Matthew’s early 2000’s Karaoke at Velvet and Vine

Date: 2025-09-15 19:05

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(Matthew’s early 2000’s Karaoke at Velvet and Vine)

[Mon Sep 15 2025]

in the gilded bar of Velvet and Vine/span>/spanLow, amber light settles over the room like a hush. A bar of black marble
veined with gold runs the length of the space, its glossy surface reflecting
candlelight and the warm glint of polished brass. Behind it, dark wooden
shelves trimmed in aged gold hold an array of bottles, some sealed with wax,
others marked by handwritten labels./span>/spanOverhead, velvet drapes in tones of wine and dusk hang in gathered folds
between ceiling beams painted the color of old brass. From above, clusters
of hand–blown glass in plum, topaz, and smoky gray hang suspended, casting
soft jewel–toned light that dances across the curved bar and catches in the
scrollwork of the floor. Seating is plush and deliberate. Stools in merlot
velvet line the bar‘s edge, while half–moon booths sit tucked into alcoves
framed by carved wood./span>/span60F(15C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At Mayflower and Mariner/span>/spanMatthew says “If you all could text me, the DJ your song, I’ll get things queued up“

Aeryn drops herself into a seat, turning to glance at the crowd to survey who’s arrived.

“But it’d be so much more funny if they were Moby Dick,” Tessa complains to Malin.

“I’m not the band manager,” Malin says with a pronounced pout over at Tessa, shaking her pom-poms in the air high above her head.

Evalina says “I suppose the wolves want karaoke too“

Matthew and Obadiah are in matching puffer vests, looking like some kind of boy band duo. He steps up, talking into the mic at the stage, finally getting everything all arranged. “Hey all, welcome to the early two thousands night hosted by–” he motions from himself to his fellow puffer fish, “Mega Blue, and we will be giving you all a once in a life time performance, but first–” he looks over, “We’re gonna get things rolling with Esme!”

Malin looks to Evalina, and then she starts trying to smack that woman’s pom-poms with her own like an annoying little sibling.

“Well, then they made a mistake, duh,” Tessa says to Malin, crossing an ankle in front of the other, leaning more than sitting given her outfit.

Chance wanders in, taking a look around and then wandering in the general direction of the rest of the party, hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. He gives a small smile to those he recognizes, then looks to find himself a place to settle in.

Matthew looks to Esme, giving her the nod as he awaits her approach to the stage.

Gabriel flicks a wave to the familiar faces as he joins the crowd to watch all of the performances.

Matthew glances at his phone and then throws in, “And of course, thanks to our venue, Velvet and Vine.”

Cat fight! Evalina returns the gesture, and before long, they are rapidly smacking at each other’s pom-poms, a flurry of glitter, silver and pink meshing. She seems to having fun with it, grinning as she tries to ‘win’ the dubious competition.

Obadiah is super excited for Esme but stands near Matthew in their matching puffy vests and his his hair, slicked back with too much product.

Annabelle nudges Esme excitedly. “You got A LOOK!” When the smile spreads across her face, she pauses, and then quickly digs into her bag to mask her happy self.

Esme offers a wave to some arriving people with a smile between checking things on her phone. There’s a playful groan when she’s heralded as the opener. “Well! The good news is that I’m settin’ tha tone so everyone else’s performances to be fuckin’ great.” She snickers as she comes up to the stage to take the mic.

Malin laughs helplessly in response to what Tessa says, still faux battling Evalina in a cheerleading fight of pom-poms versus pom-poms. Then she cries out, “Foreign objects!” But then Matthew is calling on Esme and she quiets own, but, like a seven year old, she’s still quietly trying to smack Evalina.

Aeryn gives a wave to Gabriel, beaming as Esme moves to start everything off.

Evalina settles down like quite-the-well-behaved 7 year old herself. That is, until Malin tries to smack her in quiet. Without looking, she tries to rub a pompon in Malin’s face, staring at Esme as she does so. “You can do it Esme!”

Esme starts nodding her head subtly with the music for ‘Complicated’ by Avril Lavigne starts fading in, a little tap to her foot to get the beat. She doesn’t doesn’t chime in on the spoken phrases for the lead in, just letting the faint incorporation of Avril’s vocals do that for her before the song kicks off properly. “Chill out, whatcha yellin’ for? Lay back it’s all been done before and if you could only let it be you will seee…” Esme is many things but a good singer is not one of them. She makes up for this in enthusiasm and just a little bit of showmanship as the song progresses.

“….but you’ve becomeeee somebody else! Round everyone else! Watchin’ your back, like you can’t relax. Tryna be cool, ya look like fool to mee. Tell Me! Why’d you have t’ go and make things so complicated? I see the way you’re actin’ like you’re somebody else gets me frustrated.” Esme takes advantage of what space there is to move around. There’s some miming of guitar shredding and headbanging as well as the beat rises and falls with the lines of the songs. “….Life’s like this you- you fall! And you crawl! And you break! and you take what you get and you turn it into Honesty, promise me I’m never gonna find ya fake it. Nooo no no.”

There’s a bit more air guitar during the short guitar solo as another bit of chorus comes up. Her mostly-off-key voice takes on a rawer sort of quality as the final part of the song comes up, maybe helped by the natural vocal fry all that smoking has inflicted upon her. “Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated? I see the way you’re actin’ like you’re somebody else gets me frustrated. Life’s like this! Ya fall an’ ya crawl an’ ya break an’ ya take what what ya get and you turn it into Honesty and promise me I’m never gonna find you fake it….noo no no.”

The music fades off and Esme lingers just a beat before flashing a grin to the crowd and giving a little flourish of a bow before heading back toward her seat.

Obadiah claps enthusiastically for Esme when she brings him back to his emo phase, hot chicks in ties and plaid skirts flashing before his very eyes in a nostalgic wave suitable for any boy who became a man in the early 2000s

Malin gets that pom-pom to the face, and she’s trying to stifle a giggle. Her sides are vibrating from the amusement, and she doesn’t even try to pull away from Evalina’s most recent ‘attack.’ She’s listening to Esme, body moving to the rhythm and her own pom-poms being shaken as if they were maracas, even if that wouldn’t be a proper instrument to add to the performance.

Amber claps quietly for Esme, shifting her weight as she observes.

Aeryn applauds for Esme, beaming a smile.

Matthew is vibing up there at on the booth, he sings along with teh song, “Why’d you have to go get things so complicated!” He’s dancing along, off to the side. “Yeah Esme, get it!”

Chance lets out a whistle and applauds Esme’s performance from where he’s settled comfortably, leaning his good shoulder up against the wall, grinning as she gets things started.

Evalina watches Esme with wide, sparkling eyes, seeming to much enjoy the show. Once she finishes, the quickly shakes her pompoms. One in the air. One still very much in Malin’s face. She doesn’t seem to notice that at first, then finally her attention is caught. She glances aside, then retracts it apologetically. Giving Malin a pompomous pat on her shoulder in apology before cheering some more. “You rock Esme!”

Tessa sways her hips to the song, mouthing along, definitely having been one of those girls who sang this over high school crushes.

Matthew starts clapping and then he takes to the stage, pointing a finger at Obadiah. “Alright, Mega Blue gonna take it back for you all, but for those of you with songs, text them to me at sevent ten, oh two thirty-six!” With that he waits for Obadiah to get up with him, on that stage.

Jakem leans into Annabelle and murmurs “So what’re yah gonna sing?”

“Thank you! Thank you! My solo album will -not- be coming soon!” Esme laughs as she settles back in her spot, somewhere nebulously near familiar faces in the crowd. She Matthew calls up Obadiah she cheers, “Woo! Go Mega Blue!”

Malin has that pom-pom in her face and it is tickling her nose, causing her to sneeze once. It probably didn’t get too much snot or anything on Evalina’s cheerleading prop, but… you never really know. “Bless me,” she says, as if in a command more than anything else after that spewing of who knows what. She shakes those silvery pom-poms at Esme and wolf whistles at her.

“Haha…” Annabelle laughs at Jakem, blunt and blatant underneath her face mask, giving him a fond look and saying nothing else.

Matthew makes eyes with Malin, winking her way, waving his hand in response to her flailing pompoms. Hand wave becomes a pointing finger, pointing out Evalina as the other groupie in the place for his fantastic duo with Obadiah.

Obadiah bounds to the stage with Matthew wearing the puffy vests and does some stretching to get ready to do the appropriate dancing that comes with every good boy band song. Rocking up onto his feet he flashes the crowd his big Mercer smile and says, “Good evening New Haven! Sing along of you know this one! We were going to have August join us but he was a no show!”

Tessa wolf whistles when Matthew calls Obadiah up on stage, calling out, in best fangirl fashion, “We love you, Mega Blue!”

“Is Mega Blue a new partnership?” Aeryn asks innocently, fluttering eyes toward Matthew and Obadiah.

Obadiah sings out that first word: “Yeaaaahhh”

Matthew steps glances toward Obadiah and gives a nod, head bobbing to the music as he begins that first verse. “You are, my fiiiiire. The one, desiiiiire.” He’s got a finger in the air indicating that one desire and then sweeps it out towards the crowd. “Believe when I say, I want it that way.”

Obadiah takes center stage, carrying on with his lines, “But we are two worlds, apart,” his hand is laying on his chest for that next line, “Can’t reach to your heart, when you say, I want it that way.”

The chorus gets tackled together, Matthew and Obadiah singing off key but doing their best:

Tell me why
Ain’t nothin but a heart ache
Tell me why
Ain’t nothin but a mistake
tell me why
I never wanna hear you say
I want it that way
Matthew sways forward, taking point on the stage, hand lifting into the air as fingers wriggle: “Am I, your fire? Your one desire?” Obadiah pops out beside, Matthew, cutting in with a sudden, “Yes I knoooooow, it’s too late, but I want it that way.

