The ambiance here is subdued, with strategic spotlights; deep crimson, argent silver and brilliant gold highlighting performers, chosen tables, and key architectural features, the mood set and maintained by the fusion of glam gothica that is The NightSide. Around the walls, art deco adornments in the same wrought iron as the tables creep their way from the gable fixtures, the thorned vines and flowing faux ivy spreading out across the walls./span>/span/b60F(15C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At Mayflower and Oakwood/span>/span“Casey.” Casey replies to Sebastion as she bends forward over the man’s table to reach across and offer her hand out to Sebastion. “I work here, I’m a singer though I think it might be tacky if I sing for Karaoke tonight.”

August tips the bill of his cap towards Matthew and Malin, “Good to see you two,” with a little narrow-eyed look over Malin, “Even if one of you stole the other from me.”

Sebastion takes Casey’s hand into his own, shaking it briefly as that smile lingers “Singer? I’m planning on doing some performances in the future myself.”

Matthew reaches an arm across Malin’s back, starting to lead her in, “She got me going, now you–” he looks to August, “I think we owe each other a duet for our bachelor romance that never got off the ground.”

Malin tilts her own head as she squints her blue eyes at August. “I’m a terrible person, what can I say? But good to see you, too,” she says, leaning in as Matthew leads her onward.

“No shit? Do you sing or play instruments cause I could totally use a guitarist for backup.” Casey ask Sebastion. Looking surprised but also pleased by the revelation. She gives the hand a gentle shake then she pulls back to stand straight.

Matthew makes his way over towards the stage, Malin at his side as he unwinds a hand from her back to waves up at the people there. “Hey coach!” he starts yelling towards Roberta

Sebastion chuckles a bit as he lounges back in his seat, shaking his head at Casey “I suppose I can do a bit of singing. But mostly I’m a rapper. Punk rap, specifically if you’re looking for a sound.”

Malin starts to laugh over the way Matthew greets Roberta. “Hey, Bobbie. Got a wrench you can throw at Matthew?” she wonders. “He needs to learn how to expect the unexpected a bit more, I think.”

Stepping over to the tables, Roberta claps her hands to get people’s attention before moving on to anything else.

“Okay, to begin with, housekeeping. Fire escapes– We have none.” She shouldn’t be serious, but apparently she is. “So if a fire breaks out, I suggest you try not to burn or use the one exit we have.”

“There are two bars in use here. One to the north and one to the south. The pink haired man wont flirt with you unless you have a penis. The gal will no matter what. Just tip them well and what ever.”

A beat as Malin and Matthew enter, and she concludes with, “This is open mike, so you’ll also have to fight each other to sing. I’m not usually a karaoke gal, I’m a professional club singer, and honestly– It’s more fun to watch you fight for attention, so away you go at your own leasure. I ain’t being payed for this.” And so saying, she finds a seat and sits, feet up on the table.

Malin glances down at herself to inform, helpfully, towards Roberta, “I don’t have a dick.”

Malin winks playfully at Roberta. “I bet I can get him to anyway!”

Matthew bounces his brows, “Who wants drinks, I’ll buy,” he offers, looking between Malin and Roberta.

Casey nods along with what someone is saying but as it gets busier in the establishment she struggles to hold the conversation. She studies the oncoming people one after the other

Casey nods along with what Sebastion is saying but as it gets busier in the establishment she struggles to hold the conversation. She studies the oncoming people one after the other

Sebastion seems to have no issues letting the conversation drift, lingering at his seat with satisfied ease as his gaze drifts about.

Matthew glances back towards Casey, his head tipping to the side. “Did we meet recently?” he asks her from where he stands with Malin and before Roberta.

“Booze me up,” Malin says to Matthew in response to his question. “Sugar Daddy,” she teases him.

“I’ll grab someone to drink later.” Roberta assures Matthew.

Glancing around to each Matthew, Malin, Sebastion, Constance and Casey, she asks, “Anyone want first crack at the limelight?”

“I don’t think so.” Casey tells Matthew with a friendly smile parting her black painted lips. She shows off her pearly whites at him then to be overly friendly steps a little closer to hold out a hand in offering, “I’m Casey though. I was at the fair briefly but I was also wearing a mask.”

Sebastion shakes his head a bit in response to Constance’s inquiry, seeming perfectly content where he is.

Matthew huffs out a laugh and reaches to swat Malin’s rear. “Only because you’re a sexy baby,” he teases, though as Casey drifts nearer, he reaches out to take the hand, “Matthew,” he says, and then motions to the woman beside him, “And this sexy baby is Malin.”

“Oh, nice to meet you too.” Casey says to Malin when she’s introduces with mild surprise at first. “I hope someone works up the courage to sing something soon huh?”

Matthew gives Casey’s hand a firm up and down handshake, like some kind of business man and then he’s tipping head towards the bar, “I’ll be back, and if nobody’s on stage, Roberta, I’ll… chug and glug and then sing.”

Constance shrugs. “Not particularly. I can go in the middle.”

Helplessly, Malin laughs when Matthew calls her a ‘sexy baby.’ “Mars has ruined my reputation,” she murmurs at him, making the tiniest squeak when her ass gets smacked. “Hello, Casey,” is said in a warm tone to Casey. “Lovely to meet you.”

Sebastion shook his head at Roberta, not Constance.

Malin glances around. “If people are shy, I can go. I didn’t prepare anything…”

Constance rubs her chin. “But since we’re fighting over it, I may as well,” she comments, deciding to stand up and head for the stage.

Malin applauds Constance’s bravery.

“Be my guest.” Roberta invites Malin. “Also.” she bellows out to Matthew, “You said Dobie wrong.”

A nod to Constance, and Roberta settles back in her seat. Apparently she was very serious about the lack of effort.

