3rd life, but make it Corika!

{Circlet} Calm before the Storm

"We have some down time." Prince said. "...Do we want to just... relax?"

"That would be for the better. Can't fight on a frazzled mind."

Emperor smiled at his sibling, sitting down by the fire. The flames casting high shadows against the trees, and his companions.

Gloves leaned against one of the trees, stretching their arms upwards. "Damn, wish I had my guitar right now. This would be PERFECT for just... playing."

"It would." Emperor said. "But I don't think they're a craftable item in Minecraft. If this world runs on minecraft logic, then you wouldn't-"

"I can try!" They grinned, placing down a crafting table. "...I need wood and string-"

"I have some!" Prince held up some strings, handing them to Gloves, who took them with a smile.

"Thanks fam. I think I have the wood. One sec..." Gloves arranged the string with some wood in their inventory, and a few minutes of trial and error later, held up a guitar. "MADE IT!"

Emperor sighed in amusement, clapping quietly. "Nice one, love."

Gloves grinned, sitting back down against the tree. "Thanks babe! Now, any requests for songs?"

"Hrm..." The king thought for a moment. "... What's the name of that one band you can't stop listening too?"

"Lovejoy, Mother Mother, or The Orion Experience?" Gloves asked. "Be more specific love."

"I think Mother Mother? There's a song called Perfume I know you love. Why not play that?"

Gloves and Prince looked at each other, before laughing. Emperor felt his cheeks go hot from embarrassment.

"What?!" He asked, a bit jokingly offended. "What is it?"

"Emp," Prince started, through xyr giggles. "Perfume's by Lovejoy!"

...Oh. Well, Emperor's case of not really paying attention to band names strikes again. He chuckled, at his own incompetence. "I suppose you're right. Well, I know you like that song. ...Do you want to play it?"

Gloves nodded, still a bit giggly. "Alright! Let's do this." They plucked at the strings, making sure it was in tune before strumming a note. And then another. "Okay, so it's..." Their voice trailed off, picking the first few notes of the song before beginning to play the actual song. Emperor closed his eyes, listening to Gloves play.

" It's 3:45- AM!

And I just bite my tongue,

Update me on your life,

And now you've found the one."

Emperor always loved it when Gloves sang. They rarely did, mainly due to insecurities. But when they did, Emperor found their voice ethereal.

" But I don't like his eyes,

And I distrust the name.

And I hate their haircut,

They look like a prick. -A PRICK!"

The sudden yelling of some of the lyrics made Emperor chuckle. Gloves certainly had enthusiasm about this. They always do, though.

" But it's all the same,

It'd be daft of me to cry.

Your tongue is razor sharp,

I miss when it would fight mine.

Left your heart on standby.

By the way he holds you,

Bet he serenades you,

I can't really blame, you...

And I can still smell her perfume!"

Emperor opened his eyes, now watching as Gloves strummed with a smile, the firelight making the whole scene feel magical.

" Did it rub off on you?"

He couldn't help but hum along, knowing the song by heart (via Gloves listening to it so many times.)

" I can still smell her perfume!"

Emperor looked over at his sibling. Prince was bobbing xyr head to the music, smiling wide.

" Did it rub off on you?

You say your ex-boyfriend's a policeman,

I say you need better standards."

Emp loved this part. Gloves often loved it when he would yell along with it.

" You say your ex-boyfriend's a policeman-"

Prince, Emp, and Gloves all yelled this part at once, Emperor grinning through it all.

" I SAY YOU NEED BETTER STANDARDS!"

" It seems like all our friends,

Abruptly fell in love.

And she was in the dust, darlin'

Life was streaming past"

And, Emperor went back to listening to Gloves' ethereal voice, tapping his hand against his thigh to the beat.

" So she learned to lie,

She learned how to pretend,

A drama in a futile,

A means to an end."

Gloves sang. Their face looking utterly elated with their big-ass grin.

" Why can't you be a dick?

Why must you be so nice?

It's hard for me to move on,

When I don't really hate, you.

I don't really hate, you

I don't really hate you

I don't really hate you."

As Gloves started to strum the instrumental part, Emperor hummed along, singing a higher part softly to harmonize with his lover.

" I can still smell her perfume.

Did it rub off on you?"

Emperor's singing grew in volume, and Prince joined in, as well. Family Karaoke nights are fun.

" I can stil smell her perfume.

Did it rub off on you!?"

As the last instrumental part came to a close, Emperor and Prince just.. Let Gloves finish their song.

" It's 3:45,

Taxi's not arrived,

I don't think that he's coming..."

The last chords rang out, and Gloves smiled, sitting the instrument upright in their lap. "Well, that was fun."

Prince smiled. "It was! Wonder why we don't do stuff like this more often.."

Emperor nodded. "It is rather weird. When all this is over- if we do go back home- we should do this more. What do you think, love?"

"I... I'd like that. I think it might make me a bit more confident in my voice, to be honest." Gloves said. "Well... night's still young. We have a fire to ward off the mobs, should I do another one?"

And, a little too eagerly, Emperor answered "YES."

Gloves chuckled. "Well. The next song tonight is The Fall! Please, enjoy."