The chorus gets tackled together, Matthew and Obadiah singing off key but doing their best:

Tell me why
Ain’t nothin but a heart ache
tell me why
Ain’t nothin but a mistake
tell me why
I never wanna hear you say
I want it that way
Matthew breaks away, a sad look befalling his face as he sings out the next lines. “Now I can see that weve fallen apart, From the way that it used to be, yeah.” Obadiah’s voice rises up, attempting to harmonize with Matthew, “No matter the distance, I want you to know, that deep down inside of—” Preson 1 belts that last word, “Meeeeeeeee.” Obadiah draws a breath, turning his eyes mournfully towards the crowd, “You are my fire–” a single finger goes up, “My one, desire.” Both men share a look and in unison they begin with a “You are (you are, you are, you arrrrre),” But someone’s going to have to belt that next part out and they’re figuring it out in real time, Matthew looking to Obadiah and back until Matthew steps it up with a: “DON’T WANNA HEAR YOU SAY—”

Obadiah looks shocked but there’s no time for confusion, “Ian’t nothin but a heart ache…” They’re in the clear, the outro tackled and concluded with Matthew crooning into his mic: Cause I want it that way.

Malin smiles ever so widely at Matthew, winking right back at him. Then, like a super fangirl, she acts like she’s going to faint as soon as Matthew and Obadiah begin their show. She touches the back of a hand to her forehead, and her pom-pom blocks a fair amount of her vision in that overly dramatic process. Instead of having her knees buckle, she just slow motion falls into Evalina’s side.

sauntering in, Charlotte sweeps over to the bar, her shoulders stiffening when she hears the howl of a wolf. She tries to make herself relax, and orders a beverage to that effect before turning and moving to join the party. She’s just taking a sip when Matthew and Obadiah get going, and she chokes on her booze, laughing and coughing sputteringly as she watches the spectacle before her.

Aeryn waves to Charlotte.

Charlotte smiles at Aeryn, returning the wave with a raise of her glass.

Chance sways a little with the song, grinning as Matthew and Obadiah croon away together, fighting a bit of a laugh at the quick real-time negotiation of who gets to do the belting. He sings along a little under his breath, definitely not trying to be heard. He applauds for the pair as well as they bring it home. “Woo!”

Evalina seems to have entirely not noticed any potential ‘souvenir’ from Malin. Uh oh. She ‘catches’ Malin, holding her up, then even if she should keep holding her, starts doing a little dance, her pom-poms waving around, mouthing along the lyrics – and sometimes accidentally adding a word to the music. “MEGA BLUUUEEEE!!!!” She cheers after, trying to raise her pompom along Malin’s for a… W shape? Well. Not like they got to practice…

Esme vibes with the nostalgic tune, half humming the tune herself and cheering for Matthew and Obadiah’s performance. “Mega Blue! Mega Blue”

Obadiah wipes his forehead with the back of his hand and then gives Matthew a hug, “Yeah bro!” He laughs then bows. “It’s not as easy as it looks,” he pants and then makes to get off the stage, removing the vest

Amber gives an applause once more, though her heart doesn’t seem to be really in it at the moment. Gloomy vibes to go with the 2000s-era emo makeup she’s got going on.

snickering into her drink, Charlotte then puts two fingers in her mouth and gives a loud , piercing whistle, appreciating the attempt of the two men up there.

Jasper gives a wave of his hand around the crows as he finds himself a chair to sit. He cringes a bit at the singing, but he grins towards the performers.

Malin has to keep up appearances in that skimpy cheerleading outfit whilst trying to look like she’s fainting, but she also needs to engage in greeting that BFF Charlotte, so she flails the left pom-pom at her. The dramatized reaction to Mega Blue evolves and she stands upright again, partaking into making the wrong letters with Evalina as she calls out, “I love you Mega Blue!”

Sofia is repeatedly looking her phone up and down, mouthing lyrics to herself, even though they will clearly be on the teleprompter later on.

Jakem shrugs a bit to Annabelle “This one’s semi-televised, so probably has more polish than a typical kaoroeke thing.”

Charlotte giggles at Malin, waving the pom-pom out of her face as she moves over to stand near her friend but out of face-smacking range.

“No it never is,” Matthew responds to Obadiah but then he’s looking out to the performance going on in the audience that, is possibly, even crazier than what’s going on on stage. “But we do it for our fans,” he says, and steps away and back to the booth. “Okay, next up we have…” and he look sto the crowd, “Jakem! Get on up here, man!”

Esme snaps a quick selfie before lowering her phone and applauding for Jakem as he’s called up.

“Good luuuuck.” Annabelle offers to Jakem in turn, giving a cheek kiss and slinking back.

Jakem LEAPS into action, long legs taking him to, and then atop the stage in a bounding jump. “Allrighty then.” he bellows “Are you ready to ROCK PIRATE STYLE?”

Obadiah jumps down to join Esme and Gabriel in the crowd, cheering on Jakem. “Arrrrr!”

Jakem takes the stage, flashing a grin to the crowd as he accepts the mic. As the background music comes on, his booted foot starts thumping to the jaunty tune very much not in theme.

There once was a ship that put to sea
The name of the ship was theBillyO’ Tea
The windsblew up, her bow dipped down
Oblow, my bully boys, blow (Huh)

Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin’ is done
We’ll take our leave and go

She’d not been two weeks from shore
When down on her, a right whale bore
The captain called all hands and swore
He’d take that whale in tow (Huh)

Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring sugar and ta and rum
One day, when the tonguin’ is don
We’ll take our leave and go

Before the boat had hit the water
The whale’s tail came up and caught her
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
When she dived down low (Huh)

Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin’ is done
We’ll take our leave and go

No line was cut, no whale was freed
The Captain’s mind was not of greed
And he belonged to the whaleman’s creed
She took that ship in tow (Huh!)

Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin’ is done
We’ll take our leave and go

For forty days, or even more
The line went slack, then tight once more
All boats were lost, there were only four
But still that whale did go (Huh)

Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin’ is done
We’ll take our leave and go

As far as I’ve heard, the fight’s still on
The line’s not cut and the whale’s not gone
The Wellerman makes his regular call
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all (Huh)

Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin’ is done
We’ll take our leave and go

Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin’ is done
We’ll take our leave and go

THe music starts playing and Matthew can’t help but start tapping his foot.

Sofia leans back against the wall, bobbing her head slightly to the shanty and humming along once she gets the tune.

Malin smiles brightly at Charlotte, telling her, “I love your outfit, Forever Twenty-Four Seven,” in likely what is some kind of inside joke. She explains, “Evalina and I are die hard Mega Blue fans, which you know, only came into existence today, but it feels like we’re been listening to them all of our lives.” This is paired with nods to her cheerleading outfit that complements Evalina’s. As Jakem gets on stage, she watches and cheers him on, shake-shake-shaking those pom-poms in that same maracas fashion.

Chance taps his foot along with the beat of the song as Jakem performs. He doesn’t know the words, so he doesn’t attempt to sing along with this one, but his head definitely bobs along with the beat and when the performance is over, he applauds with the same enthusiasm that he did for the others.

Matthew starts clapping as the song comes to an end, “Fantastic, fantastic,” he enthuses and points a finger then toward Charlotte, “Next up we got a little Brittany for you,” he says, beckoning her towards the stage, “get on up here, Char!”

Obadiah chokes on something as he reads whatever is on his phone and holds up his hand in the universal symbol of, ‘I’m fine’ but is definitely wearing a shit eating grin

“They’re truly are amazing. I’m amazed by them” Charlotte tells Malin agreeably, raising her voice a touch to be heard over the wailing of Jasper as she gives Malin a friendly nudge and a grin. “Love the cheerleader look – you really commit to a theme.” And then….oh no, it’s her turn.

Jakem keeps the rhythm all right, though his singing voice doesn’t match the original. Still, he replaces finesse with bravado as he moves about the stage, banging his booted feet, until it finishes. He gives two final thumps of his foot, salutes Matthew, and hops down.

Matthew returns Jakem’s salute.

Malin winks playfully at Charlotte and then says, “Best of luck. You can dooo it.” And she proceeds to try and swat Charlotte across the arse with a pom-pom.

Esme bobs with the rhythm of the sea shanty, applauding for Jakem again when comes back down. “Ooh Brittany. I almost did one ah hers.” She murmurs aside to Gabriel and Obadiah, peering at the latter’s expression. “You all good?” She asked with some amusement.

Aeryn watches with avid interest as Charlotte takes the stage.

“Britney bitch!” Obadiah declares with far too much energy and enthusiasm. “Which will it be!? Circus? Poison? I hope it is poison.” He looks to Esme, “Think it will be Poison or do you think she will do Hit me? Oh God I am so excited!”

Striding up to the mic, Charlotte takes it in hand as if she thinks she’s the next Britney Spears…and it seems like she does, as the opening notes of ‘Sometimes’ start playing. Looking at the screen and avoiding eye contact with the crowd, she starts singing. Its quickly clear that despite her rich speaking voice, this chick cant carry a tune in a bucket, and she starts off butchering the song via attempting to actually sing it, but quickly pivots to just yelling the words like a punk goddess. “SOMETIMES I RUN” yeah you do “SOMETIMES I HIDE” every day “SOMETIMES IM SCARED OF YOOOUUU”…and on and on it goes. Once the song is done, she takes a little bow, puts the microphone carefully back where it came from, and makes her way to stand near Malin again, flushed with embarrassment but looking amused.

“You need a drink,” Aeryn tells Obadiah very seriously.

Matthew can’t help but grin at his Mega Blue partner, Obadiah, bute then Charlotte’s on the stage and he’s gotta work. The music begins queuing up.

“Aerie, are you offering shots? Because that sounded like you’re offering shots,” Tessa calls.

Coming in at the back of the party, Eloa looks a bit overwhelmed and ends up near Jasper, looking around with green flecked hazel eyes as she picks at her sleeves. She keeps her head ducked, wincing a little as she gets used to the loud music.

“Go Britlotte!” Malin comes up with a terrible name for Charlotte. The whole while, she’s swaying to the music. Once Charlotte has returned, she coos out, “That was great!” and maybe her eardrums are a little whacked, because she sounds entirely genuine.

