My Name's Elvira) by @loveshotzz - fluff

untitled trying new postition with AIRWIY Steve by @loveshotzz - smut

Love Sucks 1: The Beginning by @upsidedownwithsteve

Love Sucks 2: The Interrogation by @upsidedownwithsteve

surrounded by your embrace by @stevebabey - fluff

Love Sucks 3: The Hunt by @upsidedownwithsteve

Petrichor by @rosewaterandivy - smut

chapter one: ticket to anywhere by @abibliophobiaa - this series will contain angst, fluff, and smut

Hell To Pay - The Prologue: The Warmth of Your Doorway by @rosewaterandivy - this series may contain angst, fluff, smut

anxious to run into you imagine AIRWIY Steve by @carolmunson - fluff

Eddie Munson

Torn: Song 1. Scar Tissue by @sweetsweetjellybean - this series will contain angst, fluff, and smut

untitled checking for ticks by @familyvideostevie - smut

A Need by @courtingchaos - smut

Torn: Song 2. Sour Girl by @sweetsweetjellybean - this series will contain angst, fluff, and smut

untitled birthday smut with whatta man eddie by @loveshotzz - smut

Untitled No. 1 by @courtingchaos - smut

untitled healing with eddie by @carolmunson - angst

early morning snow by @chechelia - fluff

eddie's bed headcanons by @deadboyfriendd - fluff

untitled pregnancy cravings by @chechelia - fluff

Torn: Song 3: Disarm by @sweetsweetjellybean - this series will contain angst, fluff, and smut

eddie guitar pick imagine by @starlightsearches - fluffy smut

untitled sound tech eddie by @carolmunson - fluff

untitled bard!renfaire!eddie iamgine by @carolmunson - fluff

Steddie, Stobin, and Everything Stranger Things:

public by @upsidedownwithsteve - smut (steddie x reader)

kinktober, day 7 - somnophilia by @aphrogeneias - smut (tech steve x reader, but a hint of eddie listening so here she goes)

The V Card by @palmtreesx3 - *this series dives into Steve AND Robin with their friendship as well as chapters focused on their love lives/partners separately - this series will contain angst, fluff, and smut

Aphrodisiac by @palmtreesx3 *see above note

Lubrication by @palmtreesx3 *see above note

untitled emmy was in a mood and we all died by @upsidedownwithsteve - smut (steddie x reader)

Series I'm Currently Reading & Recommend:

Talking In Your Sleep by @abibliophobiaa - ongoing

Orange Colored Sky by @carolmunson - ongoing

Let's Go, Don't Wait by @carolmunson - ongoing

Get Off by @palmtreesx3 - ongoing

My Name's Elvira, But You Can Call Me Tonight - by @loveshotzz - completed

Torn - by @sweetsweetjellybean - ongoing

Right Where You Left Me - by @abibliophobiaa - ongoing

[radioisntdead]

Simple and safe

Vaggie & sister figure! reader

Just a lil' warm up drabble

Warnings: OOC

Song [I COULDN'T FIND A VIDEO OF JUST THE SONG SO ITS A GENSHIN ANIMATIC, Very well made it's what inspired me to make this fic]

You were one of the newest recruitments to the exorcists, fresh out of the gates, bright eyed and filled with passion.

You had managed to get close with one of the top exorcists, Vaggie, and as a result she volunteered to train you herself.

"Alright [Name] ready for today's lesson?" She said walking into the training hall, horned helmet under one of her arms and a spear in her hand.

"I'll try not to hold you back!"

You cheerfully ran up to her, holding a wooden spear because you weren't ready for a real one yet.

"Sounds good to me,"

She ruffled your hair, cut short much like her own.

"Steady form," She shifted into a fighting pose, you mimicked her, although more clumsily "No, hold the spear up," she moved your arms to hold it properly.

"Keep your balance, shift your weight,"

You looked at her and back at the glorified stick.

