#t:it's been a long time

[gabriella-krasimira]

Just as expected, Aquata didn't shy away from her challenge. Not that it was much of one. This was Gabriella's place of work so she wouldn't cause too much of a scene. God knew she didn't need Roscoe or his brute of a brother kicking out one of the few interesting people that came into the club. She enjoyed Aquata and her type of conversation and flirting.

She was a challenge and Gabby appreciated those just as much as she enjoyed an easy conquest.

"Well, nothing too showy. I wouldn't want us to get in trouble with the bosses," she smirked, unable to help herself. "Though I'm not sure there isn't much that wouldn't get this little town talking."

@aquata-the-champ

Adults had always told her that growing up. That her name was beautiful and she shouldn’t shorten it or whatever. But Aquata was just being realistic. Maybe if she lived in the sea where everyone had names like that, she would just stick with it. But this was land, where Aquata’s class growing up was full of Megans and Sarahs and Caitlins, and Aquata’s name stuck out. Not in a good way.

“I don’t know if I’d say I prefer it, but I do seem to cause one whether I mean to or not,” Aquata said with a shrug, matter-of-fact. “It might as well be an interesting one. What are we fighting about? Or, otherwise, what else did you have in mind?”

@gabriella-krasimira

[altr5312916195]

Hi I wrote an article on Unus Annus for my school newspaper here's that:

Team Unus Annus 10 minutes before the final stream. From left to right Mark Fishbach, editor Vincent Van, editor Amy Nelson, Ethan Nestor, editor Evan (no last name given) 

What if you only had one year? Would you use that time wisely, or would you overestimate your time? 

These are the ever looming questions posed by the Youtube channel, Unus Annus, or translated from Latin to English, One Remarkable Year. 

Mark Edward Fishbach, and Ethan Mark Darling-Nestor started the channel Unus Annus one year ago on November 15th, 2019. November, Friday the 13th, 2020, marks Unus Annus’s death. To celebrate the pair are having a long twelve hour livestream. From 12 pm to 12 am PST. In CST, Arlington’s time zone the stream will span from 2 pm to 2 am.

The pair created this self destructing channel to press the idea that time is limited, and death is inevitable. “We live our lives taking each second for granted.” “But what would you do if you knew how much time you had left?” Where the opening words of Unus Annus’s first video, posted at 12 am PST. This video set up the theme for  the year to come. Through the year Ethan, and Mark challenged themselves to go further beyond what they thought they could do. “We took each day on as a new adventure, an opportunity to learn, to grow, to step out of our comfort zones. Whether it was being pepper sprayed, or making breakfast with the unlikeliest of tools, this defined Unus Annus.” Ethan wrote in his letter to the channel. But by the end of the year it seemed to grow more cryptic, and emotional.

Ethan and Mark in The Truth of Unus Annus 13 days before the end of Unus Annus 

Unus and Annus in The Truth of Unus Annus 13 days before the end of Unus Annus 

At face value Unus Annus was a simple channel, where two idiots tried to live life to the fullest. Now it seemed Unus and Annus were separate characters from Ethan, and Mark respectively, and as the clock ticked on Unus and Annus took over more, and more.

 On October 31st, 2020, Unus and Annus took over the channel a mere 13 days before the end. “Time’s up, it’s been quite a year hasn’t it? Now it’s over. A year is many things, but it’s not forever. There are no second chances, no do overs. You had your one year. Now it’s over. It’s finally time to accept the truth.” Unus and Annus explained to Ethan, and Mark over their walkie talkies. Though Unus and Annus appeared to the viewers before, in the first video, Unus Annus. Again in This Is The End, and once more in This Is Goodbye, posted with 100 days of Unus Annus left. “The end isn’t something you need to fear anymore.  You don’t need us to hold your hand anymore. You’re so much stronger than you know. You have so much potential. You have drive, you have passion, you have creativity. We’re happy to have walked this journey together with you. We’ll always be with you, in your memories. And we’ll have watched over you until the bitter end. “

This is Goodbye was a simple reminder that time was running out, and we had to use it wisely. 