Obadiah takes Aeryn’s advice and buys a drink to nurse as he comes off his fan girl high.

Chance whistles for Charlotte as she shifts from singing Brittney to just belting it out punk style, grinning. He then pulls away from the wall and makes his way toward the bar to get himself a drink, finding an open spot to slide into long enough to acquire a beverage of his own.

Matthew claps for Charlotte, “The evening would not have been complete without some Brittany,” he comments, “and I never knew I needed Punk Brittany!” A glance at hsi phone and he points out Evalina, “And now we are getting a bit of Katy Perry, come on up.”

“Hell yeah! That rocked!” Esme enthuses about Charlotte’s Punk Brittany. “Go Eva!” She cheers as Evalina gets called up next.

Jakem finishes up his dance moves, looking about “huh, over already?”

Jakem calls “Encore!”

Evalina approaches the stage, taking the mic, then suddenly looking very, very out of place. Her face reddens. Silence from her. And for a moment, it seems like someone’s worst nightmare is about to happen. A shiver running through her body. The music starting… Her eyes seeking the crowd for a salvation…

She gulps, then finally opens her mouth. “Y-you, change your mind, like a girl,” Her voice shaky, “changes clothes…”
“Y-yeah you. PMS. Like a bitch. I would know.” As the song picks up pace, her voice steadies.
“And you. Overthink, always speak, cryptically!” Her foot starts tapping the stage. “I should know! That you’re no gooood for meeeeeee-yeaheah!” She picks up power, her voice melodious,

“You’re hot,” Her pom goes up, skirt twirling, “Then you’re cold!” She lowers herself, pom to the floor. “You’re yes,” Pom to the left, “Then you’re no!”
“You’re in!” Poms to her chest, then thrown forwards, “Then you’re out!” She twirls with the microphone, showing her spankies – cheer briefs, that is. “You’re up and you’re down!” She gestures to the crowd. “You’re wrong when it’s right! It’s black and it’s white, we fight we break up we kiss we make up!”

She seems completely lost in her role now. “Yeah you don’t really wanna stay, no!” Beat. “You! But you don’t really wanna go, oh!”
She continues the song like this, dancing about the stage, singing with microphone relieved of the stage, in her hand, “You’re up, then you’re down!” She finishes, clinging onto it, panting, suddenly growing a bright red, jumping back off off the stage to hide within the crowd – and almost tripping as she does so.

“Hey, Eloa,” Jasper greets with a smile towards Eloa as he grabs and bites into a melon skewer.

Gabriel leans over toward Esme and Obadiah to say in a fairly hushed tone, “All these song choices are making me feel old.”

Annabelle joins the applause late, but gives her hands her best clapping.

Aeryn’s tongue runs slowly along one incisor, looking absolutely guilty of knowing all of the songs being sung.

Esme snickers to Gabriel as she murmurs back, “That’s cause you -are- old.” She teases.

“Ola. That is amber eyed wolf outside.” Eloa whispers to Jasper thoughtfully, “When Eloa come in. Wonder who it was.”

Shaking those pom-poms wildly, Malin watches as Evalina, her fellow super fan of Mega Blue, performs. She starts getting into the music, doing some cheer style moves in the process. When Evalina has finished and returns to Malin’s side, she says, “Seeeeee? I knew you could do it! That was great!”

Obadiah snickers and nurses his drink as he watches. “What she said.”

Gabriel gasps incredulously at Esme before conceding with a shrug, “Fair enough. Least there’s been decent taste in music.”

Charlotte cheers for Evalina, tossing out another earsplitting whistle…and then she’s distracted, her head whipping to the side as her gaze trains on Eloa. A wolf? Outside? How close to here? Where?” Her voice rises a little with each question, anxiety threaded through every word.

Sofia grins at the Katy Perry performance, nodding to Evalina. “A little late 2000s, but I’ll accept it.”

Turning to look at Charlotte a few times, Eloa blinks, “Like.. literally outside the door. That close.” She seems a little confused at how anxious Charlotte is about it though.

Matthew starts dancing at the booth, a fan of Evalina’s song choice. He sings along, clapping wildly when the song is concluded. “Hey, let’s give it up for Evalina, and let’s keep that applause going for Sofia, who’s going to bring us some Kittie!”

Amber seems a bit too in a funk to clap much anymore, but she manages to put her hands together for Evalina. After the song, and at the talk of a wolf, she turns to skulk out. On the way she gives someone a wary eye.

Evalina smiles shyly at Malin, “…I uh. I’ve not done that in a while.” She admits with a flush, then giving Sofia an apologetic, awkward smile, “…I wasn’t really witnessing much of the early 2000s.” She confesses, then sticking her hand out to Charlotte, “…Nice to meet you by the way. Evalina.” She introduces herself, turning to cheer for Sofia as she does so.

“Why would there be a wolf outside my bar,” Aeryn wonders, twirling one lock of hair around a finger absently, and speaking to noone in particular.

Sofia says “Alright, let’s go then…“

A frantic, high pitched guitar intro accompanied by light cymbal taps breaks out across the Velvet and Vine as Sofia moves up to take the microphone, and soon the song explodes into a groovy nu-metal riff with driving, pounding drums. She hops up and heaves her head forward, letting her bun untangle itself as she begins to headbang, braids explosively untying themselves, wildly gyrating. She stills as the first verse approaches, and sings, wildly off key but with plenty of feeling:

“She is not scared to die… the best things in life drive her to cry… CRUCIFY THAN LEARN!” An almost robotic effect of hard to decipher backing vocals chime in behind the chorus, as Sofia belts out the next line: “SIT AND WATCH ME BURN!” The song chills into a menacing, chugging riff, and she almost mumbles out the next verses: “She’s taught to believe… that it’ll be OK. Look at your face, scared in dismay. But times have changed… and so have you. I think I’d rather CRUCIFY THAN LEARN! SIT AND WATCH ME BUUUURN!”

The song slows back to a chug after the explosive chorus, Sofia’s hair pulsing ever so slightly, as if radiating with pumped up energy, and the next words are in an intense, spoken rumble: “I’d like to take you down. And show you deep inside my life my inner workings to smell and lack of inner pride to touch upon the surface… is not for what it seems. I take away my problems… BUT ONLY IN MY DREAMS!” The last line screamed frantically, she growls with contempt: “Take so much away from inside you, makes no sense, you know he can’t guide you, he’s your fucking shoulder to lean on… be strong.”

After repeating the growled lyrics, the backing music slows and chugs along, and Sofia coos out mournful moans with both hands wrapped tight around the mic. The track gets spacey and electronic for a moment, and her vocalizations fade, only to lead to an explosive finish, with the dark, wild haired woman shouting, “…CRUCIFY THAN LEARN… SIT AND WATCH ME BURN! CRUCIFY THAN LEARN! SIT AND WATCH ME BURN!” She falls to her knees as she belts these last few lyrics out, and the song fades away into nothing. Then, awkwardly, she stands back up to put the mic back and shuffle back to her drink.

Esme briefly peers eastward toward the door but then looks back to watch Sofia’s performance.

She’s pulled in three directions, calling over to Aeryn “I don’t know, but I hope they move on” as Charlotte tries to calm herself down, then she turns to Evalina, taking the woman’s hand distractedly as she yells “WOOOO, GET IT SOFIA!” and turns back to Evalina, offering a somewhat shaky “Charlotte. Sorry to be so distracted, darling – a lot going on in here, and I’m a bit skittish about wolves.”

“Well, you nailed it,” Malin assures Evalina, checking the door when Charlotte begins to stress some. “It’ll be fine,” she insists about the wolf who isn’t in the bar. “I’ve got a blowtorch in my purse.” Like that will solve everything, pom-poms and fire — the cheerleader’s secret weapon. As Sofia gets up to perform, she smiles broadly and looks genuinely impressed by the performance’s finale.

Evalina claps her pompoms in the air for Sofia, “Wooohooo!!! The Kittie Queen!!!” She cheers for the woman, then glancing back to Malin and Charlotte. “Glad to finally meet you in the flesh, Char!” She tells her, then furrowing her brow, looking at her phone. “I think the wolf left, going by my source.”

Charlotte loosk extremely relieved to hear that Malin has the situation under control, and nods, shoulders relaxing as she focuses on her conversation partners. She looks even more relieved by the news that the wolf moved on, and she unconsciously touches a hand to her ribs before taking a steadying sip from her drink. “Lovely to meet you as well….HELL YEAH, SOFIA!” The woman’s performance gets another yell, and then she ponders “That’s a very cool trick with the hair.”

Malin glances between Charlotte and Evalina like she’s surprised they don’t know each other, but then she’s applauding Sofia with those pom-poms smacking into each other.

As that last song plays out Matthew claps his hands, “Wow, that was not expected, Sofia I was not expecting that!” Great trick with the hair. With that he look sout over the crowd, “Alright, we’re at that point of the night where we’re taking in requests, who wants to get up here and join the queue?”

Sofia laughs back over, beaming a smile once the performance is over and she can get back to her booze, telling Charlotte, “I almost went for the song of theirs called Charlotte but I really couldn’t hit the notes.”

Esme applauds for Sofia with a cheer, raking a hand through her hair after and rolling her shoulders a bit. “You should get up there.” She gives Gabriel a cheeky grin. “Especially since Obie an’ I already did.”

“Oh yes, I second that,” Aeryn nods to Esme. “Do sing, Gabriel?”

Casey loiters in the crowd, watching whoever is singing at the moment. She seems to enjoy anything rock-heavy in particular. There’s no one in the room that really gets much of her attention except for a glance of recognition towards Evalina and Jakem

Charlotte grins at Sofia. “I did not hit a single note, darling….and neither did anyone else here.” She takes another sip, then calls over to Matthew “I will not be doing a repeat performance, as no one needs their eardrums assaulted by me a second time.”