Matthew returns to Malin’s side with a pair of drinks, one of which is passed over to the Swede as he looks about for an empty table. He finds one, pointing it out to all within the cluster, “Shall we sit down?”

Constance cracks her neck and then does onto her phone and sets up a backing track on the provided karaoke machine. Presuming there is one. It appears to be a rap-style beat.

Sebastion perks up a bit with interest as he hears the beat, watching Constance curiously.

Constance clears her throat. “I came here today specifically so I can talk shit about vampires on a vampire’s stage during a vampire’s karaoke,” she drily comments. “Alright-“, and then she launches into the song. “If you gon bite, we will bite right back – if you gon slide, where your ice at?”, she raises her cross from her cleavage. “We already knew you ain’t bright like us – when we dawn on you, you won’t like it. Run you through like a sunbeam, nut on your face call it sunscreen. Play with me, let my guns speak and there will be only one scene.”

Lykaia laughs suddenly.

Malin just kind of stares at Constance as she sings.

Sebastion freezes suddenly as the words sink in, looking a bit confused before the sunscreen line gets him, snorting out a loud laugh.

Casey stays standing in the room, looking a touch uncomfortable with sitting. While shes there she idly looks at her finger nails which are painted alternating red and black then she furrows her brow when she notices a bite mark on her wrist. She mouths, “The fuck?” but doesn’t interrupt on the performance. She looks a little pouty after discovering this little mark

Constance grabs at the microphone and picks it up, raising it to her colossal stature. “Keep it up with the shit-talking, I’ll have you throwin’ up blood for real – I’ll see to it that you’re crypt walking. You might be nocturnal creatures, but tonight you’re out of luck – bite my style and on my momma I will leave you biting dust. Stand of business at my doorstep, you gonna hate outside the club – Casting Detect Motion and your broke ass ain’t picking up.”

Matthew settles into one of the tables, pulling out three chairs, occupying one beside Malin, the third has him glancing towards Casey but since she’s standing he shrugs and attention is taken all for Constance. His attention splits between that stage and his phone, and he leans to whisper again to someone.

Matthew settles into one of the tables, pulling out three chairs, occupying one beside Malin, the third has him glancing towards Casey but since she’s standing he shrugs and attention is taken all for Constance. His attention splits between that stage and his phone, and he leans to whisper again to Malin.

Constance continues, “Got ties with Apollo the way I got the dawn guarding me – Blood gang got no flow so you’ll never go half as hard as me.”, she states, evidently running out of lines by the way her brow furrows.

Constance concludes her performance with a rapid “Cock-suckers you can swallow me, go look at yourself in the mirror- have a cuck-off with Gadfly and we already know who’s the winner, damn. Screwed the Court cause I needed a nut and I still have bolts in my quiver – I am the coldest bitch I know and all of my ice is silver.” She puts the microphone back down into the holder and crosses her arms.

Casey loses her bad attitude when she listens to Constance’s lyrics which get a playful laugh out of her that doesn’t carry over the various sounds in the room. She crosses her arms to cover up her midsection while she stands there.

Sebastion is grinning nearly ear to ear as he listens to Constance’s performance, seeming at the very least, amused. He claps his hands as the song comes to an end for the woman brave enough to freestyle a diss track on karaoke night.

Roberta should likely be offended, but obviously isn’t.

Constance heads back down to her table and lands, the chair groaning in protest under her weight.

Roberta snorts a laugh. “That’s a way to open things.”

Matthew blinks slow like he’s just been slapped with a frozen glove. “Damn,” he murmurs to Malin, low, “She dropped that and just stood there. A cuck off with Gadfly? I’m not gonna unpack that one, I’m gonna archive it.” He laughs and adds, “And if ice is silver, I hope she’s budgeting for the tarnish, absolutely devastating. I think the Court’s gonna be proud of this one.”

Amber shuffles into the club, beelining for an empty table to slip herself into as unobtrusively as possible.

Malin listens as Matthew whispers to her, blue eyes watching Constance, and then applauding the unique performance. She grins at Matthew.

Matthew applauds, “Hey, I loved the freestyle,” he calls over towards Constance. Malin’s question earns a shrug, “Only if he comes back.”

Malin glances around. “Anyone up next, or should I go?”

Malin gasps, and then she points at Amber. “Oh, hi.”

Matthew glances at Malin, “Tell me what to sing and I’ll go,” he relays to her, “I’m having decision paralysis.”

Malin gazes back at Matthew. “I don’t know!” she tells him as she tries to think of a song for the man.

Malin suggests, “Barbie Girl.”

Matthew stands up, “I was told to sing–” but then he gets Malin’s suggestion and nods, “okay.” And with that he’s hiking up to the stage. “DJ, queue up that Barbie girl, please.”

Clapping for Constance, Roberta pauses to place two fingers between her lips to whistle for the gun nun.

“I should get my boys to kick your ass for that, but I gotta admit, it was hilarious.” she decides. “Anyone else want to take a belt?”

“I have something to do, but I think I’ll wait before I destroy your minds.”

“Or that.” Fingers snap and she points at Matthew. “Do Barbie.”

Malin looks delighted when Matthew just goes for it. She sits back in her chair, wearing a broad grin across lips that are just a little unnaturally plump.

Amber gives a quiet thumbs-up towards Malin, sinking tiredly into her chair. Attention turns to Matthew now as he gets up.

Matthew steps up to the mic and with a deliberate kind of laziness, like this is both beneath him and exactly his domain at the same time. He doesn’t introduce the song beyond that request, he just lets teh first line drop from his mouth like a secret, all high pitched: “Hiya Barbie! Hi Ken.” The next line’s all exaggerated sing-song cadence, lip curling around each syllable. “You wanan go for a ride? Sure, Ken Jump, in!” And then the beat starts to pick up.