And boy did people use it. The Unus Annus fandom is a bustling community full of creativity. Whether in art, songs, stories, or theories the community had no end to their potential just as Unus had told us in This Is Goodbye. In the final stretch we got to experience many fun things, one of the most notable being Camp Unus Annus. A week full of videos of Mark and Ethan having fun in the woods building tents, playing team building games, learning about the dangers of nature, running from bears, and hunting for the ever illusive HeeHoo. The viewers took the idea of Camp Unus Annus very quickly. Everyone made their own character that would go to the camp, found a camp buddy as to not break the buddy system, determined what cabin they’d be in, and of course sold out the merchandise for camp. 

Camp Unus Annus Councilors from left to right Evan, Ethan, Mark, Amy, Bear

Unus Annus has proven to bring people together in a wonderful way. For myself I’ve made many friends in my one year. I’ve written a story for everyone at camp that was extremely well received. Unus Annus has become a big part of many people’s daily lives in just a year! One Example is a student of Arlington high school, removedforstudent'sprivacy. I sat down with removedforstudent'sprivacy to ask her about her experience with Unus Annus 

Eclipse: Why do you think Unus Annus was made? 

Removedforstudent'sprivacy: I think it’s a social experiment  to see how the internet has conditioned us to seeing things as permanent. 

E: What is Unus Annus to you? 

J: I think it’s two idiot friends putting their most random video ideas together to create what Unus Annus is. 

E: What was your favorite video? 

J: Probably all of Camp Unus Annus, and the escape room, but my birthday video was Being Brutally Honest With Each Other and that was sweet. I loved seeing them (Mark and Ethan) communicate and just be thankful for having their year together

E: How has the Unus Annus experience changed you? 

J: 2020 as a whole changed me, and it was the perfect year for the channel. Though by the channel’s end I realized the meaning of life, and in fact I was wasting my own time watching the channel. 

The night Unus Annus ended I spent it with my friend, Removedforstudent'sprivacy. It was a chaotic night for us both, but I was able to ask him some things in between watching the clock count down, and crying.

Eclipse: Why do you think Unus Annus was made? 

Removedforstudent'sprivacy: I think it was to showcase the inevitability of death like they said it was. 

E: What was Unus Annus to you?

T: To me Unus Annus was another lifeline. If something was going wrong and I needed to ground myself the videos were there for me. 

E: How has the channel changed your outlook on life? 

T:It just made me happier. I’m more interested in being alive now, Unus Annus made me think life was worth more than was I initially thought. 

E: Are you ready for the end? 

T: I believed I was ready for the end, but then I watched it happen. Like everyone else, I was in denial that there was no way they’d delete the channel, then they did. Some piece of me left with it, but now it’s time to get over it. 

E: Did you use your year wisely? 

T: No. I feel like I could’ve done better for myself. I could’ve bettered myself mentally, emotionally, and intellectually but even with the time limit I just didn’t. 

And as the end drew closer I asked myself these questions. To me Unus Annus was a comfort channel. Over the year I grew more attached to Mark, and Ethan even though I’d been watching them both for years before. 

Now in a way, I understand how precious time is for all of us. Ethan, and Mark gave an entire year away to us, and now they’re both jumping back into work on their own channels without much of a break. Even as the channel came to an end I was never ready, days after I’m still mourning. I don’t believe I used my time wisely either. There’s some Unus Annus videos I haven’t even seen. I still have an unfinished story people are waiting on. The clock’s run out, and there’s still things I need to do. 

 

We live our lives taking each second for granted, but the end isn’t something you need to fear anymore. We did this year to the fullest. I was happy to walk onto the set today, we did our best, and everyone took it to heart. That’s all I wanted. See you on the other side. Memento Mori, Unus Annus.  We’ll always have the memories, and the merch of course. - Mark Edward Fishbach. 