Jakem lifts a hand to wave to Casey, giving a quick upnod “YOu missed Britney, I think. I dunno when yah got here.”

Gabriel shakes his head at Esme and Aeryn, “Oh no no no, not a chance in hell that’s happening today. I barely had time to even come let alone prep a song for it so I’ll save my embarrassment for another day.”

Esme exaggeratedly sighs and looks to Aeryn with a pout. “He’s gonna say that next time too, I guarantee it.”

Matthew nods at Esme and points out Gabriel, “Come give us a song, Gabe, I know you must sing in the shower.” He continues to scan, eyes lingering briefly on Casey, upnodding her way. Charlotte’s words have him grinning, “Listen Charlotte, I’m not much of a singer, everyone here has had to endure my voice. And, if nobody else gonna get on this stage…”

Malin grins as Charlotte says that to Sofia. “I’d love to hear you sing Charlotte sometime, especially if Charlotte is there, because you know how this town works — rumors would spread like wildfire, and before you know it, everyone would be assuming all kinds of things. Just like how Buck told people I was dating Derek Fairchild, and then he became known as The People’s Boyfriend.”

“You don’t need to prep, just belt it out,” Aeryn’s lower lip sticks itself out in a pout, crossing her arms.

Esme waves to Jeremiah as he comes in, offering an approving grin. “Look at you, all dressed for the occasion. We’re currently trying to bully Gabe into singing.” She motions to Gabriel.

Evalina blinks, looking at the conversation between Malin, Charlotte and Sofia, “D-don’t tell me you’re saying Derek /isnt/ our communal boyfriend?!” She says in a pretend shock, then grinning, trying to pat Casey on her back with a pompom. “Hey! Casey! You should sing!” She tells her, then throwing out a pompom towards Jasper. “As should you! I bet you can sing as well!”

Waving at Jeremiah as he walks in, Eloa gives him a shy smile then turns to Gabriel, “You should sing.” She encourages, putting a bit of that peer pressure on the man as she gives him a smile.

Gabriel squints at Esme, Aeryn, and now Matthew who has joined in on the bullying, “What did I do to all of you to deserve this? What if I promise to sing a requested song the next time there’s karaoke? You all can pick.”

Jeremiah smiles as he walks over to Esme. “Hey there. Yeah, I did the best I could. I lived through that era, of course, but I barely remember it.” He waves to Eloa, too.

Casey grimaces at Evalina’s suggestion. She doesn’t seem into it but then she notices what the woman is wearing and her expression turns to a grin, “Look at you. Thats..cute.”

Matthew queues up a song, “Alright, You all asked for it,” he says like him doing another song is a threat. “WE’re gonna have to go with an Atlanta staple, a little Outkast!”

Charlotte snorts, throwing an arm around Malin to give her a squeeze, then replies “I’m sure there are some rumors going around about you, me, and Chien over there, considering how much we hang out. Another one couldn’t hurt – just call me the town bicycle.” She winks at Sofia, the alcohol having loosened her up.

“Nah, I suck at singing,” Jasper tells Evalina, holding his hand up in front of himself. “Best I can do is a howl.”

“It’s part of a lengthy existence, I’m told,” Aeryn tells Gabriel, unblinking and entirely seriously. “At some point, a song has to happen. Mine happened in like…” Her voice trails off and she shrugs. “A while ago.”

Malin starts to laugh over Evalina’s words. “Mab and I were dating that very gay man at the same time, apparently,” she says, bewildered. “But it’s true, he is the boyfriend of the people.”

Upon barely catching the pompom, Jasper raises it up to shake it.

Sofia huffs out a laugh back to Malin, and says, “Didn’t you know? If you have pleasant conversation with someone in public, you’re dating them now!” Rolling her gaze over to Evalina, she comfortingly says, “Don’t worry, I’m sure the city government will come by and assign you a state sponsored boyfriend soon enough. Just hope the 63rd isn’t running things when that time comes around right?” She waggles her brows back to Charlotte at her comments, corners of her mouth tugged up in a smirk.

Hey Ya starts playing and Matthew jumps onto the ‘stage’ (it’s really just a cleared space on the floor) like he’s been shot out of a cannon, mic already in hand, shouting, “ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIIIIIGHT!”

He’s bouncing on his heels, pointing out Malin and Evalina in the crowd as if they were the ones hes singing to, grin wide and shameless. “Now ladies! Yeah?” he calls, waiting just long enough to hype their response, “Now we gon break this thing down in just a few seconds, but before we do–”

He cups the mic, dropping his voice like its a secret, “I need y’all to do me one favor. I need y’all to lend me some sugaaa… I am your neighbahhh!”

The beat drops, and he launches full tilt into the chorus, hips moving, voice riding that manic edge between actual singing and pure chaos, “Hey yaaaa, hey yaaaa!” He fans himself with his shirt dramatically mid-spin, almost slipping but catching it with swagger like it was part of the routine all along, pointing the mic back to the crowd, “Dont want to meet your daddynah! Just want you in my Caddy!”

“Well then it’s time you sang another, is it not?” Gabriel insists to Aeryn, “I believe you’ve got a good number of years on me anyway so it’s only fair.”

Obadiah had been applauding everyone enthusiastically, especially Sofia who got some horns, because you can’t not throw horns for that don’t.

Obadiah meant song clearly.

“Fine. Obie’s karaoke night next week. Aeryn and I will conspire on a song choice.” Esme nods firmly to Gabriel and giving Aeryn a wink with a laugh before Matthew starts in. She doesn’t quite dance but she vibes with the music. “So are you gonna sing?” She asks Jeremiah with a chuckle.

Jakem lets out a long, shrill whistle towards Matthew on stage “All your sugar are belong to us!”

Evalina gives Casey a little pose, one pom diagonally down, the other up in the opposite direction. “Thank you!” She returns, smiling, “You’re looking really nice too. Britney in Oops I Did It Again?” Beat. I don’t think that one’s been done yet.” She smiles at Malin and Sofia then. “I don’t want just /any/ gay boyfriend. I want Derek. He is /the/ people’s boyfriend. I deserve the very best!” She claims, grinning, then watching Matthew on the stage. She’s cheering for him, jumping up and down, pom in the air.

Sofia raises a hand and pinches it by her cheek, wiggling it back and forth and backing that ass up to shake it like a Polaroid picture.

Malin points a pom-pom at Sofia and she nods. “So it seems! Look, you and I are conversing and we all know what that means,” she says with a broad smile, amused by how the rumor mill works in this city. A nod is given to Evalina, and then she watches as Matthew gets into his karaoke groove. She’s once again in full cheerleader mode, dancing away with her whole body involved.

Jeremiah shrugs. “Maybe. Does 2008 count as early 2000s, or is that too late?”

Matthew is really just dancing, looking for a reason to shake it like a Polaroid picture, and he does.

“It’s kinda tacky for someone who sings professionally to go to a karaoke event and show off.” Casey decides to Evalina with a brief smile and a slight shrug of her narrow shoulders. “I think I’ll just watch.”

Esme says “counts even“

Matthew says “Two thousand and eight is perfect, @Me informs @man, “if you wanna make a request, then we’ll do it, and now it’s open queue, room for anyone and that means bending the rules.” “

“Two thousand and eight is perfect,” Matthew informs Jeremiah, “if you wanna make a request, then we’ll do it, and now it’s open queue, room for anyone and that means bending the rules.”

Jakem nods to Casey “Tackiness is the name of the game; Just make sure you go last so no one has to go after you and you’ll be fine.”

Gabriel waves to Patience, “You’re just in time to sing!”

Esme gives Patience a grin, “Hey, Pax.”

“Are you calling me old?” Aeryn widens her eyes at Gabriel, snorting softly. “It’s a rule you must wait fifty years between the singings. I have four more years to go.”

Glancing over at Patience as the woman enters, Eloa gives Patience a small smile as she stays near Jasper. “Ola Pax. Welcome to sing.”

Matthew looks over to Aeryn, “Will we be getting a song from the proprietor of this lovely establishment?” gets wondered out.

Patience drifts in, offering a playful half-salute to Matthew in lieu of a verbal greeting while he’s busy. Then, she slides through the crowd to slip in beside Esme and Gabriel with a bright smile and a little, “Don’t think I’m going- oh yeah noooo,” she says, but waves to Eloa. “I sing… well. Badly.

“Yes.” Gabriel says bluntly to Aeryn, “I am. And good, that means I’ve got another ten before I’m required.”

“Pax!” Obadiah declares riding his 2000s nostalgia high when she walks in, “Sing with me! What should we sing?”

“You will not, alas,” Aeryn tells Matthew with a grin. “But, perhaps we can make karaoke at the Vine a regular thing.”

Jakem calls to Obadiah “The Macareina!” he does not know much about what songs came out.

Aeryn wrinkles her nose and sticks the tip of her tongue out at Gabriel petulantly. “So young.”

Charlotte waves to Patience, calling a hello over as she bops along to Matthew’s dubious attempt to shake it like a polaroid picture. She does distractedly comment to Sofia, Evalina, and Malin in a wry tone “A state-sponsered boyfriend is the only way I’ll get one. I’m very good at avoiding relationships, despite the occasional rumor!”

Malin also waves to Patience and then she’s nodding to Charlotte. “The state-sponsored gay boyfriend is always an excellent choice when you don’t actually want a relationship and you’re a woman.”

“Nothing wrong with that!” Sofia tells Charlotte with a raise of her glass, letting the ice clink. “Unless you get real lucky, more trouble than it’s worth!”

Matthew gives Patience that salute and then he slips away from his role as DJ long enough to go mingle with the crowd. He floats on over to Charlotte, Malin, Evalina, plopping into their conversation. “When did the State start issuing boyfriends,” gets wondered.

Jakem calls up to Matthew “The thirty’s it was part of the reconstruction effort. Read a history book!”

“Well, the state at the time was Buck Ransom, when he was telling people that Mab and I were dating Derek,” Malin seeks to remind Matthew, smiling at him as she laughs.