Watching from her place at a table, Malin cannot help but to laugh as she watches Matthew begin the song. Still, she looks proud of that man.

It’s impressive. Roberta actually puts her feet down to watch Matthew with this song. Fingers steeple and she waits with figurative bated breath.

Casey watches the performance with an amused expression but mostly keeps to herself for the next while

As the chorus comes in Matthew’s is leaning into it, getting fully into character. “I’m a Barbie girl, in a Barbie woooooooooorld!” he sings in a sugary high voice that borders on mocking but never quite tips. He’s never on key, though, the guy really can’t sing. His fingers flick once or twice, subtle flourishes like he’s giving out the laziest jazz hands the world has ever seen. “Life is plastic, it’s fantastic. You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere!”

“imagineation, life is your creation!”

barely moves, but his posture is pure theater: shoulders loose, chin tilted, like he’s halfway through a conversation with someone more interesting and this song just happened to be playing. When it’s time for Ken’s part he lowers his voice into a faux-manly pur, pitching it up a breath later with no explanation. “Come on barbie let’s go party”

“OW OW OWWWWWWW OW”

Malin only laughs more as Matthew continues.

Matthew settles into both rolls, a hand on his hip as he leans into it, singing out Barbie’s parts into the mic, “I’m a blonde bimbo girl in a fantasy world, dress me up, make it tight, I’m your dolly!” Then for Ken’s he’s standing upright, a crooked grin to the ground, a wink at Malin from his place on the stage. “You’re my doll, rock and roll, feel the glamor in pink. Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky.”

Matthew keeps it up, settling into a dance that is realyl just a bobbing up and down bounce to the beat, singing the same wrods over and over now, abandoning the lyrics all together as he engages only with the crowd.

“I’m a barbie girl, in a barbie world, life in plastic, it’s fantasitc!”

“You can brush my hair, undress me everywheeere”

“imagination, life is your creation!”
And then it’s right back into Ken mode. He points a finger at Roberta now, “COme on Barbie let’s go party, AH AH AH, Yea!”

Casey is next, beckoning her like this might get her onto the stage. “COme on Barbie let’s go party. Oooh whoa ooh whoa!”

Now he’s eyeing up Sebastion, singing to him, “Come on Barbi let’s go party…”

and on and on he goes.

Malin winks right back at Matthew. She exhales out an amused sound as she watches him perform.

Sebastion is just enjoying watching the show, lazing back in his seat as he watches Matthew, smirking as he watches the performance, head nodding slowly along with the beat of the song.

The song is coming to a close and Matthew carries the mic right off the stage, deciding to walk on over to Amber, a smile as he speaks those final words in a high pitched Barbie voice. “Oh, I’m having so much fun.” he drifts from her over towards Malin next, taking up Ken’s lines, “Well, Barbie, we’re just getting started!” Then he angles the mic for her to give that final line.

Matthew mouths it to Malin, ‘I LOVE YOU KEN’ theatrically, using his free hand to encourage it out of the Swede.

Easily, Malin says in her most Barbie-slash-Danish singer voice, “Oh, I love you, Ken,” to Matthew into the microphone.

Matthew holds the mic up like a trophy and look about the room, for the next performer.

“Ah, ah, ah yeah!” Roberta calls out in the socially expected refrain from her location in the peanut gallery, voice high to compliment Matthew’s romantic overtures to Sebastion.

Amber sinks deeper into her chair, if that’s even possible, as Matthew comes her way and drawing attention with him. A huff of relief can be seen, if not heard under all the music, as he departs for Malin. But once it’s over, she gives him an applause. Slow, tired applause, but applause.

Sebastion claps for Matthew with a toothy grin from his seat, clearly enjoying himself.

Matthew carries his trophy mic back to its stand, leaving it there before he reclaims his drink, finally taking that first sip. A bow and then off he goes, reclaiming a chair beside Malin.

Roberta claps for Matthew, already looking around for the next person to put on the spot, gaze drifting to Sebastion, Lykaia, Amber, Casey and Malin.

Malin kisses Matthew on the cheek when he rejoins her, but then she’s up and heading to the stage.

Matthew cheers and applauds Malin as she rises for the stage, “Okaaaaaaay Malin, let’s see what you got!”

Malin starts off by clapping for Matthew and saying, “You were an inspiration. Thank you for that lovely performance.”

Iconic and absolutely recognisable in an instant, the opening of Malin’s song begins with a bright and synthetic hi hat sort of a shuffle paired with a very distinctive and plucky synth riff. It’s all chirpy and bouncy, because it’s…

NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP by Rick Astley.

You just got Rickrolled by Malin. You’re welcome! It’s nineteen eighties nostalgia, yo. Or that link someone tried to troll you with recently.

Sebastion rolls his eyes at Malin, a physical response he can’t hold back as that opening drum line kicks in.

Matthew grins at Sebastion, “Thanks, bro. I’m Matthew,” he says, and he’s midway towards standing to offer a proper introduction and handshake but uh oh. They’ve been Rick Rolled! someone
Just stares at the stage and Malin and suddenly he starts laughing.

Amber snapes her eyes from her phone to Malin at the announcement of the song, both fists pumping up into the air. “Woo! Stole my gimmick, fucker!” she shouts good-naturedly.

Matthew grins at Sebastion, “Thanks, bro. I’m Matthew,” he says, and he’s midway towards standing to offer a proper introduction and handshake but uh oh. They’ve been Rick Rolled!

Just stares at the stage and Malin and suddenly he starts laughing.

Sebastion shakes his head, snorting out a small laugh he can’t seem to hold back as he’s hit with the internet classic, his attention turns briefly toward Matthew, “Seb.” He exchanges.