Mark Fishbach, Amy Nelson (Mark’s significant other) and Ethan Nestor deleting the channel on stream

[gabriella-krasimira]

There was a point in time where Gabriella could understand that sentiment. Not going out on her own. Once upon a time, she'd be accompanied by Vanya anywhere she went. Not because she needed a babysitter or a chaperone but instead because she enjoyed the company the other woman offered. Liked sharing things with her. So she often didn't go places alone. And once the incident had happened, Gabriella didn't go out hardly at all. It didn't feel natural.

It still didn't feel natural sometimes but Gabriella was learning that she had to do things on her own now. It was simply how it was. If she wanted to continue living (something she wasn't truly convinced of some days) she would have to get used to it.

Working at The Court was certainly helping with that, thankfully. Having the purpose of getting up and performing, receiving praise from beautiful strangers. It was nice to have that again; to have that attention focused on her much in the same way Holley was sitting there talking with her and offering conversation and praise.

"Well you must treat yourself sometimes. Otherwise things get incredibly dull." She laughed softly, reaching forward to rest her hand against Holley's arm. "And besides, you'll have someone here who'll look out for you. Because I do expect to see you more often now that I know we have so much in common."

Holley helped out with reviews sometimes for work — of events around town, of new dishes in local restaurants, and whatnot. She liked doing it, since it required a certain analytical part of her brain. It was more fun than some of the fluff pieces she wrote about cute farm animals or what not, though she wouldn’t consider herself a critic.

That being said, she did enjoy a night out without having the thought in the back of her mind that she might 

(Of course she was here for work, technically. As in, she was here for the RAS to just keep a general eye about things). 

“I’ll have to do this more often,” she said. “I don’t usually go out on my own, but it was nice to just appreciate the music by myself. If that makes any sense.” She laughed a little, still disarmed by how beautiful Gabriella was. “I’m not very musical, but I’ve always appreciated the arts.”

@gabriella-krasimira

[gabriella-krasimira]

When Gabby had first gotten into the music business things had been... a lot less strict. She'd had a fun little romp with the man who wanted to produce her and the rest was history. When it was time to move on, she'd left that behind. At least until the next century and then things had been slightly different. She'd flirted her way into a studio, aided of course by her compulsion, and then recorded a few albums under one alias or another.

Here in Swynlake, though, she'd auditioned. In front of the owners and Jessica. There'd been no compulsion or trickery other than the lie about her age and her magical status. She'd been purposefully vague, not revealing her vampire status because they hadn't asked. Just asked if she was dangerous to their patrons.

"Well, I wouldn't really know. I auditioned here and that's the extent of my experience in the industry." She laughed lightly with a shrug of her shoulders. "I think for right now my aspirations are just singing here. I don't need to sing to a global audience."

@teamendous

Marcel nodded, his lips curling into an amused half-smile. He’d always had an…interest in music, but never had genuine dreams of pursuing it. Tea was more his ‘thing,’ anyway - but he’d never want to seem unsupportive of someone’s music career. He could’ve been one to do that sort of thing, anyway.

“I’m sure it is,” he replied, taking a sip of his drink. “How does one get into the music business anyway? Asking for a friend.”

[gabriella-krasimira]

Gabriella turned as she was complimented and did her best not to preen under the recognition. It had been a long time since she’d graced the stage. Her anger after what happened to Vanya had kept her from doing the thing she loved most. Mostly because it reminded her so much of her lost love. It was always Vanya who Gabby went to after performing; often preening like a peacock underneath the sweet words whispered in dark corners. 

She ignored the slight pang that reminded her that now this was all she had. Strangers congratulating her on a well done performance. 

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I was afraid that it would be a little too old fashioned compared to the other performers.”

Taran didn't know most of the music being sung here at The Court but that didn't stop him from hovering near the bar and drinking. It was a calm atmosphere for the most part and Taran found that he could be left mostly alone with his thoughts. Small talk wasn't so engaging after all.

When one of the singers in a red dress came over and ordered a drink beside him he smiled politely. "You sounded great up there." He kept his tone light, conversational, in case the singer needed to run off right away so she wouldn't feel obligated to linger. "Well done!"

