#anywhere

"Sir Vali, right. They said he can help me catch up in school. And Siv does makeup tutorials? Or is that Sylvi? Oh, I need to take notes."

"Sylvi does the make up tutorials"

She snaps her fingers. "Got it. I'll have to ask if she thinks I have time to add some color before starting school." Toying with a bit of hair with a grin. "And if there's a good place around here to do that - I'll never forget the way Momma Vi shrieked when I dyed the bathroom sink purple once.."

"That's..actually pretty impressive"

"It came off!" She laughs.

"...eventually."

"Now, you've heard me sing... care to try your own turn? I do envy your kith's natural musical talent."

She hums to herself, thinking. "Well, now I'm on the spot!"

Piper walks along for a steps, letting her hooves set a beat, and then starts humming, and snaps her fingers along to set the beat as she softly sings a bit out of Sir Duke,

"Music is a world within itself
With a language we all understand
With an equal opportunity
For all to sing, dance and clap their hands
But just because a record has a groove
Don't make it in the groove
But you can tell right away at letter A
When the people start to move

They can feel it all over
They can feel it all over, people
They can feel it all over
They can feel it all over, people...."

Without even intending to, the music carries a hint to it that encourages the listener want to clap, or dance, or sing along...

And Tove does clap! It takes all her strength not to sing along but she did so want to hear what Piper could do.

She's not the best, most amazing singer, but she clearly has a voice, and some skill, knowing how to adjust her pitch and tone to match the song at hand, and modulate for the open space so that she's neither drowned out or bellowing over the hills. And she is good!

And she does join in for the last lines before saying "My word, that was.. wonderful. Infectious! In the best way"

She blushes a bit at the praise, but doesn't deny it behind any false modesty. "Thanks! Or rather, thank my music teachers. Momma Vi would sing since I was in the cradel, and Momma Vee had an instrument available ever since I was old enough to shake a rattle."

"Well you do them proud. If you put your mind to it, in a year or two I think I'd have extreme competition, maybe less and I consider myself a professional"

"Why compete, when it's more fun to jam?" A grin.

"Well, ego and I want the prize, but" A pat on the shoulder "When you do beat me out , I know it will be well earned and will cheer and clap. But yes I'd love to sing with you more often. Father has a student, Spencer DeBuke.. now he has a voice that's turning deep and rich. We've had a growing musical talent of late all around."

"Well, the singing itself is enough of a prize for me..." She demures with a hidden grin... "Unless they have a solid gold fiddle up for grabs!"

"I do love that song... but if I see one I'll let you know. You definitely should sing at Pennons, but if you want to get in good with the Chieftain, there is a song that was made for her daughter and she encourages others to learn. " And she teaches the Rivervale song. It is clear it was crafted not just to jog the memory but hold close to love.

"Oh, now that's a lovely tune. I've not tried my hand at writing anything of my own. But... would it be appropriate? I mean, that's obviously near and dear to this lodge, and I'm not.. well, I'm only a newcomer."

"Well, if they ask tell them I taught you it and that should get you out of trouble." She says "As for writing I've got a few original ones but I always worry about them until someone else hears them but I'm always wanting to fix it before they do." a nod as they head into the lodge "Now, rest yourself by the fire. I plan to pick your brain for what is in in your opinion and what sort of music you like best."

"Will do. Thanks, Miss Tove." And she settles by the fire, to contemplate the song she has learned, and whether it might offend her new hosts and local liege to hear her sing it...

"Now, what sort of drink will you have? Kerri won't mind if we have a few while others are out. And what's your favorite style of music?"

"That's like asking a mom to pick her favorite baby! Oh, I like anything with a good beat and a bit of soul to it. Something that moves you, right? A lot of today's pop is like... like popcorn? It's tasty, but not filling, and you forget about it after a few and want a real meal."

"But don't get me wrong, I'll belt out stuff at Karaoke with the best... or worst... of 'em!"

"Ha, well... I find much of what is new and old lost on me so I have to research. Most of the things were I were raised was....well, pre electric guitar to put it mildly. Ballads and shanties and chants and edas..."