“Hey Obes,” Patience greets with a smile and a little bounce, though she shakes her head firmly at his request. “No singing but you should totally sing your old people songs. ABBA,” – which of course she says, one letter at a time – “Wasn’t it?”

Evalina chuckles, nodding to Charlotte, “Well, you’ve went to a Matthew Group Thing so at the very least nobody can call you frigid now. In New Haven Gossip Rules, anyhow.” She opines with a wink, then tilting her head at Matthew. “When the drought of decent boyfriends got so great, some of us had to sacrifice ourselves and turn gay!”

“I’m not sure Derek likes me – I was rude to him the first time we met.” Wow, everyone take a minute to recover from their utter shock at that information. “Which, when you think about it, is perfect. It means he wouldn’t want to bother me.” Charlotte looks delighted by this concept, then cheerfully follows it up with “I should take a string of lovers who dislike me. We can bang and then never talk!” Evalina’s comment gets a nod as she says “Here, here, though I’m bisexual. Being attracted to men at all is an utter tragedy.”

Patience apparently has lots of people to wave to, and thus she does, Charlotte and Malin included, before her nose wrinkles and she peers at Esme. “Embarrassing oneself in public?” she protests.

“Thank goodness Mega Stud has dudes that like women,” Malin utters out with a purposeful panting of her breath as she fans herself with the fluttering streamers of her silvery pom-pom.

Jeremiah gets a song queued up, and hops up on the stage.

“Oh… Mega Blue!” The super fan, Malin, got the name wrong.

“You can’t embarrass yourself if everyone else is -also- embarrassing themselves.” Esme points out to Patience with a wink. She gives a cheer as Jeremiah gets up on stage.

“But I mean, they are both total studs. Look at them,” Malin points out Matthew and Obadiah with shakes of her pom-poms.

“I don’t read,” Matthew quips back at Jakem, then he’s being reminded of the Peoples boyfriend Derek, nodding a perpetual nod right on over towards Evalina. “There’s good menm just like Mega Blue,” he nods at Malin like she just proved his point (and didn’t get the name wrong). He look toward Obadiah, “I’d totalyl hear old person Abba.”

Jeremiah begins to sing along with an EDM backing. “Uh-huh, this my shit! All the girls stomp your feet like this!” He begins to stomp and dance. “A few times I’ve been around that track, so it’s not just gonna happen like that! ‘Cause I ain’t no Hollaback Girl, I ain’t no Hollaback Girl!’

Malin comments of Jeremiah, “I don’t think he’s a girl at all… So I believe him.”

At being called ‘ancient,’ Aeryn’s face drops, and she sniffles slightly. “Mean,” she hisses to Gabriel.

“I hate…” Obadiah deadpans to Patience throwing his hands in the air in mock offense at Patience not knowing the great band ABBA. “Next week, at the next Karaoke night I will sing ABBA. Get some 1970s culture in here.” He scoffs then says to Matthew, “Should I go again or are we good for tonight.”

Matthew turns to Jeremiah as he starts singing, he’s directing everything off his phone, hitting play to Hollaback Girl for him.

“I’m going to head out, darlings. My social battery is running down and I need a nap” Charlotte announces. Cheek kisses and hugs are given out to the various people in the room she likes, and she straight up just heads out the door.

After a few painful minutes of this, Jeremiah finishes the song, clearly giving zero fucks and having no regrets.

Matthew lifts his hands, “I think we’re good,” he decides of Obadiah, “Unless you really, really wanna do another?”

Clearly Casey knows this song by heart because she sings the words and dances on key. She ain’t no Holla back girl. At some point she intentionally hip bumps Evalina in a sort of friendly, playful gesture.

Sofia says “I could do one more. It’s awful.“

“It’s okay, you don’t look a day over a hundred and one.” Gabriel tells Aeryn with a wide, cheeky grin.

Matthew grins at Sofia, “Okay, well let’s keep this party rolling, what’s the song?”

Sofia stares at Matthew with gravitas and declares: “Butterfly, by CRAZY TOWN.”

Esme grins at the choice of song, singing with the chorus a bit and stepping some with the beat. And especially singing the B-A-N-A-N-A-S part. When Jeremiah comes back over she laughs and gives him a bit of applause. “Fuckin’ fearless. Love it.” She grins to him before looking back to the stage to watch Sofia

Immediately, Aeryn starts fussing, fingertips pressing into her cheeks. “I don’t think Botox works when you’re dead.” She squints at Gabriel. “A hundred and one?”

Matthew starts laughing, setting things up on his phone to queue the next one up. “The world’s not ready,” he announce. To Jeremiah he’s clapping as the song comes to a close, “Great choice, loved it. I’m Matthew by the way, don’t think we’ve met.”

A whining, sliding guitar line goes overtop a shitty hip-hop beat as Sofia comes up to perform once again, poorly rapping out, “Come my lady, come-come my lady! You’re my butterfly, sugar, baby! Come my laddy come-come my lady! You’re my butterfly, sugar baby.” These are about the only words sung with confidence, as she tries to follow along on the TV with her drink cradled in her hand, wrlnkling her nose as she tries to (very poorly) rap the rest of the lyrics. “Such a sexy, sexy pretty little thing, fierce nipple pierce you… *snort* got me sprung with your tongue ring…”

Continuing to mumble along with the stupid raps, Sofia catches the tune again at the chorus, chiming in, “Come my lady, come-come my lady, you’re my butterfly, sugar, baby! Come my lady, you’re my pretty baby, I’ll make your legs shake, you make me go crazy!” She continues fumbling through the shittily rapped verse, and another round of the chorus, before saying, slightly more sure of herself: “Hey sugar mama come and dance with me, the smartest thing you ever did was take a chance with me. Whatever tickles your fancy, girl it’s me and you like Sid and Nancy!”

As the song gets towards the end, she tries to hype the audience up, waving for them to join in, shouting out, “Come my lady, come-come my lady, you’re my butterfly, sugar baby!” It repeats for a time before she busts out some amazingly tame white girl hip bumping from side to side. “Come and dance with me, uh huh uh huh, come and dance with me!” She’s mercifully done after a while of this fumbling, putting the mic aside, her act of terrorism completed.

“Nice to meet you. Jeremiah Deacon.” Jeremiah says to Matthew

Patience slants a smirk at Gabriel and says, “Mean, mean man. I could tell you that you look your age,” she quips.

Gabriel snickers at Aeryn’s reaction then gasps as Patience turns on him, “Not you too.”

A grateful look is given to Patience, and Aeryn nods her head.

Matthew starts dancing, stationing himself behind Malin, not quite grinding, but he’s definitely dancing up on her.

Evalina returns Casey’s hip bump, giving her a wink before Sofia goes for it again. She cheers for her, clapping with her poms as she speaks aside to Malin, “She’s really good at this! Not sure why she’s getting nipple piercings now but I am enjoying the song at least!”

Malin looks impressed as Sofia goes in for round two. She laughs a little, highly entertained, and says, “Mega Blue has a run for its money!” once the song is finished.

Malin grins at Evalina, cackling now.

“I mean you know that I think you’re absolutely ancient,” Patience tells Gabriel with a flutter of her lashes and a playful purse of her lips as she ponders the man. “But mostly like… Sisters before misters and all that.”

Obadiah nods to Matthew letting other people keep singing as he does a little dance near Patience, Gabriel, and Esme, enjoying the moment and all the songs.

Patience nods very soberly to Aeryn, before pressing a hand to her lips to hide her snicker.

“Yes, all of that,” Aeryn’s tongue is stuck out Gabriel’s way once again before she nods to Patience. “It’s law, or something.”

Chance continues to sip his drink as he watches one performance after another, applauding for those who get up to perform. He bobs along as Sofia busts out Butterfly. “Man, I haven’t heard this one in ages,” he chuckles.

“We have any other singers?” Matthew asks, looking over the group, his eyes briefly linger on ELoa and Chance, “I saw you had some moves and a bit a voice, Chance, You gonna share it with us tonight?”

Gabriel squints at Patience and then turns to Aeryn, “I’ll offer a truce as long as we bully her for being younger. I think even born this millennium.”

“Missed it by a year, but you can enjoy my youth and enthusiasm all the same,” Patience assures Gabriel and Aeryn with another flutter of lashes.

Esme looks toward Chance as he’s called out by Matthew, “Sing! Sing! Sing!” She chants in encouragement.

Chance winces and glances down at his drink, “I suppose I’ve had enough to drink that I can try. Apologies in advance, though.”

Jeremiah gives an appreciative nod as he tastes his drink. “That’s really good.”

“Hey, let’s give it up for Chance Fairchild!” Matthew starts clapping and then asks him, “What we playing for you tonight?”

Esme peers at the drink Jeremiah has, “It looks good.” She decides, and apparently that’s enough for her to retrieve one for herself before returning to the group.

Matthew nods and the music starts playing up.

Jeremiah smiles and nods at Esme, then offers some applause for Chance.

Patience says “What? There are purple drinks here? “

It’s Mr. Bright side by the Killers that Matthew queues up.

Sofia claps for Chance cheerily, bobbing her head along with the song as she takes another drink.

“I could never,” Aeryn tells Gabriel, hand held over her heart. “She’s forever youthful, as she should be.”

Matthew is hopping about, dancing to the music and over to the snack tray. He collects a slider.

“This song is so good!,” Obadiah tells Chance from the back of the room as he nurses his song. “We all are so young but have so old tastes!”

Esme sings along quietly with the song, head bobbing to the music between sips of her drink.

Gabriel looks Patience over for a moment before commenting aside to Aeryn as though the former weren’t even there, “I’m not sure she’s even reached the age I was turned yet.”

“SPeak for yourself,” Matthew snipes at Obadiah, “I was a teenager when this was out!”

“Mmhm,” Patience declares. “It’s not my fault that I’m the youngest and the pret-…” She doesn’t finish, but slants Aeryn a wink and suggests, “Someone should buy me a pretty purple drink that I probably won’t drink but want to admire and look hot holding.” There’s a brief pause and then she says to Gabriel, “Were you older than twenty-six?