"Hold your focus on the blade,"

She stood beside you with her spear.

"And swing!"

You swung, the spear flying out of hands and stabbing through one of the training dummies.

"Careful!"

"Sorry!"

Vaggie took her head as you scrambled to retrieve your stick.

"It's fine, keep your feet just like mine"

She moved back into a stance, and you mimicked her, slightly less clumsily this time.

"And then we slash until there's no one left!"

You said a little too cheerfully, swinging your wooded spear around.

"[Name], [Name] baby steps,"

She patted your back as you got back into the stance.

"We go simple and safe,"

She lifted up her spear, you mimicked her as she brought it down.

"Simple and safe," you repeated after her,

"The art of the blade," she twirled her spear around, stepping away as you repeated the lifting the spear and bringing it down motion.

"Everyone stand back!" You shouted as the stick scrapped across the floor and somehow, managed to burst into flames like a match, Vaggie was quick to throw it on the ground and stop it out.

"Alright watch it you little pyromaniac," She grabbed the burnt spear.

"We go simple," "Simple and safe" "The right way,"

She twirled it in her hands before handing it back to you, you'd need to get a new one.

"The art of the blade."

She ruffled your hair, deciding that the spear bursting into flames was a sign to stop training for the day.

"Not bad for our third lesson you feeling better yet?" She asked, you nodded.

"When do I get to use a real spear?" You asked her, eyes sparkling, burnt spear in hand,

"When you stop swinging that broom at my ankles," you heard a cough from behind the two of you, Lieutenant Lute and The first man, Adam had appeared, Vaggie's face turned more serious as she nudged you forward.

"Come on let's get back to work."

Good evening folks! I'm scheduling this, so at the time of this going up, I should be at a renfaire! WOOOOO, anyways thank you for tuning in

[edsforehead]

Omg but renfair worker!eddie who works a seasonal job once a year at the renfair as a bard, walking around in his old timey garb and mandolin, perching up in different areas playing songs, making up little ditties about the people who pass, the “king”, the fair maiden he once met, who sits around telling tales with whoever will listen. Flirting with the girl who sells flowers. It’s his favorite job he’s ever had 🥹

[recalcitrantlycaffeinated]

Listening to 20 different versions of the same song during the day to find the perfect one for my renfaire playlist: excellent, no notes, a vibe, the 4 year old thinks it's hilarious, I learn all the harmony options

Listening to 20 different versions of the same song right before bed: I awake in the middle of the night in a cold sweat hearing a hundred voices at once singing YOU TAK THE HIGH ROAD AND I'LL TAK THE LOW ROAD

[neo-kajatrash]

(Song: A New Chapter by Tijn Berends)

Greetings from the renfaire!! ✨

[teafromthemicrowave]

I don't know how to say it without going even more apeshit than I already did in the tags of my reblog but your New York Polycule band AU is the most beautiful thing I've seen in my entire life and I could probably write an entire essay about it if I were more coherent (redhead/auburn Noel my beloved, romantic goth Oscar my beloved, Jarthur matching earrings my beloveds, Arthur's funky little glasses my beloveds, the comour scheme my beloved, the album/tour name my beloved, the composition my beloved, casual hanging out doodles my beloveds, everything about this entire concept my beloved) but I'm not so just rest assured that if you ever find yourself in peril, I will come to your aid with a sword in hand ready to fight in your name because you've singlehandedly mashed together so many of my favourite things and made the result so beautiful that my serotonin receptors have been making me run up and down the stairs for the past while to walk off the happy zoomies. They a look perfect. They all look so perfect and also exactly how I imagine them (long black hair John, curly hair Oscar, blond Arthur, redhead/auburn Noel. I love your brain so much. And you made them GOTH. And you made them GENDER. and you made Noel LIKE METAL. I know I already said they all look perfect but they literally look so perfect - god, that hat you gave Oscar is so good, it's so him, I love it so much.