Now, Malin’s voice drops in, and also just drops, trying to sound like the original singer rather than herself. The tone is low as she’s attempting to be a baritone and a bit theatrical, but it sounds more like she has laryngitis as she croons whilst trying to sound like a dude, “We’re no strangers to love. You know the rules and so do I. A full commitment what I’m thinking of, you wouldn’t get this from any other guy…” The lyrics continue to the meme-worthy chorus. “Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down!” Her voice is not full bodied and velvety. It’s three octaves too high now and she enhances it with fake vibrato as lips tremble like she’s trying to conjure Barry White through sheer will. Her voice returns to the fake bass bravado for the rest of the song, and then it is over. Thank goodness.

“She Rick Rolled me in Chinese,” Matthew shares with Sebastion as he drifts towards his table, “True story.”

Sebastion waves a hand lazily at the stage, smirking back at Matthew “So she’s known for this. I’ll be sure to keep on my toes now.”

With that, Malin gives your eardrums some peace and quiet, she bows, and returns to the tables.

Matthew claps for Malin as the song ends, smirking and shaking his head in mock-dismay, “You a troll,” he calls to her like it were the most affectionate thing in all the world to say. Over to Sebastion there’s a nod, “Yes, this is something she does.” And with that he drifts back to his chair, noting Obadiah. “OBIE! We getting that Jimmy outta you?”

Amber gives Malin a double thumbs-up and a grin before sinking back into her chair to try to avoid getting called on next.

Rick rolled. Could there be anything worse? And yet, just like a car crash, Roberta cant look away, captivated until the end where she’s forced to clap for Malin.

“Well then.” she sighs. “I suppose I should throw my hat in the ring.”

Obadiah flops down at a table, “I have escaped the mists to grace you with my presence”

Malin is indeed a troll, and she has no issue with that. She leans into Matthew’s side for a moment as she sits beside him, and then smiles broadly over at Obadiah. As Roberta announces her intentions, she wolf whistles at the woman on stage.

“I’m not doing karaoke.” Roberta insists to the gathering, voice bombarding the room as she passes too close to the mic in her pacing. “I could, but I’ve prepped this for weeks. Unfortunately the Crout I wrote it for isn’t here, so it loses some of its oomph.”

Stepping up from her seat and crossing the room to the stage, Roberta explains, “A while ago, I was challenged to write a song about Lorelei somehow being sexy eating ribs– Which everyone knows is impossible, because that shit’s messy as fuck.”

Ascending, Roberta takes center stage. She clears her throat and announces, “I’d like to say I succeeded in this, but let’s be honest…” Both hands are raised, gloved palms up in a shrug, “It was an impossible task, so instead, you can suffer by hearing how I failed.”

Roberta strikes a pose, gestures off-stage to one of the club’s workers, and she waits for the melody to begin.

“Messy is sexy!” Malin calls to Roberta rather loudly.

Constance says “Uhoh. “

Amber nods her agreement to Malin’s shout-out, though attention lingers on Roberta for the coming performance.

Snapping the mic from the stand, Roberta promices Malin, “Just wait.” Then, unfortunately for everyone, it begins.

Matthew perks up with interest, for some reason sexy barbecue consumption is of interest as he leans to murmur quietly with Malin.

Roberta opens her arms wide. One step forward, and the backing track begins; Pre-prepped and already to go as Roberta launches into a crooning romantic country and western meets tween pop melody that could only come from from Nickelodeon’s discarded failed attempts at entertainment.

“Saw you by the fire, skin glowing in the night,”

“Manticore ribs on your plate, a tempting sight.”

“Copper curls cascade, wild and undone,”

“Your eyes catch mine, like a loaded gun.”

“Barefoot on the gravel, attitude so fierce,”

“Every move you make, my desire just pierces.”

“White tee clings to curves, hinting at the fire,”

“Mini skirt sways, fueling my desire.”

A slow instrumental bridges, and Roberta launches into the pre-chorus, hamming it up with incongruous funk dance steps– All the hip thrusts, expansive gestures and sultry memories of more sexy (apparently more BBQ sauce dripping times.

Roberta’s tone grows higher, a more up-beat melody taking over. “Your lips stained with sauce, fingertips dripping sweet,”

“I watch you lick ’em clean, cant help but repeat.”

“A siren in the shallows, breath hot and deep,”

“Lorelei, girl, you make my heart leap.”

Obadiah leans back in the chair, riskily lifting the front two feet off the ground, and shoves his hands in his pockets as he watches Roberta with interest, grinning with amusement at the premis.

Constance says “I retroactively affirm that everything I sang about was 100/ the truth and I want to fight even more now.“

A single stamp of the foot and Roberta belts out the chorus with exactly zero shame, and the kind of frenetic motion found only in coked up Disney pop idles gone to be Old Yellered.

“Hey Lorelei, with those copper curls,”

“Rising from the river, you own the world,”

“In that white tee, so simple, so bold,”

“Mini skirt swaying, stories untold.”

“Raised by the water, reckless and free,”

“You flirt like the tide, wild and carefree,”

“Sizzling ribs and a smoky glaze,”

“Your fingers glisten, temptation ablaze.”

Matthew whistles and cheers for Roberta’s song, “Ayyyyyyyyy,” he’s clearly a fan. and his phone is out, now, he’s recording, he’s capturing the video and all its lyrics.

Malin watches with an amused gaze as Roberta performs on the stage. She’s nodding her head in approval of the lyrics.

“I am strangely both aroused and hungry,” Obadiah says, joining in with Matthew in cheering Roberta on.

Sebastion bobs his head slowly at Roberta’s performance, smirking a bit at Obadiah’s words, snickering in agreeance.

“I know, I really want some barbecue now,” Matthew says to Obadiah, “Like saucy ribs and fatty brisket, yes please!”

Playing up to the crowd, and Matthew’s recording, Roberta licks her fingers slowly, teasingly, temptingly in exactly the way that never works outside of chubby chaser meetings.