[ Outfit ]

[gabriella-krasimira]

"You absolutely should," Gabby agreed, nodding seriously. With all the advancements that had been made with technology, she was still fondest of the record player. There was just something about putting on an old record and listening to music that way. She adored the pops and crackles that came from the speaker as the needle moved over vinyl.

"I have a few and I can safely say they are not a waste of money at all. Honestly, I think it's an important indulgence," she laughed then, signalling for the bartender to send over another round. "I know a few good brands if you need any help picking one out. It'd be shame if you splurged and didn't get one of good quality."

Oh, she was rather cute. Her shyness and awkwardness seemed genuine. Not some put upon act by someone who wanted to seem like something they weren’t. It made Gabby’s smile a bit warmer as she chuckled so softly at her words. “I was teasing, love,” she huffed softly, reaching forward to place a hand on the other girl’s arm lightly. 

“I’m glad I was able to speak to you through my song choice,” she hummed softly. Music nowadays could be so crass and unmeaningful. People only wanted to hear catchy tunes and tunes that could get stuck in your head. Not many wanted something meaningful or heartfelt. Which was quite sad. Music had the power to move a soul. To bring even the mightiest of men to their knees with emotion. She’d witnessed it first-hand many times. Had been the cause of it as well. 

“There’s just an artistry to older music. It’s so heartfelt,” she smiled, thinking of all the times she’d performed on a stage to Vanya. Filling each word with meaning as she crooned some of the greatest hits of the time. “I wish that was a trend that we would revisit as a society, honestly.”

[gabriella-krasimira]

"Oh? You were?" She raised an eyebrow at the other girl, still somewhat amused by her. Amused enough that she didn't feel a real need to excuse herself. She could enjoy her drink and trade harmless quips until she needed to go backstage to prepare for her next set.

"Gabriella," she enunciated, still hating when people got her name wrong. It was easy enough. "And you are?"

@aquata-the-champ

"Cool. Then I was right about you," Aquata said, which was kind of bullshit, but wasn't all flirting kind of bullshit? Wasn't that the point?

She wasn't under the impression that the singer genuinely wanted to talk to her all that much— she was probably just killing time until her next set, or until her shift was over. That didn't bother Aquata, though. This was more interesting than trying to hunt down Katie.

She took a sip of her drink. "What'd they say your name was up there? Gabrielle?"

@gabriella-krasimira

[gabriella-krasimira]

"Ah, well then, you'll definitely want to go to an antique store," she hummed as she took a sip of her drink. "People like to discard perfectly good things for no reason other than to de-clutter their homes. It's really sad, actually."

She hated that about people. How quickly they were to discard something that was perfectly fine. Though her own home wasn't cluttered by any means, she still had multiple storage units scattered here and there filled with things that were still fine. Artwork and furniture stayed in houses that she still owned across the globe. Things that had once belonged to Vanya that she couldn't bear to see on a daily basis were donated to museums so that if she wanted to see them again she could.

"Gabriella Krasimira," she smiled, extending her hands towards the other woman, Holley. "Well, I'm glad this isn't a work outing for you. You can enjoy the performances for what they are instead of having to deconstruct them for others. It truly is something special to just be able to experience music freely."

@miss-holleyshiftwell

Holley felt her cheeks flush again. She didn’t know what it was about this woman, but talking to her made Holley feel so flustered. But not in an unwelcome way. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the whole performance of it all, or the fact that this woman was just so beautiful and yet still was talking to her.

“That would be lovely,” Holley gushed. “I’d like to invest in something good. Not one of those cheap trendy things. Something classic that’s stood the test of time.” She paused, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’m Holley, by the way. Holley Shiftwell. I write for the Squire — I’m not here for work,” she added quickly. She’d learned that people sometimes assumed she was gearing up to interview them. “Just for fun. I thought I’d do something different tonight and I’m very glad I did.” 

[gabriella-krasimira]

It wasn't an apology at all. Which didn't bother Gabriella much. This girl didn't seem like the type to apologize often. And honestly nothing that had been said so far warranted one. It was nothing more than a simple back and forth and, truthfully, if Gabby had been actually offended she would have reacted in an entirely different manner.