I'm not actually a goth in the traditional sense (I don't listen to goth music unless you count Aurelio Voltaire and apparently some early Nightwish - im more of a folk-rock-punk-metal girlie) but I like to wear a lot of black and yeah I'm still some flavour of alt (the ideal gender presentation is an androgynous renfaire attendee dipped in a bucket of black paint) so seeing my blorbos like this just. Made me so ridiculously happy you have no idea. Your brain was so smart and sexy and correct for coming up with this idea. It's what they deserve. They deserve to look good and play music and straddle each other while they do each other's eyeliner and all the good stuff. I cannot wait for that playlist you mentioned.

O. MY. GOD.

FIRST OF ALL thank you SO much for that ask I am grinning so hard rn OHHH

I SAW YOUR REBLOG AND I GIGGLED SO MUCH IT WAS GREAT AND THAT ASK IS EVEN GREATER IT JUST BRINGS ME SO MUCH JOY TO SEE MY SILLY LITTLE AU MAKES OTHERS HAPPY TOO

I literally have so much lore to share and a fic to write, this will be a lot but I NEED TO DO THIS FOR GODS SAKE

And yeah, next to goth I also love the metal punk emo rock stuff, so BESTIE YEHAWW

projecting onto characters is my fav thing to do, that's why this au exists :D AND ITS AWESOME I CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY WITH IT

And funfact! The tour name "alternate ending" is based on the same-named song by Woods of Ypres!! REALLY RECOMMED IT (the singer sounds like John too giggles cutely)

[maybeanartist02]

sacrarium pario modern au // trivia night

summary: Violo and Vivere join their friends at a local bar's trivia night. There, they cross paths with the charismatic performer Anne.

2.7 k words, violo has a cochlear implant, vivere is chronically ill, heimos is a little bitchy

"This body was submitted by this man's daughter," the research manager explained. Violo stood in the lab of Pario Research Facility where he worked, speaking to two fellow researchers who were there to discuss a new body Violo was assigned to examine. The manager was a tall and callous woman who Violo struggled to tolerate outside of work. She, along with the other Doctor, was there to speak to him about the newly donated body.

"Their name is Ayad Amsel-Faris. They passed away four months ago, but the daughter only recently was able to process the paperwork for handing them off to us," the shorter doctor explained. "I am unsure how that happened, but regardless… we have the body now, and should be able to conduct our research on it. According to the daughter's account, Ayad had many allergies, skin conditions and were frequently misdiagnosed. Their death was written off as a natural cause, but the daughter believes they were ill."

Violo lifted the sheet laying over the body, and peered under it. Like all corpses, the person's expression was a bit disturbing to most—but Violo couldn't see, so it wasn't problematic at all.

Ayad was a brown-skinned person with a square jaw that was almost entirely covered in vitiligo and psoriasis. Their hair was also white, and seeing the state of them, Violo wondered how no one else suspected something to be wrong. Violo had to feel his way over the body to determine the psoriasis, and Eva told him about the rest.

The body reminded him of Vivere—uncomfortably so. It made him uneasy, but also gave him some hope; if Violo could find Ayad's cause of death… there was a chance it was related to the disease he was researching. This body… could be the key to all his woes, and all his fears regarding Vivere.

Swallowing the apprehension in his throat, Violo spoke eagerly:

"When do I begin?"

—

"A trivia night?"

Violo's voice curved up with the questioning echo of Necare's words. Necare nodded, a smile on her lips. The group of neighbors who lived on Warden Street 35 were gathered at Amare's place, for one of their usual monthly game nights. The five inhabitants of the apartment complex had gotten close after meeting at a renfaire a few years back and discovering they were neighbors. The friendship had been set in stone since then.

"It's a pretty new thing, meant to generate more traffic for the bar. We been kinda plateauing, so she's experimenting with new events to draw in customers."

"Will his hearing aid even be able to register the person hosting it?" Vivere asked, frowning. Despite Violo's frequent reminders that he could handle himself, Viv had a habit towards overbearingness. Violo rolled his eyes.