Constance shudders, eyes glassy as she stares off into nothing, frowning.

Casey comes back from her lengthy daze, she looks amused at the

The albino’s voice sinks into the self-same crooning cadence it began with before falling silent. The melody turns over, crashing like waves on the beachhead, and then Roberta continues with the second verse (God help you all)

“Long walks off short piers, whispers in the dark,”

“Your voice with a body count, igniting my spark.”

“Dramatic hair flips– red hair like fire,”

“Every gesture, girl, fuels my desire.”

”

“German, English, Portuguese– your languages tease,”

“Fluent in all, making my pulse increase.”

“Eye contact dangerous, blue-green and bold,”

“Lorelei girl, youre a story yet to be told.”

A second stamp, and Roberta twirls, launching once more into that ramping frenetic pre-chorus.”

“Your lips stained with sauce, fingertips dripping sweet,”

“I watch you lick ’em clean, cant help but repeat.”

“A siren in the shallows, breath hot and deep,”

“Lorelei, girl, you make my heart leap.”

Casey comes back from her lengthy daze, she looks amused at the sight and song of Roberta on stage and she gives a holler of approval, “Go get it”

Another stamp of the foot and Roberta belts out the second chorus, fully into the insanity of the piece, this time a lick of the lips, tongue lingering over a fang in the most eighties goth club way she can melodramatically wing.

“Hey Lorelei, with those copper curls,”

“Rising from the river, you own the world,”

“In that white tee, so simple, so bold,”

“Mini skirt swaying, stories untold.”

“Raised by the water, reckless and free,”

“You flirt like the tide, wild and carefree,”

“Sizzling ribs and a smoky glaze,”

“Your fingers glisten, temptation ablaze.”

Matthew keeps right on filming Roberta’s performance, “Look at her clean the sauce off her fingers,” he’s speaking to nobody or maybe a hidden audience behidn the lens, “I can’t believe she wrote a whole song about sexy barbecue fingers!”

Roberta’s voice grows softer… lethargic and wanting, with a desire that should be reserved for something far less preposterous than a song about some random person getting coated in sauce. Roberta’s voice is barely above a whisper, something yearning, delicate and tender, and the final words emerge, those of the outro.

“Girl, youre a storm I wanna chase,”

“Every glance, every taste, your wild grace.”

“In the glow of firelight, I lose control,”

“Lorelei, youve taken my soul.”

Those last few words are heart-wrenching, filled with need, something that lingers until the vocals conclude with the instrumental.

Malin looks very impressed as Roberta sings, and once it comes to an end, she rises to give a standing ovation.

Obadiah sighs, “I have to go. Sorry.”

Malin says “No, Obie. No.“

Casey claps along with the applause from Malin and whistles her approval at Roberta

Matthew says “NOBIE DONT GO“

Sebastion claps for Roberta, a grin lifting his lips as the performance comes to an end, chuckling softly as he thinks over the premise of the song.

“Had Lorelei been here,” Roberta calls out, setting the mic back into its holder, “I’d have tacked on a” (shit) “stirring ovation of do you really want to hurt me.” Seeing as the unfortunate woman Roberta was singing about isn’t however, she steps down from the stage, swaggering effortlessly back over to her vacated seat.

Malin busts up laughing over what Roberta says next. “You’re amazing, Bobbie,” she expresses enthusiastically. “I’m sorry Lorelei missed it. I’m sure she is going to be sad, too.”

Matthew claps a hand to his heart. “WHich will it be,” he’s asking the camera and Roberta, “Sweet or Spicy Lorelei?”

Casey cast her gaze over the crowd waiting, giving a chance for someone to jump up and volunteer with anxious excitement in her eyes.

“Why not both?” Roberta calls out to Matthew as she returns to comfort, feet raised to the table top. “So, anyone else got anything they’d like to do off the cuff?”

Kai gives a two-fingered salute to everyone and plops down onto a chair at a table by himself, peering around curiously, his gaze eventually ends up on Roberta.

Roberta Raises a hand to wave to Kai in a flicker of gloved fingers.

Malin gives a friendly wave to Kai.

“I’ll go!” Casey says after there is a long enough pause without any volunteers. She marches then towards the stage to climb up on it. The emo-punk girl gets behind the mic and leans in close so that her breath can be heard drawing in before she ask a question. “Should I be sticking with Karaoke, or do something of my own?”

“Go, Casey!” Malin calls to Casey, whom she really just met and knows absolutely nothing about, but she’s here to encourage.

As Casey moves to the stage, Roberta heralds her ascention to the limelight with a (sitting) ovation. “Do what you’re feeling, Darling.” she calls out.

Amber settles down into a slumped lean back into her chair. She glances sidelong at Kai’s arrival before attention turns back to Casey.

“Alright, its Karaoke then. See if you recognize this.” Casey says with a teasing smile on her lips. She steps aside, taking the time to set a track on the machine. She quickly returns to reach up to grasp the mic but she leaves it on the stand so she can sing up into it. Her tone is bouncy and bubbly as she waits for some music to play, it begins with a familiar 90s rock guitar.

He was a boy
She was a girl
Can I make it anymore obvious?
He was a punk, she did ballet..

The punk chick doesn’t pause as she grins while singing the next verse with a little more gusto, its a bait and switch.

What the FUCK does it matter anyway?
He didn’t try to make her cum.
ON top of all that he was a little dumb.

Sebastion laughs a bit as he hears the opening lines, flashing a wide grin to Casey up on stage.

Sebastion says “Classic. “

Malin stares at Casey now, and then she leans in asking Matthew, “Is that really what the lyrics are? I clearly need to pay more attention to songs.”

