She Shines [Adelaide]

[Adelaide]

Adelaide would inspect the instruments curiously.

"This is quite the collection."

[WR Harthe]

WR peeked over the counter when Adelaide spoke up, grinning when they saw what she was looking at. They ducked back down to continue searching the cabinets for tools.

"Yeah, used to have a band. Was me and two close friends, went around and did as many gigs as we physically could to try and get scouted and signed by a label,"

They started, smiling at the memories.

"We recorded two albums, underground material, that unfortunately doesn't exist on this world. All I got are a few cassettes and sample CDs. And of course, all the shit on the wall. Don't ask how I got it all here."

They chuckled, then sighed deeply. They both loved and hated that time of their life.

[Adelaide]

"It's quite impressive. I'd like to hear some of your stuff one day if that's cool with you?"

She asked.

[WR Harthe]

WR slammed a wrench onto the counter along with other miscellaneous tools and jumped to their feet with a huff.

The rubbed the back of their head again.

"Funny you say that, actually. I ripped a few demos from two of the cassettes and threw them on a CD for you. I mean, thought you'd appreciate it since you play guitar and all."

They shrugged. They hadn't originally planned on giving it to her, but since the opportunity arose, they figured why the hell not?

"Gotta find it though."

[Adelaide]

"Oh, cool. Thanks. Well, I'll tell ya what, I'll take the tools and try to finish up your car, and you can look for the CD and we'll call it a fair trade, yeah?"

She would ask as she walked over to get the tools from the counter.

[WR Harthe]

WR thought about while they dug around in the refrigerator. They pulled out two Cokes and tossed one to Adelaide.

"Sounds good to me."

[Adelaide]

Adelaide would catch the coke with a nod and head back down to work on the car.

[WR Harthe]

After fifteen minutes or so of searching around for the damn CD, they finally found it and, since Adelaide had not come back in yet, wrote the track list on the back of the makeshift case.

When they were done, they dropped it on the counter and cracked open their Coke, chugging it down in just a few seconds and tossing the can away while they waited.

[Adelaide]

After a few more moments a dirty oil and grease covered Adelaide would come back to WR's apartment. Wiping off her hands with the dirty rag from before.

"Alright I THINK I got it, had a loose valve causing that sprung a leak, which spread caused things to get gunked up which was lowering your overall car performance, so I cleaned out the gunk, tightened the valve, and wiped down the pipes. I recommend you go ahead and do an oil change, but if you're on a time crunch then at the very least add a Quart of Oil, cause you're definitely down a little from the size of the leak."

[WR Harthe]

WR was sitting at the counter when Adelaide walked in, and they tilted their head with a brow raised and nodded along as she spoke. Well what do you know? She really did know what she was talking about...

"Huh. Thanks, I appreciate it. Honestly prolly woulda broke something else if I did it myself." They chuckled and scratched their head.

"Well, anyway, found the CD. Took a lot longer to dig up than it should have."

[Adelaide]

Adelaide shrugged.

"I lose shit all the time I get it."

[WR Harthe]

"Yep. It's a pretty effortless habit and I fucking hate it,"

They chuckled, handing the CD to her. Since it was ripped, there was no art on the cover, but there was writing on the front labeling it as "Morei Skies - What's Forgotten", and on the back was a track list labeled as:

SPOILER: Click to show

01. Chase Me (Short, Version B)
02. Asbestos (Demo)
03. Willow's Room (Unreleased, Cut)
04. Trapped (Unreleased, Cut)
05. The Summoning
06. Chase Me (Longform, Version C)

"It's pretty... well, it's kinda shit. We didn't have an actual studio to record in so we mostly just used Andre's garage. These are mostly instrumental, I think. What vocals are on here are Andre's, who also did drums. I was on guitar, bass, backup sounds, and Folly was our DJ." They explained, smiling at the memories.

"I'm sure there's some other shit, somewhere, that I've got, but eh. Majority of the sixty or so songs we recorded are lost with our world."

They shrugged, taking a sip from the third Coke they've opened since her visit.

[Adelaide]

"Mind if I get another?"

She would say pointing at the coke. Then she would take a look at the CD.

"Cool, I'll check it out, and don't worry have you scene me? Do I look like the kind of individual that gets their kicks by listening mainstream shit?"

[WR Harthe]

WR hopped over the counter and opened the fridge, tossing another Coke in Adelaide's direction.

Then they shrugged.

"Mainstream, no. Polished, yes."

[Adelaide]

Adelaide caught the coke, popping it open she downed half of it before continuing.

"Fair enough, but I do enjoy the occasional raw underground. We'll see if ya match up to my tastes."