"Most people don't speak in a way easy for my implants to interpret easily anyway. I'll manage. I'd love to come!"

Vivere pouted, "I know… but I can still worry about your comfort."

"Well, I don't think it'll be a problem, to be honest," Necare shrugged. "Anne's the one hosting, and I speak to her a ton. Her vocal range goes crazy—if we give her a heads-up, she'll make an effort, but if we don't, she'll still enunciate well." Necare grins, "She claims to be a lyricist, but I've heard her vocals—she's a vocal acrobat, I guarantee. Low or high, she'll hit any note you give."

"Mm," Amare hummed, taking a sip of their tea. "Interesting. She performs at the bar?"

"Yeah," Necare nodded, "writes her own songs, but sings a bunch of covers too. Got a few rumors floating around, but she's always been upfront with me."

"Rumors?" Amare questioned. For the first time in what felt like ages, Heimos spoke up.

"Is this Anne Amsel-Faris?" he asked. Necare nodded, and he scoffed, "In that case… I've heard a few. Word on the streets is she's a volatile little shit."

"Volatile?" Viv asked with a frown. Violo was hung up on the surname—had he heard that name somewhere before? Necare waved a hand.

"Lotsa people got lots to say 'bout her. I hear she's busted a few kneecaps 'round town. I can't imagine her doing that unprompted, though. I'm sure the bastards deserved it."

"Who decides who deserves what fate, though?" Amare said gently. "I am not questioning your judgement, Necare. Merely the notion of personal justice."

"I hear she's got a few slighted lovers," Heimos added.

"Oh come on," Vivere laughed, "like that's a crime."

"It's possible she alone's gotten around more than you two combined," Necare joked, gesturing at Violo and Vivere. The lovers smirked, leaning into each other in such synchronization it almost looked planned.

"That's not that impressive," Violo said. "We're particular people!"

Violo and Vivere's relationship had a set of rules to follow. As far as sexual relationships went… they weren't limited to each other exclusively. Romantically, though… they weren't against the idea of partners outside each other, but the caveat was that they both had to like the person. If Viv disliked a man Vio wanted to date, Vio would drop the poor guy, no questions asked, and vice versa. The two didn't mind triads, and often shared interest in people and things, but they also found they had a bit of jealousy, and a tendency to preferring each other over their third that led them to dialing back on three-ways.

In short: sex was free game, but dating required some prerequisites to be met, and some rules to be reevaluated. The two hadn't found a long-term third yet, though, and considering the two had been dating since they were 16, it didn't feel like they'd ever add a lover to their relationship.

That being said, they were prone to flights of fancy, and one-night stands. The group of friends was vaguely aware, and none of them minded—it just meant they did not really have anything against people who fucked around a lot. That courtesy seemed to extend to Anne, too.

"I wouldn't think too much on the rumors," Necare shrugged. "Lots of them aren't favorable to her, and unfair. She's a good kid—sweet and fun. Simple as that."

"Well," Amare set their teacup down, "I'd be happy to join. It sounds like a fun night."

"I'm definitely in," Violo grinned, "can't let you have all the fun, after all."

"That just leaves Heimos," Vivere said, nodding towards him, an arm around Violo. Heimos rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. I don't care. I'll come, I guess."

"Woo!" Necare cheered, "Group Excursion!"

—

The Clover Gate Karaoke & Bar was a little place in the walkable downtown area of the city, and a place that Vivere has drawn in his sketchbooks many times. It's a picturesque place, visually, but even so, he'd never been inside before tonight.

Necare is waiting by the door when they arrive, and Violo greets her with a hug she warmly returns. With Violo's hand tucked into Vivere's arm, and Necare gesturing for them to enter, the five neighbors head inside.