Casey continues, having more fun than raw talent with a song such as this. She bounces on her toes which makes her miniskirt bounce along with her movements,

“Honestly she was better off alone”
“Now He’s breathing down the phone”

The chorus kicks in,

“He was a skater boy,”
“She said ‘See you later, boy”
“He wasn’t good enough for her.”
“She’s not a therapist”
“Don’t wanna take care of him.”
“She’s an independent giiiirrrll.”

Kai stands back up and turns to walk out.

Amber lazily raises up rock-horns with her left hand as she listens to Casey despite her own tired expression.

Roberta smirks as the song begins… Then the bate-and-switch. There’s nothing for it. Roberta begins clapping in time to the beat as Casey sings.

Casey keeps up with the Sk8ter boy instrumental track playing with the play on words shamelessly stolen by another cover artist.

“Five years from now, in her beautiful home.”
“Somebody else is makin’ her moan.”
“Skater boy is alone with his hands on his balls.”
“Still punching holes in his basement walls.”

The chorus returns again and she plucks the mic off the stand so she can move around the stage a bit with some energy.

“He was a Skater boy!”
“She said ‘see you later, boy!”
“He wasn’t good enough for her.”
“She’s not a therapist.”
“Don’t want to take care of him.”
“She’s an independent girl.”

The punk chick shouts the chorus trying to get some more engagement with energy of the song while she leans a bit over the edge of the stage towards the crowd.

And now Matthew is squinting and asking Malin the very same question, “Are those the lyrics?” He really doesn’t know, but he lifts his drink hand up for Casey’s rendition.

Sebastion snickers a bit as he’s caught by the switch up, he wasn’t entirely sure either at first, but as the song plays on he’s certain, he shakes his head at Matthew “Definitely not.”

Malin looks just as confused as Matthew does over the song, but she raises her drink as well. “Wooooo!” she calls out at Casey.

Matthew nods at Sebastion, grateful for his clarification. “Okay, cus if you told me yes, I’d have believed you,” he says sincerely. A moment and then he’s bumping Malin offering up an introduction. “Malin, that’s Seb, have you met him yet?”

The track skips, returning the chorus one more time letting Casey repeat with some adjustments and even more energy and loudness as her pitchy voice matches the song.

“He was a skater boy.”
“She said ‘see you later boy.”
“He wasn’t good enough for her.”
“And now she’s a heavy hitter.”
“He needs a babysitter”
“But she’s finally found her woooorrrth.”

The song concludes and the girl seems quite self satisfied, she brings the mic to her lips and dedicates the song to whoever in her life prompted this, “Fuck you Jeff, you missed out.”

Matthew yells out a moment after Casey, “FUCK YOU JEFF YOU MISSED OUT!” He nods, punctuating the statement.

Malin has her gaze drifting to Sebastion as Matthew asks her that question. “I don’t believe so,” she confesses, and then introduces herself to Sebastion. “I’m Malin.”

“Yeah, fuck you, Jeff.” Roberta bellows. “You’re a bastard and always will be.”

Matthew then glances over towards Tessa where she’s sitting and asks, “You the yoga instructor with an exclusive studio?” He’s smiling, offering a wave, explaining, “I’m Matthew, also known as mega stud across the chat.”

Casey moves back to the mic stand to place the mic upon it before she speaks into it, “I’m Casey Morgan, the next big thing in fucking music. Come back and see my debut at the most rocking place in town, the Nightside!”

Sebastion nods once to Malin “Pleasure.” He offers, “Just got here like, five minutes before this karaoke thing started. Guess this was an interesting first introduction to the city.”

Sauntering in, Jessica glances about before taking a seat on the outskirts.

Tessa glances up from where she’s clearly been flicking between texting and chat, tippytapping with her thumbs, to give a demure smile to Matthew, saying, “I’m Tessa, though you hould know better than to take Jakem’s word as gospel immediately.” She stifles a laugh with her hand, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. “It’s on my list of goals, but I’ve only been around this way a few days.”

“Anyone else want to take a spin?” Roberta calls out, not bothering to move from where she’s lounging.

Malin offers up a genuine smile to Sebastion via lips that are just a little too plump to be natural. “Oh? Welcome, then. What a nice introduction to this place.”

Casey moves to pass off the stage and return to the tables. She’s a little sweaty and breathing heavy as the performance was so energized. For most of the night she’s been standing but now she plops tiredly into a chair to relax with a huff.

Matthew smirks at Jessica’s retort, no shame about it when he says, “Yeah but it’s more fun that way,” is his claim, hoisting up his cocktail in emphasis. “I’ll check it out when you get a studio going, and welcome to the city.” With that he’s looking back in Sebastion’s direction, “You too, welcome Seb. What brought you to the city?”

Sebastion nods lazily between Malin and Matthew, “Thanks, yeah.” At Matthew’s question, he teeters a hand “Eh. Trouble back home, and I heard this place was the next big thing. Figured I’d try my hand here with music.”

Malin listens attentively to Sebastion’s response and then she, too, nods her head. “Oh, what do you play?” she asks him curiously at the mention of music.

Matthew nods, “Yeah, that it is,” he confirms, all smile, falling silent when Malin poses her own question.

“He’s a rapper. The real slim shady.” Casey teases Sebastion by speaking for him towards Malin.

“I could always hire.” Roberta decides, shamelessly trying to snap the talent up before anyone else can, just as nature intended.

Roberta says “Give us an example?“

“Punk rap sounds fun,” Tessa muses absently as she scrolls on her phone.

Malin looks intrigued by Sebastion’s response, and she nods to Casey before asking the former, “Yeah, want to show off some on the stage?”

Sebastion twists his lips a bit to the side as he eyes the stage, telling Malin “I didn’t plan on it. Don’t really have anything prepared and I’m tired from the trip. But maybe.”

“Hey, I like rap,” Matthew enthuses towards Sebastion, nodding support to Malin’s suggestion. “Can’t say I’ve ever listened to that emo rap, but hey, I’m always down to hear something new.”