Matthew look toward Arachne when she arrives and he starts bobbing her way, “Oh heyyy,” he gets greeted, “We gonna get to hear another Fairchild song?”

“I’d been a teenager like… for decades and decades when this came out,” Malin claims to Matthew and Obadiah, declaring her youth, or not.

“Usually I’m told men buy drinks,” Aeryn holds a finger up to her bartender, producing Patience’s drink request. “But, easier this way. I hear they’re forgetful when they get…old.”

Casey splits from the crowd to go look for the bathroom most likely

Chance tips back his glass and finishes off his drink before he makes his way up and grabs the mic. He’s got enough liquid courage to give it a shot. Leaning in he starts off a little tentatively but then swiftly just gets into it, not quite looking at anyone specific in the audience but he sways with the song, bobbing along. His voice isn’t god awful, but it’s clear he’s not a singer.

“Coming out of my cage and I’ve been doin’ just fine
Gotta, gotta be down because I want it all
It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss..”

He belts it out with confidence that at least somewhat outweighs his lack of any actual skill, having a good time with it and grinning the whole way through.

“Right at twenty six actually, so you’re on the money I suppose.” Gabriel tells Patience before going to buy a drink only for Aeryn to beat him to it, “Not forgetful, just slow it seems.”

Obadiah chuckles to Matthew, “I was in my early teens. Don’t tell Arachne though, that I am older than her.” He grins and winks at Arachne when she sneaks in.

“Also a sign of aging. Arthritis, perhaps,” Aeryn casts a concerned eye over Gabriel. “Do your joints hurt?”

Arachne arrives terribly late to the party, but she nevertheless comes correct for the fashion assignment, sashaying in with a vivacious smile and light flutter of her fingers at Matthew. “No one wants that torture, but I suppose I wouldn’t be opposed to putting a Montrose spin on it,” she calls back, immediately migrating toward familiar faces, starting with Aeryn. “Have you been dragged into public humiliation rituals of karaoke yet?”

Esme cheers for Chance when the song ends. “Awesome job!” She pauses a bit with an ‘oops’ face as she almost tips her drink hand then laughs, carefully bringing the drink back to herself and taking a sip. “You’re right, this is pretty bangin’.” She tells Jeremiah.

Matthew claps for Chance as the song comes to an end, giving the man a thumbs up. “Decades and decades,” he repeats that after Malin then informs her, “And this is why you’re my GILF Friend,” now he didn’t mispronounce girlfriend. “Oh, Arachne thinks she’s older than me,” he tells Obadiah, “So I don’t like to tell her that I am, either.” Even if Arachne is actualyl standing right next to him.

“Oh no, I have four more solid years before singing is required again. Undeath and vocal chord conservation,” Aeryn explains to Arachne. “It’s a whole ordeal.”

Clapping a bit as the song ends, Eloa swings on her seat and seems a little quiet.

Gabriel playfully rolls his eyes at Aeryn, “You’ve likely got a century on me. You tell me how well -your- joints are doing over there. Or have they turned to dust?”

Malin listens attentively to Matthew, despite shaking her pom-poms whilst Chance performs, and then she nods in full agreement with her boyfriend. “That I am, babe. That I am.”

Matthew look at his phone, grins at Arachne and then nods. “Alright, we have Brittany Spears, start making bets which song will be sung!”

Aeryn’s eyes narrow at Gabriel in a faux-threatening manner, and one index extends to poke him in the arm. “Do I look dusty?”

Esme says, tossing out a guess, “Hit me baby one more time!“

Casey returns eventually to slide into a spot beside Evalina and ask, “Is anyone else going to go?”

Jakem nods to Casey “Looks like it’s your turn, blow us away.”

“We got Arachne about to sing some Brittany and then you can go after,” Matthew offers Casey, “You got a song you want to do?”

“Or it’s whoever gets to teh stage first!” Matthew suddenly turns it into a competition nobody asked for, “Text me your song, Casey!”

“You’re ancient. You have no room to talk,” Arachne murmurs toward Gabriel with a light shake of her head. Her gaze scans over the crowd while Aeryn is caught up in her chat, playfully gasping at Patience. “You look cute,” she drops a compliment in passing, before encouraging Casey, “Why don’t you go ahead of me? I need a little liquid courage before I can even think of debuting on stage as Y2K Barbie.”

Gabriel extends a finger to brush over the hand Aeryn has poked him with before he rubs that finger against his thumb and declares, “Hmm.. seems that you are. A terrible shame.”

Evalina shrugs to Casey, “No idea.” A grin. “I suppose it seems like it’ll likely be you.” She raises a pompom. “Go rock them!”

Casey bobs her head politely to Matthew and says, “Yeah. I’ve got something. But I’ll definitely go last after Brittney.”

Matthew shakes his head, “NO no no, you go on up,” he insists, “just tell me the song I’m playing.”

Jeremiah winks at Esme.

Esme lets out a laugh at something she reads on her phone, a light flush touching her cheeks and she takes another drink.

“It’s a favorite,” Chance says to Obadiah once he finishes and has returned the mic to where it goes, grinning. “Thanks,” he says to Esme with a little dip of his head before he steps off to the side, “It’s been a while since I’ve done karaoke.” The mention of Arachne’s name has him glancing in that direction and he lifts a hand in a small wave. “Hey.”

“My favorite people,” Patience says, sidling up closer to Aeryn and Gabriel with a blatantly bold, flirtatious smile on her mouth. “Thanks Aeryn, lovely,” she says, before laughing again at Gabriel’s retort. “See? Though I’ve only been this way for five years, so you both have me beat by eons,” she notes and then leans in to whisper something.

Aeryn grins slightly. “Nothing wrong with five years,” she notes, looking wistful for a moment. “Ah, youth.”

Casey huffs slightly then moves up to the stage, ready to do her song with a bob of her head to Matthew

“Next up we have Used to know her by Louise Post, Sung by–” Matthew’s eyes settle onto Casey, “Casey!”

A dirty, guitar riff crawls out of the Velvet and Vines speakers, rough enough to raise the hairs on the back of necks. Casey stalks up to the mic, a thin smile, her shoulders tense, her eyes already burning. She grips the stand like she might snap it, and then her voice cuts in sharp, ragged, dripping with contempt:

“I used to know her I used to talk about her”

The words hang heavy, spiked with venom. The drums kick harder, bass snarling underneath, and Casey jerks forward, hair falling across her face, practically spitting the lines. Her delivery isnt polished.

“Something in her smile, Made me glisten”

The sound is unrelenting, Casey pacing the stage like a predator, kicking at the monitors, teeth bared in something between a grin and a snarl. Between choruses, her voice drops into a low growl, muttered like a curse, only to explode again, louder, harsher, until its more scream than song.

“I used to know her, Used to know all about her, Used to need her, There was something about her, I’m used to torture, It’s the best way around her, I used to know her, Now it just doesnt matter, Oh, yeah”

By the bridge shes ripped the mic free, stalking to the edge of the stage, jabbing her finger into the shadows of the crowd, barking the words with blistering fury as if the accusation is meant for someone specific. The final chorus rips through, her voice cracking, sweat slicking her hair as she thrashes to the pounding beat.

Then the song cuts. The instruments stop dead. Casey stands there, chest heaving and sweat on her brow. Mic hanging low in her hand till she replaces it on the stand.

“I’m not -ancient- thank you very much.” Gabriel informs Arachne, “Older than you certainly, but Aeryn has me beat by decades at the very least. I’m afraid a stiff breeze might cast her to the winds.” there’s a teasing smirk and glance given to Aeryn before he turns to Patience, “It’s not been quite that long for me. Less than two decades.”

Jakem lets out a bellow of applause as he claps aggressively to the chagrin of whoever’s caught nearby.

Arachne leaves Patience to her conversation with Gabriel and Aeryn, turning on her razor thin heels to fall into orbit around Chance. “Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” she murmurs, pleased, looping her arm around his. “All you’re missing is frosted tips and you’d have the quintessential generic Y2K look down,” she observes in light tease. As Casey takes the stage by storm, she brings her hands up in light applause, frost glossed lips pursing to emit an encouraging whistle.

Jeremiah offers applause for Casey’s performance.

“Decades?!” Aeryn blinks with a purposeful motion, looking at Gabriel with a very offended expression. “I am not dusty, I will have you know. I have skincare for that.” She squints at her arm, clearly doubtful of her claim.

The music starts playing, the grunge chords carry Matthew’s head in a perpetual bob, fully engrossed in the song and Casey’s performance. When it comes to its chest-heaving conclusion he’s clapping wildly. “Hey, you’re good at this!” He compliments, “tell me where you’re playing next!”

Sofia seems to fully vibe this, grooving and shuffling for Casey’s song, keeping a steady beat with the bob of her head.

Casey stomps off the stage as if she’s genuinely heated now. Turned angry by her own choice in song. When she returns to the crowd she notably doesn’t resume her place nearby Evalina. Gradually she calms and she gives a cordial smile to Matthew and a bob of her head. “I’m available for gigs at other peoples shit. I have my own material too.”

Esme applauds for Casey post-song, seeming to vibe with all the songs so far tonight, enjoying the entertainment.

Gabriel leans toward Aeryn to say a single hushed word, “Dusty.”

Matthew grins at Casey, “You add me on Myhaven yet?” he asks, but before an answer can be given he’s already seeking out Arachne. “So we ready for Brittany yet?”

“That’s what I forgot,” Chance says good-naturedly when Arachne points out his quintessential genericness and lack of frosted tips. “Next time.” He lets her arm loop with his and casts a smile sidelong. “Nice to finally see you.” He then turns his attention to the stage as Casey performs, lifting his hands to applaud. “Get on up there and knock everybody out. I’ll catch you after your song?”

On her phone texting away a bit, Eloa actually seems a little sad as she taps away at her phone as she sits on her seat, her curls falling about her face.