The inside of the bar is spacious; to the left is a rounded bar counter, with drinks stacked to the ceiling. The seating area consists of a few bar stools by the counter and countless round tables. There's a stage at the back, and a balcony over the bar and front doors. A few groups are already seated, but more steadily pour in while Necare gets them all seated.

The neighbors are chatting about things—work and creative projects and local news—when their chatter is interrupted by Necare calling out to an approaching lady.

"Anne! Hey!"

Vivere looks up to find a tall-ish woman approaching the table with a tray of drinks and a smile. The first thing Vivere notices is curly, fiery auburn hair, the color of a dying bonfire. The second, is the vitiligo spreading over her skin. The third is the tight fitting tanktop, miniskirt and delicate jewelry around her wrists, fingers, neck and dangling from her ears. Star and butterfly are the common denominator in her accessories, as far as Vivere can tell.

Fascinating.

"Evening, all!" she greets with a wink, setting the tray down on the table, "Nix here," she gestures to Necare, "put an order in for you all, so I hope she got your order right. If she didn't, well, take it up with her."

The group shares a round of chuckles. The positive feedback seems to empower her and cause her to glow from the inside out.

"We got a glass of wine, straight whiskey, beer, and tea, mead and absinthe?—" she says, pointing at each beverage, "is that all right?"

"I'm surprised tea is in there," Amare notes, "is that a special for tonight?"

Anne smiles, "It's a new permanent feature. When your options are as limited as mine, the boss takes pity," she giggles. She waves a hand, "anyway, I take it you're here to support Necare for trivia night, right?"

Necare pouts, "what do you mean, support me?"

Anne presses her lips together and shrugs coyly, "Who's to say? Maybe I meant nothing by it." She shrugs as she retrieves the tray.

"We're here to enjoy the event with her, yes," Amare confirms. Violo scoffs.

"Speak for yourself! I'm here to win."

"In that case, I'm glad we're all on the same team," Viv rolled his eyes, "you two are horrible to witness compete." He leans towards Anne, "they are far too combative to keep any competition healthy."

Anne giggles into a hand while Violo whines at his boyfriend, "Viiiiiiv! That's not true! I can very well lose sometimes."

"To him, maybe," Heimos scoffs. "Everyone else knows you suck at losing."

"Well then," Anne interrupts slyly, "let's hope you win then, huh?"

"Hey, while you're here," Necare says, "shouldn't you be setting up? Why are you running drinks?"

The shift in demeanor is not noticeable to the group, foreign to Anne's mannerisms as they are, but she deflates, ever so slightly.

"Yeah, well, Winston called out last minute. We're a bar-tender short now, and I didn't want them to stress all night." She shakes her head with a fond smile, "it's no biggie. I don't need that much for the event, and I'm sure the band can buy me a little while."

"Oh, alright then," Necare nods, then smiles. "Next time, just call me in. I can handle running drinks for a night."

Anne smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Will do. I should get to running—enjoy the night! And good luck!"

With that, Anne was off to the bar with a wave.

"She was… lively," Heimos mutters. Amare laughs.

"She's cute!" Necare says. "Come on, Viv thinks she's cute, right?"

Vivere shrugs, "she's good at her job. I… can see why people call her flirty." He snorts, "I'm sure the winking and giggling gives many the wrong idea."

"Oof, yeah," Violo nods. "She's funny! I can see why you'd like her, Necare."

"Why d'you care so much if we agree?" Heimos asks dryly, then smirks, "you into her or something?"

"No… not like that!" Necare shakes her head. "She's just… you know. Someone I'm rooting for! With a bit more ambition… she could take the music industry by storm, I'm sure."

"But she lacks the ambititon needed?" Amare questions further. Necare shrugs.

"Pretty much. She says she's fine working here the rest of her life, but… that's a long time to be working at the same place. I feel like I'd get bored."

"You would," Vivere snorts. "Maybe she prefers the monotony. Different people have different preferences, after all."

"True!" Violo nods, "she seemed pretty happy to be hosting us. I wouldn't worry too much. You're friends—she'll probably be honest with you if you express your concern."