Glancing from the stage to Sebastion, back and forth, Malin squints a bit. “But maybe,” she repeats the man’s last words, but in a hopeful sounding tone.

Sebastion clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth at the encouragement to hop up there. He pauses before sighing, pushing up from his seat “Alright, sure. I can do a song- It won’t be rap though.” He moves to hop up on stage, nodding to the DJ “Prayer of the Refugee by Rise Against.”

Malin looks pleased when Sebastion decides to perform, and she reaches over to squeeze at one of Matthew’s hands.

Tessa gives a quick, sharp whistle of approval at the song choice.

Amber lifts a hand with a thumbs-up in quiet encouragement for Sebastion as he goes up.

Matthew smiles Malin and then he is looking towards the stage where Sebastion has gone to give the performance.

Sebastion takes hold of the microphone as the plucky guitar kicks off the song, “Warm yourself by the fire, son. And the morning will come soon…” He breathes, voice low as he sings, “I’ll tell you stories of a better time, in a place that we once knew.” Then the music begins to pick up, his voice rising “Before we packed our bags and left all this behind us in the dust. We had a place that we could call home-”

Sebastion sings on for a beat as he steps back, preparing for the chorus “And a life no one could touch-” The guitar stutters and he kicks into motion, banging his head as he jumps around on stage, shouting “Don’t hold me up now! I can stand my own ground- I don’t need your help now, you won’t let me DOWN! DOWN! DOWN!” He moves about the stage, thrashing around, feeling the energy of the song move through him as he lifts a hand to motion to the audience to get up on their feet “Don’t hold me up- Now! I can stand my own ground! I don’t need your help now! You won’t let me DOWN! DOWN! DOWN! DOOOWWWWN!” He holds that last note, belting out before the instrumental calms down, leaving him panting softly away from the mic as he waits for his queue.

“Wooo!” Casey cheers as she pops out of her chair, re-energized by Sebastion’s song. She bounces like she’s on springs. Getting into the music while being an encouraging groupie out in the crowd for Sebastion to see if he’s paying attention to the crowd.

Malin watches as Sebastion continues the performance, smiling as she takes it all in.

Matthew bobs his head along with the music as Sebastion gives the performance, looking like he’s enjoying the song.

Sebastion kicks back into the next verse, voice low to follow the instrumental, the calm before the storm “We are the angry and the desperate, the hungry and the cold. We are the ones who kept quiet- And always did what we were told.” Once again his voice lifts as the progression rises, energy building up to that chorus once again “But we’ve been sweating while you slept so clam in the safety of your home! We’ve been pulling out the nails that hold up everything you’ve know!” He grins out at the crowd, to Casey as she cheers, raising his hands in anticipation for the chorus as the guitar stutters again “DON’T HOLD ME UP- NOW! I can stand my OWN GROUND! I don’t need your HELP NOW, you will let me DOWN! DOWN! DOWN!”

As Sebastion stands to sing, Roberta reclines some more, the front two chair legs raising from the floor as the albino’s booted feet stretch out across her table. Arms crossing behind her head, she pauses long enough in luxuriating in the ambiance to offer Sebastion two thumbs up before crossing her arms, fingers linked behind Roberta’s head.

Tessa mouthes the words along with him, smiling subtly as she watches Sebastion perform.

Casey grips the bottom of her crop top with both hands and seems just on the verge of pulling it up to flash Sebastion a treat but she catches herself and realizes its not a concert where she might typically do that. She lets go of the fabric without revealing more than a couple of her ribs. Instead the emo chick throws up her hands and screams at the loudest part of the song so that she’s drowned out by the music.

Sebastion jumps around on stage as that energy drives him onward “DON’T HOLD ME UP! NOW! I can stand my OWN GROUND! I don’t need your HELP NOW! You will let me, DOWN! DOWN! DOWN!” The instrumental changes tempo as he clutches the mic in his hands, singing lowly into the mic, attention set on the audience, the mic is pulled away from his face a moment as he catches Casey almost flashing him, trying not to laugh “So open your eyes, child, let’s be on our way! Broken windows and ashes are guiding the way! Keep quiet NO LONGER! We’ll sing through the day!” He sings out as he recovers, voice building with the drums as he belts “Of the lives that we’ve lost- And the lives we’ve reclaimed!”

Sebastion kicks into the chorus once again as he whips his head around, rocking out on stage, shouting “GO!” As the guitar solo kicks in, jumping around as he thrashes and rages on stage, losing himself to the music “DON’T HOLD ME UP- NOW! I can stand my OWN GROUND! I don’t need your HELP NOW! You will let me DOWN! DOWN! DOWN!” He breaks into the final chorus, repeating the lines a few times over into the outro before the sing finally fades, leaving him panting as he wipes some sweat from his brow, hopping off stage.

Those figers unlace again, and Roberta lets her chair clatter forward back to all fours as she claps for Sebastion. “Beautiful.” she announces, smirking over to Casey, having noted her view of the piece earlier in the performance.

“Woo,” Amber lets out, throwing rock-horns again for a little while as Sebastion hops from the stage.

Matthew hollers out for Sebastion as he begins thrashing to the guitar solo, “Ayyy!” And even joins in on the chorus there at the end, “DOWN DOWN DOWN!”

Malin applauds Sebastion once the song is finished. “That was great!”

Sebastion draws his hands through his hair, letting out a breath as he flashes a grin to the crowd, “Thanks, appreciate everyone.” He says genuinely before collapsing back into his seat.

Slipping from her chair, Roberta takes up her opera cane as she steps away from her chair again to flash everyone a thumbs up. “Do we have any other contenders, or shall we start to let this devolve into drinks, drugs and what ever you people do when not here?”