Evalina shakes her pompoms in applause for Casey, tilting her head as Casey chooses another spot, then shrugging as she drinks instead.

A single tear rolls down Eloa’s cheek and Eloa pushes her palm up to her face to wipe it away as she continues texting.

An unneeded breath is drawn in by Aeryn in a gasp, and a finger points imperiously at Gabriel, thin tendrils of mist coiling about the digit as it accuses, “Perhaps you call me dusty because it’s you who has osteoporosis! Bones can’t last forever, or can they?”

Dovie sprints into the karaoke area, trying to find an open seat for the tardy folks!

Matthew looks over as Dovie arrives, sending a wave in her direction, “Yoooo, Dovie, I hear you’re gonna sing for us.” His eyes drift toward Arachne, “And Arachne got a Brittany song.”

Matthew stares at the phone and starts laughing, “Actually I’m cutting you in front of Arachne,” he decides, “Get on up here.”

Dovie waves back at Matthew, grinning wide. She claps, turning her attention to Arachne. “We love Britney!”

“Dovie!” a slightly drunk Obadiah declares with a loud and happy tone. “More Brittany! I am stupid happy right now!”

Arachne glances away from Chance, gray eyes scanning through the crowd until they catch upon Eloa’s tear streaked face. Her gaze lingers for a short while before Matthew’s words and Chance’s encouragement drags her back to them. “… Go Dovie!” she cheers immediately for Dovie, her smile distracted, before eventually bee-lining over toward Eloa.

“And a Britney song was on,” Patience sings rather off key. “Throw my hands up…” and then with a lift of one hand in a wave, she turns to slip away, though she does paus to blow Dovie a kiss.

Esme wiggles a wave to Patience as she starts to head off.

Dovie stares at Matthew, blinking like a deer in headlights. “What? No no, Britney first! She’s a queen!! Just like Arachne!” she insists. “I need some booze for my song anyway.”

Malin raises both silver-toned pom-poms up and shakes them at Dovie.

Esme hmms, “That sounds good. I’ll try the pear brandy maybe.”

Gabriel waves to Dovie before turning back to his obviously artificially heated ‘argument’ with Aeryn, “I’m positive I could take you any day. So we’ll just have to fight this out.”

Patience shakes her head faintly at… whatever it is.

Evalina does an encouraging pose for Dovie, pompoms going up and down in-front of her.

Dovie double fists some drinks really quick, looking to Arachne and Matthew for guidance as she gets liquored up.

“Alright,” Matthew declares into the mic, “Since my cousin and her cousin are playing catch-up witht he liquid courage it’s time for…” and his eyes turn on Obadiah, “The other half of Mega Blue to do their solo song.

“Fair,” Aeryn enthuses to Gabriel. “A duel, or something. Probably not fair, come to think about it, not without asking where you’d like to be scattered?” She snickers, giving him an innocent look.

Jeremiah hands his drink to Esme. “Here, try a sip.”

Chance watches as Arachne heads over to Eloa, noticing the woman for the first time. He glances between them for a moment and then turns toward the others in the room. “Dovie! Chug, chug, chug.” He laughs as she two-fists her drink to get her own liquid courage down. “You can do it.”

Matthew says “Before I bust some Chingy out on everyone. “

“Dovie, Dovie, Dovie!” Obadiah chants to Dovie as she gets liquored up

Another tear drips down and is swiped away again by Eloa’s palm and Eloa bites her lower lip a little as she gazes into her phone, seeming a bit lost to the point where she doesn’t really notice people approaching her or looking at her.

Esme makes a thoughtful sound as she sips her brandy and then trades drinks with Jeremiah to try his with a chuckle toward what’s going on with Dovie. “You got this Dovie!”

Gabriel gasps and clutches imaginary pearls at Aeryn’s words, “How dare you! Alright, this is happening. We’ll have to arrange the details sometime soon. Though for now we need to pick on Dovie since she’s about to go up.”

Matthew does a little bounce walk in Aeryn’s direction, “Right Thurrrrrrrr,” he croons to her.

“Nah,” Obadiah says to Matthew with a laugh. “Next week. We gotta get Dove up here!”

Jeremiah says “Mm. That’s good. I like the cloves…“

Dovie is almost chugging, but not quite. It’s messy regardless. Having choked down some more cocktails, she hops up to the front, pointing at Matthew. “Okay DJ! HIT IT!”

“Dovie will be wonderful,” Aeryn concedes, beaming at Dovie. “And yes, we will work out the details. I look forward to the breeze.”

Esme says “Esme“

The music starts, Sisqo’s THong Song getting played as Matthew immediately begins grooving.

Arachne demurely presses a hand to the short hem of her mini-skirt, dipping low with a bend of knees to offer a quiet word toward Eloa. Her eyes flick briefly toward the rest of the crowd, attempting to keep an eye on the next performance.

Obadiah blanches slightly as he recognizes the song and then bursts out into deep bubbling laughter at Dovie’s choice, getting ready to shuffle with the music

When the familiar song starts spinning up, Dovie starts speaking into the mic, “Oooh that dress so scandalous, and you know another -” Dovie pauses and skips the word, “-couldn’t handle it. See you shaking that thing like who’s the ish!…” She has a little trouble with the speed of the words, speaking more than singing into the mic as she dances on the stage… “She had dumps like a truck- ugh!” At the grunt, she pushes her butt out a moment, shaking it, “Truck. Truck. Thighs like what! What! What! Baby move your butt!” The Fairchild performs the way you think white bread would.

Startled because Eloa was so wrapped up in her own world when Arachne leans down to whisper to Eloa, Eloa almost drops her phone. She does a bit of the air dancing thing to catch it and her hazel eyes look up at Arachne. A blush sets on her cheeks when she realizes she’s been noticed and she inclines her head as she reaches up to wipe her face again with her palm. “Um.. sure.. Eloa can do with drink too.” She tells Arachne weakly as she gets up to follow the other woman.

Jasper lets out a whistle while he waves his pompom.

Esme giggles with Dovie’s song, not even trying to keep up with the lyrics themselves but dancing a bit with the beat and cheering for the woman when she finishes. “Fuck yeah! That was great!”

Evalina says “Need our three sizes? Social security? Credit card numbers?“

Matthew definitely was moving his butt for the duration of the song and he glances towards Arachne, who is busy, so he starts to queue up somethign else. “I intend to win a bet,” the crowd is said, “and so, here is some Chingy.”

Decades of boarding school has somehow culminated in this moment as Dovie crows into the mic, off key and slightly off beat, though shameless in presentation. “All night long… Let me see that thong!! That thong-th-thong-thoong-thooong! I like it when the beat goes- Baby make your booty gooooooo! That thong-th-thong-thong-thong!”

The Fairchild skips a bunch of words, just bopping on stage. But there’s one word she gets right, at least, in the chorus. Thong. Because this. Is the Thong Song.

In the end, she holds out her hand at the karaoke crowd as if she were Celine Dion before giving a bow and returning to her drinks.

Chance laughs, finding a spot against the wall to lean against comfortably as Dovie gets the Thong Song going. Occasionally he glances over toward Arachne and Eloa but things seem fine over there, so his attention shifts back to the stage. He lets out a supportive and encouraging whistle for Dovie, applauding when she finishes her song.

Sofia applauds wildly for Dovie’s mayo-flavored rendition of the Thong Song, shouting, “Dumps like a truck-truck-truck!” along with the lyrics.

Arachne holds up a finger to Eloa and moves toward the bar, quickly holding up two fingers for one of Aeryn’s signature cocktails from a poised bartender crafts artful drinks with quiet grace/span>/spanEvalina says “To appease, just chaotize it. Different orders for everyone. No commas either – write out all cell numbers in full text“

Looking a bit fragile and brittle, Eloa follows the other woman to the bar and then settles into one of the wooden alcoves, her chestnut curls falling about her face.

Chingy’s Right thurr begins t o play and Matthew drops into the opening bar, “I like the way you do that right thurr,” his finger snapping out into the crowd, picking out Malin and grinning crooked as drops low, giving a twerk.

His hips roll with exaggeration, one hand smoothing down his chest while the other gestures playful, like he’s carving the rhythm out of the air.

“I like the way you do that right thurr.”
“I like the way you do that right thurr.”
By the second verse, Matthew’s is dancing the steps. He realyl seems to only know the “I like the way you do it right thurr,” and echoes in the occasional word, mroe an ad-libber than rapper.

Malin bites at her lower lip as she watches Matthew, wriggling her eyebrows at him as he twerks. She proceeds to laugh.

“Who doesn’t like the way you do that right thurr, really? No one I know.” Jeremiah says, nodding along.

Evalina says “How do you mean, seven million, hundred thousand and eight hundred fifty-five?“

Dovie bounces, cheering for Matthew. “Right there!!!”

Esme giggles and nods along with Jeremiah as she dances a bit more, chiming in on the chorus now and then.

“I like that, I like that” Matthew begins to chant it into the mic, doing the step dance along with the beat until the music fades out.

Obadiah looks over to Esme at something, flashing her a quick wink before cheering on Matthew with a fist in the air, pumping up and down cheering him on, even though it is clear he doesn’t recognize the song

Another classic that Casey knows. She’s more than happy to shake off her earlier angst from her own performance to dance with a lot of hip movement involved. She can move it right thurr and seems to be having fun doing so.

Aeryn slides from her seat, with a wave and an apologetic glance. “I need to run,” she states, just before she’s through the door.

“Mega Blue!” Malin cries out like a band obsessed teenager as Matthew finishes up.

Chance joins in on the dancing, at least having a little more rhythm than he has singing ability. He applauds Matthew as the song fades to a close.

Dovie cheers after Malin, chanting. “Mega Blue!! Whoooo!” She hip-bops Obadiah for a moment, almost spilling some of her drink.

Matthew winks at Malin, brows bouncing, and then he looks over the group, “We got any other singers before we shut this party down?”