"She seems like the honest type," Amare nods along. "If you're worried, communicate that to her. I'm sure she'll either confide in your, or put your concerns to rest."

"True," Necare nods. "She's a real down to earth person. I can trust her judgement call I think." She clapped her hands, "Anyway! Violo, you said work's picking up steam again?"

Violo brightened. "Oh yea! We got a newly submitted body I get to use for my research. Super interesting. I'm meeting the donator on Monday to talk about lived symptoms and medical history."

"Sounds like you'll have your hands full soon," Amare says, then smirks, "should we count you out of game nights for the foreseeable future?"

"Ha!" He laughs, "you wish! I'm sure you'd like for me to sit out, with how often i beat you."

"You don't beat me that often."

"Please do not start this now," Vivere groans.

—

Anne hastily hooks up the laptop to the stage screens. The band is buying her some time with a musical intermission, but it's a closer call than she'd like. She cusses out the tech in her mind, but takes care not to verbalize her irritation. She's changed out of her previous outfit already, and when the trivia page opens on the screens behind the band, and cheering erupts from the crowd, she signals to her coworker, Bailey, that everything is good to go.

Anne jogs to the stage stairs, then takes a moment to catch her breath, put on a smile, and saunter onstage.

As the spotlight illuminates her, she beams at the crowd, waving as she struts out towards the mic. She wears a pair of bedazzled jeans, patterns of vines and roses drawn out with sequins sewn into the fabric. With it, she pairs stiletto heels and a red off-shoulder top that hugs her chest just right. Her trademark star-hoop earrings are paired with a choker, rings and bracelets.

She knows she's dressed to impress. The wolf whistles from the crowd are nothing new—a part of her enjoys the positive feedback.

Anne makes a show of bowing before stepping up to the mic.

"Good evening Clover Gate community!"

She removes the mic from the stand and steps back to allow the crowd to applaud her.

"I see you're all in high spirits," she grins, "good, good! Tonight we're offering a new kind of entertainment to you lovely folks: Trivia night!" She begins to pace the stage as she speaks, the words only vaguely following a bulleted script, "Apologies for the delay, the racoons got out of the attic and stole my dress. Hence the new look," she curtsied to the laughs. "The way this will work is simple. Each table creates a team. Shout the answer the questions to win points. The winner gets a trophy of various snacks and free drinks for their next visit!"

A sea of cheers and whoops sounds out, and Anne smiles brilliantly.

"You're all eager to start, I see. Well then, without further racoon-enduced delay… let the games… begin!"

Anne made a show of clapping twice, implying that the clapping was what caused the screen to change to the first question. She gestured to the screen, theatrically, making the crowd laugh more.

"Here's an easy one to start us with: what is the universal blood donor type?"

Violo's voice rung out just barely before someone else's did, "O negative!"

"Correct!" Anne pointed, "Two points for team 15!"

That got the ball rolling pretty quickly. Anne continued to lay the charm on as she listed off the questions. She realized quite quickly that team 15 was dominating. At one point she was forced to put them in timeout just to give others the chance to answer, but she didn't silence them for long—that'd have been unfair to them, after all.

Anne had a weird skill for balancing humor and justice, for keeping the atmosphere light in a way where the brief timeout didn't ruin the table's night. She called for it lighthearted, laughingly, joking about them having Trivia Gods on their side.

Two hours later, Table 15 was given a plate full of snacks, and five coupons for free drinks on their next visit—they'd won by a closer margin than they expected to, which was thanks to Anne's interfering. The interference wasn't meant to hold them back, but instead served to give others a chance to speak. So, in that regard, it had served its purpose.

With that, Trivia Night had run its course. The neighbors of Warden Street 35 made their way home together, tipsy and a little high on adrenaline. Anne stayed late to help clean before making the longer trip home herself.

She arrived home with the sunrise, collapsing on her couch, and exhausted breath escaping her.