“You were just a skinny punk who needed new threads. Now your a fuckin’ rockstar.” Casey praises Sebastion with a playful smile. “Pretty hot honestly.” then she throws him a wink as she too collapses into a seat nearby his table.

“I can’t do here what I do when I am not here,” Malin informs Roberta in a very matter-of-fact manner.

“You could, but you likely shouldn’t.” Roberta counters Malin.

Matthew glances aside at Malin, curious.

Sebastion snorts aside at Casey, plucking at his tank top “What’s wrong with what I got on?” He asks Casey “It’s breathable.” He informs her.

“You look homeless.” Casey verbally jabs Sebastion with a smirk. “But now there is potential..”

Malin winks at Roberta. “You’re not wrong,” she confesses, looking back to Matthew and then forcing a smile that suggests, although very poorly, innocence.

Constance says “I liked that one.“

Sebastion rolls his eyes, “These pants are fashionable.” He tells Casey “I even took the effort to sew in the patches.”

Casey blows a raspberry at Sebastion, sticking her tongue out some then she tells him, “You could use a chain at least. I’ll have to take you to the store sometime and set you up.”

Amber sits up a little, glancing over the group in thought a moment. “Guess wrapping up after all?” she wonders to herself, slowly pushing to her feet to start shuffling to the exit.

Allowing the gathering time to consider, Roberta repeats, “Any last songs before we wrap?”

The cane taps the floor, and Roberta’s lips pull back into a grin that’s too wide, too fanged, and as capricious as the fae. “If not, I need to give Connie an answer to her vamp slamming before we leave.”

Sebastion whoops for Roberta “Get it!” He calls out enthusiastically.

“You should see what I came up with for my first show. It’s gonna fuckin’ rock.” Casey says, looking excited just thinking about it. “Maybe if Roberta snaps you up to work here, you can perform that night and we’ll do a longer show.”

Matthew’s eyes alight when Roberta makes that satement and he looks over towards the stage. “Oooo, what we bouta see here?”

Matthew twists his head to look towards Constance and then he leans to murmur to Malin.

“We done got us some -bad things- we need to address.” Roberta insists, making her way to the stage to regail the club with a -masterpiece- (you poor poor victims)

It is indeed as bad as it could be. The true blood is real.

Sebastion lifts an eyebrow up at Casey “Looking forward to seeing what you got planned. I got a song ready, but it’s not my typical thing. And I don’t got the performance details set up yet.”

Stepping back up to center stage, Roberta smirks as a familiar (to anyone around in the late 2000s) melody begins. It’s sultry, campy and for all of that trashy enough to be somehow entertaining. Certainly, Roberta isn’t taking this seriously. Indeed, she takes up the mic, adopts a trailer trash stereotype of an accent perfect for the piece and begins as the guitar swings into its awful rhythem, possibly as a refrain to Constance’s opening the evening.

“When you came in, the air went out,”

“And every shadow filled up with doubt.”

“I don’t know who you think you are,”

“But before the night is through,”

“I wanna do bad things with you.”

That bridge raises, falls and twangs back into the second verse, and Roberta hams it up by thickening that accent with a little “Woop”, lowering her sunglasses to wink, fangs extended, teeth nashing like a caricature of a vampire.

“I’m the kind to sit up in her room.”

“Heart sick and eyes filled up with blue.”

“I don’t know what you’ve done to me…”

“But I know this much is true–”

“I wanna do bad things with you.”

As the base kicks in, Roberta turns this mess into a conversation piece, narrating to the audience as her shoulders bounce with the baseline, “When you came in, the air went out. And all them shadows there, didn’t leave any doubt. I don’t know who you think you are, But before the night is through…”

Then she slips back into it with a howl worthy of one of the annoying dogs who plague the city before blowing a kiss to the tables.

“I wanna do bad things with you.”

“Yeah- I wanna do real bad things with you…”

“I don’t know what you’ve done to me, But I know this one thing is true– I wanna do bad things with you.”

As the melody falls off, Roberta lets a trebble slip into her voice, letting the song peter out ingloriously, closing it out with flamboyant campiness as she tells Constance, still in that thick southern white trash accent, “And that’s how we done do our trashin ‘o vampires in a vampire bar, Darlin.”

There is no danger of Roberta letting that opening gambet go unanswered, and embarrassment went out the window long before the cheesey song could disapoint teen girls with blood sucker fetishes everywhere.

Malin turns her head, looking to Matthew after the words are spoken so quietly against her ear.

Casey claps her hands with a grin on her face at Roberta’s song, the performance distracts her from her conversation with Sebastion. Bringing that ot a sudden end

When Malin turns to look at him Matthew’s eyes scan over her face, a suggestive smirk working into his lips.

Malin claps for Roberta, and she calls, “You’re a natural! I wish I could have seen you back in the haydays!”

Matthew cheers for Roberta when Malin does, clapping his hands.

Sebastion claps for the end of Roberta’s performance as well, grinning a bit before he begins to rise from his seat “I gotta head out to get my shit sorted. Was good rocking out with everyone though.”

Sebastion nods at Casey, firing off a text before he departs.

Sebastion is lost.

Constance points west.

Roberta was waiting for it, and she’s not let down. There are indeed vampires in the crowd who make a point to boo and cajole.

There is an appropriate responce to this, and it’s not what Roberta does. Roberta doesn’t step back quietly, humbled. She mugs for the crowd like an extra from a Jim Carrey movie, flipping them the bird, blowing a rasberry, and only taking her leave, head high (as she can manage being just below five foot) with a trashy, “Thank y’all. I’ll be here ’til my trailer gets pulled out’o the swamp where I parked it when the whites an the blacks, an the dam blood suckers ruined America for us hard workin folks.” Full of shit, this one. Still, she returns, raising her voice to call out, “Give our artists a round of aplause. Connie, Matthew, Malin, Casey, and all of the rest of you.”