Obadiah laughs and hip checks Dovie back. “You missed our duet! I am sure Malin recorded it for Matt’s YouTube channel, but live was definitely better.” He laughs and adds, “I hope Alex Cooper does Mattbrew and I justice.”

Dovie tells Obadiah, “I’ll check out the clips after! There was so much traffic on the way back from Boston!”

Jeremiah nods in agreement with Dovie. “There was. I had to go into the city today too.”

Esme is definitely vibing now, a happy hum under her breath as she nurses what’s left of her drink. “That has been ah pretty fun night.”

Dovie nods back at Jeremiah, “I’m glad I caught it though, did you sing??”

“Alright folks,” Matthew announces, “I’m officially clocking out as DJ Moothew, but the karaoke’s gonna be set up all night, and the music–” he points towards his phone, “is up for grabs for anyone that wants to start spinning tunes.”

Jeremiah nods in agreement with Esme as he spends a moment shaking what the Good Lord gave him, then says to Dovie “I did! I ain’t no Hollaback Girl!”

“Great job DJ Moothew!” Esme calls with a grin toward Matthew

“I need a joint,” Obadiah says. Bold coming from someone wearing a DARE shirt. “I don’t think V&V is the place though.”

Jeremiah applauds for Matthew.

Malin moves to lean into Matthew and press a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Well done, Mega Blue boy band singer.”

Dovie suggests to Obadiah. “After party at my place? There’s a bunch of dr-” She stops herself just in time. “A bunch of leftovers!”

Matthew looks over at Obadiah, “Hold on, I maybe gotchu,” he says, digging into his pockets

Matthew frowns and shakes his head, “I lied, I don’t. Sorry.”

Dovie leans over towards Malin. “Love love love your knee highs!!”

Jeremiah grins and nods at Dovie.

“All mine are at the house too.” Esme giggles. She looks back to Jeremiah, “You wanna tag along with me on an errand? I need t’ do a lil prep for this class tomorrow.” She glances upward like she’s trying to decide if she’s sober enough to drive her bike and then decides the answer is yes, with a firm nod to herself as she draws her gaze back down.

Dovie looks down at her hands, where she holds two half drunk cocktails, deciding how to finish them off.

Sofia upturns her brandy with the clinking of ice on glass and then grins at Matthew. “Good job putting this together, fun time! I’m gonna bounce.”

Jeremiah nods at Esme. “Sure!”

Obadiah looks up to Dovie after he is done whispering to some people on the side and then says, “Sure I could do after party, but I might take a nap for an hour or so too.”

Matthew nods at Sofia, “Hey, thanks for making it out, great song.” He grins, giving the pizza queen a wave.

Malin glances down at her stockings, and then beams brightly at Dovie. “Thanks! You look gorgeous as always, Dovie.”

Matthew nods at Jeremiah, “Good seeing you again, Jerimiah,” he says, “thanks for coming out.”

Sofia blows a seemingly random scatter of kisses with her lips to the palms of her hands, shooting in the way of Evalina, Obadiah, and Malin, though they really could be for anyone, and wiggles her fingers as she departs.

Esme lifts her hand to wave to everyone. “Good seeing you all! Was a lotta fun!”

Evalina catches an air kiss, critical hit!

“Yeah, this was a lot of fun,” Chance says to Matthew, agreeing with the others. “Will definitely be back for the net one.”

Obadiah winks at Dovie and watches Esme go with Jeremiah, an amused smile on his face and then adds, “I should bounce and do that nap. I’ll text you when I wake up.”

“It was great, you had a crowd favorite pick!” Matthew says to Chance, waving at the Fairchild. “So glad you made it out.”

Dovie giggles and claps for Evalina. “Nice one!” She nods at Obadiah and asks Malin, Evalina, Matthew, Chance, Gabriel, and Jasper – those she can immediately see nearby. “Afterparty?”

Matthew fishes into his pocket and pulls out a small whiskey, “Yo, yes, but y’all wanna change venues?” he asks, “Cus I got joints and stuff back at the Penthouse and that’s not far.”

“Sure,” Chance says to Dovie. “Where we headed?”

Matthew says “Bayview Apartments, we can hang out in the bar and stuff. “

“Thank you and good night!” Obadiah says waving to everyone as he bounces. “Watch for Mega Blue’s reunion tour this fall!”

Dovie gasps at Matthew. “Penthouse partttyyyy! I gotta get my swimsuit!” She grins at Chance. “Have you been? It’s so lovely!”

Matthew nods at Dovie, “Yeah, after party at the penthouse.”

Evalina blinks, “Wait, really?!” She raises a pompom, “I’m in! I need to go get my swimsuit too!” Beat. “…Mmm… Do I go for my bikini or my monokini… Or the other one…” She starts to calculate, furrowing her brow

Chance shakes his head at Dovie and says, “Nope. I think you’ve seen the sum of my socializing since getting here.” He laughs.

Evalina nods to Dovie, “Bikini it is! The monokini goes for sexy a lot more than cute!”

Dovie waves to everyone in the crowd. “See you at the afterparty!!”

Matthew begins cleaning things up, taking down the speakers and wires and snacks.

Matthew says “Alright, I’m heading to my place now, I gotta change, I’ll meet people over there. “

Chance says “See you in a bit!“

Evalina says “Okay, time to go change“

Jasper says “I should finish this drink and then sober up.“

Matthew wanders over towards Malin, leaning in to ask, “You ready?”

Malin gives a confirming nod to Matthew. “I’m ready, babe.”

Matthew nods at Malin, “Okay!”

Matthew upnods Tessa, “Yo,” he says heading into his car.

Matthew smiles at Malin, “Hey,” he says, and points down the hall, “Evalina’s here.”

Evalina gives up on trying to pick the lock to the north, then nods, heading to Matthew and Malin, “Ah, almost lockpicked the wrong door…” She murmurs, giving the pair a wave. “I figured I’d take the front entrance..”

Malin moves up behind Matthew, slipping her arms around him and resting her head against the back of a shoulder. She smiles as Evalina arrives. “That’s a Montrose trick,” she mentions of the lockpicking idea.

Matthew grins and shakes his head at Evalina, “Thing is, you’d have been in the wrong wing,” he tells her, “it’s the south wing where we got the party!”

Malin murmurs, “And you might run into Mab without her makeup on…”

Evalina giggles to Malin, “Well, you know. Date a Montrose, become a Montrose.” She tells her with a wink, then smiling at Matthew before giving a grin. “I’d love to see Mab without makeup. I already saw her sleep once – if I see her without make up, I think she’ll end up in my claw..”

Matthew smiles when Malin’s arms come around his waist, leaning in against her, Something she says makes him laugh and he starts to shift about, trading out an arm wrap for hand hold. “Let’s go!”

Matthew jaws the air, caught off by Evalina’s wit and suddenly he laughs. “Yes,” he confirms, “But I assume you will be keeping that secret?”

Malin slips an arm into Matthew’s offered one and she nods to Evalina. “You two could have been a thing, I think!”

Matthew says “Hey Dovie. “

Matthew nods in agreement to Malin.

Matthew says “Yah, come on down here, Dovie! “

Evalina crosses her arms, considering Matthew, “Mmm. Maybe for a price.” She teases him with a playful wink, then tilting her head at Malin. “Maybe. I really enjoyed talking to her.” She admits, her eyes flitting off to Dovie after. “Hey Dov!”

Dovie waves to the Evalina, Malin and Matthew. “Hey everyone! I got my swimsuit!” She beams.

Matthew is down the hall, waving Dovie down, “This a party now, let’s go,” beckoning Dovie to follow along.

“I also brought fun stuff,” Dovie says in a loud whisper with a wink at the gathered.

Matthew says “Arachne already in! “

Matthew says “Party favors are in the Bar which is down there! “

Dovie claps excitedly. “Which was was the pool? I remember you had a hot tub too.”

Matthew points down the patio towards the pool. He’s slings an arm around Malin’s shoulders, resting in against her, chin propped on her head. “Yeah it’s all down the balcony at the south end.”

Dovie bops over, waving to Arachne. “Gorgeous night!”

“I think last time I came here, all I really saw was cake…” Evalina recalls with a cross of her arms, “So, so much cake…” Beat. “I remember thinking Mab could be Marie Antoinette, and actually get away with it-” Her eyes widen as Dovie is revealed, she lets out a playful whistle. “You go girl, that’s one amazing swimsuit!” She praises, then glancing between her, Malin and Arachne, “…Now I feel underdressed.”

Dovie smiles at Evalina. “Not at all! I love your outfit too! Very comfy chic!” she compliments.

Malin slips in to the shallows, careful not to get in too deep and tail out. She nods in agreement with Dovie about Evalina’s outfit. “You get to be the modest one!”

Evalina chuckles at Malin, “It’s a fun new experience I’ve been having in this city.” She agrees, sitting at the edge of the shallows, feet in the water.

Malin asks of Evalina curiously, “Wearing clothes?”

Dovie rummages in her handbag, pulling out a few little baggies of white powder and some tabs. “Anyone want some funsies?”

Malin looks to Dovie, “What kind of wine is that?”

Evalina stares at Malin. “…Yes. In New York and Paris, I actually went around entirely naked. It made it much easier to convince men to sign contracts. Bit chilly, though.” She tells her deadpan, then breaking out into a giggle. “No, no. Being modest.” She tilts her head curiously at Dovie then, “Oh my.”

Dovie winks at Evalina.

Matthew arrives from the bar a bottle of tequila, a bag of weed, and a floating surface to serve as a tray. “Alright we got any MDMA in there?” he wonders, sending the floaty towrads Dovie.

Malin stares right back at Evalina, as if she were absolutely scandalised, but it’s also clear she isn’t. “Modest can be nice,” she agrees, and then she says to Matthew, “MDMA turns me into a cat, remember.”

“You mean, it turns you into… Meow-lin?” Dovie quips to Malin with a giggle.

Malin busts up laughing over Dovie’s clever name. “That fits! That’s perfect!”