Instead, though, she just gave a smirk and a huff of a laugh. "It will take a lot more than criticizing my drink of choice to offend me," she brushed the comment off with a wave of her hand. Performers needed to have nerves of steel, she thought. If she got offended by anyone who didn't agree with her or like something she did then she'd have no real business on a stage.

"I was under the assumption this was all good fun. Trading quips like we are. It's refreshing, actually."

@aquata-the-champ

It was more like the latter, really— Aquata did try to be welcoming to newcomers. She knew her family had been new once, after all, and it was only because of the generosity of the rest of the town that they’d settled in so easily. She wasn’t trying to scare the singer off or anything.

It was just... the kind of thing she said when she didn’t know what to say. Didn’t always come off the way she intended.

“Didn’t realize Manhattans and jazz standards were a touchy subject for people,” Aquata said, which was not an apology. Whoops. “Did I hurt your feelings?”

[gabriella-krasimira]

"Very astute," she hummed around a sip of her drink. Being new, she wanted to get a feel of the town. Without bringing too much attention to herself, of course. She liked biding her time, waiting to put herself out in society until she was positive she could spin just about any situation into her favor.

Flicking her eyes over to the other girl, she smiled easily. "Do you make it a point of insulting all the new people in town or am I just the lucky winner tonight?"

`Aquata definitely wouldn’t be calling anyone to complain. She liked trading barbs instead of compliments, and she was quite happy that the singer seemed to be on board rather than getting all offended like some people did. 

“Yeah, maybe,” Aquata replied, smirking. She took a sip of her drink. “You’re new here, right? I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Not that I come here that often, but it’s a small town. I thought I would’ve heard of you.”

[gabriella-krasimira]

Oh, she was rather cute. Her shyness and awkwardness seemed genuine. Not some put upon act by someone who wanted to seem like something they weren’t. It made Gabby’s smile a bit warmer as she chuckled so softly at her words. “I was teasing, love,” she huffed softly, reaching forward to place a hand on the other girl’s arm lightly. 

“I’m glad I was able to speak to you through my song choice,” she hummed softly. Music nowadays could be so crass and unmeaningful. People only wanted to hear catchy tunes and tunes that could get stuck in your head. Not many wanted something meaningful or heartfelt. Which was quite sad. Music had the power to move a soul. To bring even the mightiest of men to their knees with emotion. She’d witnessed it first-hand many times. Had been the cause of it as well. 

“There’s just an artistry to older music. It’s so heartfelt,” she smiled, thinking of all the times she’d performed on a stage to Vanya. Filling each word with meaning as she crooned some of the greatest hits of the time. “I wish that was a trend that we would revisit as a society, honestly.”

“Oh not at all! I’m usually too anxious to do that,” Holley blurted out. 

That was the truth, really. Not that Holley had problems talking to people, but she always struggled with figuring out what to say that wouldn’t immediately make her seem weird. Because she got in her head about that, she ended up usually not saying anything. Except when she did, like now, because she had been so moved.

She took a nervous sip of her drink, knowing that she should say something else now, because what she’d just said had been weird and she didn’t want this lovely woman to think she was weird. 

“I adored your song choice,” she confessed. “I like older music and fashion, so… I suppose that’s what spoke to me. And your voice just fit it so well.” 

[gabriella-krasimira]

Gabby didn’t miss the way this girl sized her up. If she hadn’t been riding quite the high from being on a stage again she would have laughed. They had no idea. They never did. Gabby was able to play her part perfectly; always appearing like the stubborn young adult she looked like. Though in some instances, like this, Gabby wanted nothing more than to bare her teeth if only because this girl was seemingly demeaning in a way that grated on her nerves.

“Well it would seem the town needs it with class acts like yourself,” she retorted easily, flashing an easy smile. Surely Jessica and Rita wouldn’t mind her being a little cheeky with a customer who was riding the line of flirty and rude. It wasn’t as if she was so offended she was calling for DeSoto or Roscoe. 