"So I came here and was raicing to catch up... joyously so, but I find it funny what's 'old music' and what's 'new'. I've sang songs a year old and been told it was 'old news' then dusted stuff off that's been a folk song where I was for a century and... folks are calling it 'new alternative'... it's such a golden age for music really because it's an age that is drinking in all ages. Broadway tunes turned to heavy metal, heavy metal turned to jazz, it's ... amazing. Folks talk of eternal winter, but there's no more wonderful shield against it than the music "

A grin. "It's like, I think I heard a new pirate rock song, and it turns out that's it's an ancient sea shanty and Flogging Molly has just re-appropriated it, or like when Metallica did Whiskey in the Jar..."

"I know! Though I'm not sure I can forgive Rednex for Cotton Eye Joe" A shake of her head "They can't all be winners"

"Like, did you know that Black Betty was an old call-and-response work song.. and before that, a british marching tune? It's a great rock song, but so... soulful if you hear the original cadence."

"No I didn't know that, but I can imagine. There's a lot of beauty in even the most miserable songs, and wisdom in some of the silliest"

"MTA was funny, but also chastised greed."

She nods along to this, but looks confused by the last. "MTA?"

"Oh that's an old one..." and she sings it

"These are the times that try men's souls
In the course of our nation's history
The people of Boston have rallied bravely
Whenever the rights of men have been threatenedToday a new crisis has arisenIs attempting to levy a burdensome tax on the population
In the form of a subway fare increase
Citizens, hear me out, this could happen to you!Well, let me tell you of the story of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA"

"Well, did he ever return?
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
(What a pity)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
And he's the man who never returnedWhen he got there the conductor told him, "One more nickel"
Charlie couldn't get off of that train!But did he ever return?
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
(Poor old Charlie)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returnedNow, all night long Charlie rides through the stations
Crying, "What will become of me?
How can I afford to see my sister
Or my cousin"

"But did he ever return?
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
(Shame and scandal)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returnedEvery day at quarter past two
And through the open window she hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumbling through!But did he ever return?
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
(He may ride forever)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned
Pick it Davey
(Kinda hurts my fingers)Now, you citizens of Boston
Don't you think it's a scandal
How the people have to pay and pay?
Fight the fare increase, vote for
Get poor Charlie off the MTA!Or else he'll never return
No he'll never return and his fate is still unlearned
(Just like Paul Revere)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returnedHe's the man who never returned
He's the man who never returned
He's the man who never returned
Et tu, Charlie?"

and she finishes up then grins "Out of date, but it really brought pressure on the MTA to change its ways"

"Now if you like the flute, the Ship that never returned which that is based on, can have a lovely flute peace" Tove beams

She is humming along, having picked up the chorus quickly. "Oh, that's a blast. "I know a little flute, but I tend to lean more towards stuff that lets me sing along."

"Whatever you like." She smiles then she says "Jaymes doesn't sing... but now and then I can get him to dance. I think the first time it required getting him in an armlock"

"Maybe I should work on my woodwinds a little," She muses, "Learn to play along instead of having to run the show. Though, breaking out on my own isn't a bad thing, either, is it?"

"Well, if you want a flute, panpipes, or other wood wind I might have a spare, assuming you don't have one of your own"

"I played around with an Ocarina, because someone was telling me that there's some great Zelda music? I mean, before I heard your song earlier, I'd not really have believed it... It's funny that they consider it a woodwind when it's traditionally clay, though."

"I never played that myself. But yes, you might find some lovely music based on video games "

"I might be able to craft one.. but yes, from wood. " She ponders "Might take sometime, but I'll see what I can do for you"

"Sounds like a whole new world of musical research just opened up to me. And here I was thinking of video games as just, you know, those tinny 8-bit "beep-deep-oop-boop" tunes."

"I was was as surprised as anyone, but I get a lot demands on my youtube channel for the Portal song"

"Oh, you run a YouTube channel? I'll have to check it out..." A soft sigh. "Maybe I can get Zuzu to lend me his laptop. They... well. I downgraded some things before I headed over. No laptop, no Sally... that was my Vespa. Probably best that I left her behind, with Miss Sally Mae that would be confusing if I took her for a ride. I think I can get my smartphone back, or maybe even a dumb one. Gotta talk to Auntie M about that."

"Why would you have to downgrade? Jersey has wifi too"

She fidgets a bit, and shrugs. "Yeah, you're right. Meant, more of a tech downgrade. Simplify my life a little, you know?"

"Well, I can see merit in that I suppose. You seem a very disciplined young woman." Amused "You sure you and Zane are related?"