"Right, got it," Aquata said, with an unsubtle up-and-down look.

Maybe Aquata was feeling a little bolder than usual tonight. Katie was annoying her, and Aquata had already finished her first drink, and it was possible she'd never see this woman again, anyway. The Court had guest stars sometimes. It wasn't often they permanently added someone to the lineup.

She leaned an elbow on the bar. "So I guess you're here to bring some sophistication to our provincial little town?" she added drily.

[gabriella-krasimira]

Gabriella smiled as she was complimented. Of course she knew that her song was really good. It was one she had been performing for decades at this point. Kitty had been a dear friend of hers in the forties and they duo had perfected the song as a surprise for both of their sweethearts. Grant for Kitty, who was just coming home from war, and Vanya for Gabby, an apology for throwing a tantrum and forcing them to leave their last home. 

So, in a way, it was her song. So to speak. Though it could never be proven now. Unless someone went on a deep deep dive of the history of the song and Kitty’s life.

“Thank you,” she smiled as she stopped by the man who had complimented her. “I’m glad you enjoyed the performance. Though, I have to say the next act is just as good. If not better.”

Marcel usually hated bars but did not hate anything inside of bars. Which seemed ironic, to say the least. Bars were loud and overcrowded, yet fun enough for him not to frequent. In his mind, the same logic applied to social gatherings in general. Maybe moving to a big city like London would’ve made him feel less uneasy.

Yet there he was, sipping on a mocktail, watching someone performing from his seat at the bar with an amused expression on his face. Once they’d finished, he took a swig of his drink and eyed them once they’d approached near where he was. “That was good,” he spoke before taking another sip. “Like, really good.”

[gabriella-krasimira]

An eyebrow rose at the question. Rude, really. Though there was a part of Gabriella that wanted to laugh. This girl, apparently, didn't give a damn about social graces. It was... refreshing, actually. Although she did enjoy being fawned over, this was nice too.

"I believe it's 2023. But class is timeless," she replied without pause, sending a self-satisfied smirk the girls way.

Aquata didn’t frequent the Court of Miracles— she much preferred the loud music and bright lights of Pixie's. But Katie had a crush on one of the sound guys here and Aquata was being a good friend or whatever. Once Katie slipped away to chat him up after the set, Aquata made her way to the bar.

"A Manhattan?" Aquata said, raising an eyebrow. She didn't recognize this performer— she definitely would have remembered her. Of course, she could have been smooth and said something like that, but instead Aquata opted to say the first thing that popped into her head. "What year are we in again?"

[outfit]

[gabriella-krasimira]

The woman was right. She did get that a lot. It was easy for people to become enamored with her. Though, that wasn't something she broadcast freely. People liked a somewhat humble talent, she'd found. They were more palatable.

Annoying, really.

But she smiled sweetly before taking a small sip of her drink. "Thank you," she replied easily, setting her drink down on the bar and leaning against it. "Though, I'm sure you say that to all the performers."

Holley didn’t frequent the Court a lot, but ever since the whole debacle at the Valentine’s Day party with Jessica Rabbit, she and the other agents had decided they should keep an eye on Jessica and the Court, just in case any anti-Magick sentiments should arise.

Agent Wahed absolutely refused to leave the house any more than he needed and he said that going to the Court conflicted with his Swynlake persona. Rogers was in Australia on a side mission. Hawkins had just arrived, and honestly probably would be the best fit. But Holley volunteered. She was restless. She wanted to prove herself. She was tired of only dealing with Flynn.

(She felt guilty about it, for some reason).

And she’d gone to the Court before, a few times. It wasn’t out of the realm for her to, anyway.

She was sipping a little cocktail at the bar, when the latest performer sauntered over. Holley eyed her. She was a beautiful woman, who’d had a marvelous performance. It had been one of the few the whole night that really captivated Holley. But then again, she’d always had a fondness for old music. 

“I’m so sorry — I’m sure you get this a lot, but I adored your performance,” Holley said, shyly. “You’ve got a lovely voice.