Hi all! I'm back again. This is gonna be another one of those short snippets, so I'll try to keep what's up here short too. I'm sorry that I said I'd try to get a new chapter in each week and then didn't follow up on the promise AT ALL, but I'm really starting to burn myself out with all the other stuff I've been up to outside of writing. So, first off, I'm sorry to those of you that care, but I'm just gonna give up completely on following a schedule for right now. If I manage to crank out a few stories during a break sometime, I might switch over to one a week for a little while, but otherwise it'll just be whenever I can get the time to write.

Secondly, this one isn't anything related to Halloween. I'm sorry, but I started writing this a week or two ago and expected to finish a bit sooner, but here we are on the day before the spooky night. I'll think about theming the next chapter appropriately to make up for it, but we'll just have to see.

Thirdly, for anyone who happens to be curious, I'm writing this story in much the same way you would play a game of Microscope (look it up, it's great), and at some point might make a formal timeline set up like that that I'll try to share with you guys.

Finally, I really want to apologize to the Guest reviewer. I have a better understanding of what you meant now and I'm sorry that I misunderstood at first and came off as a bit rude.

Thanks to everyone who's reading, and responses to reviews will be at the end. I don't own any of Nefcy's characters or story. I hope you enjoy!

--

The liquidy-sharp twangs of a fiddle played into the royal couple's ears as they stepped into the bar, attracting as little attention as they could. In one corner of the tavern's main floor was a fireplace, alive with a cackling of flames that danced around it's stoney column, which added to the establishment's cozy atmosphere. Gathered around it were a number of patrons, warming their frostbitten fingers against the heat as they stole swigs of beer and ale from large steins and tore a dark rye from it's loaf. By the bar-counter were a number of other patrons, more fortunately dressed for the cold winter's night, who had their own ale-swigs and bread loaves that they took from their stools on the other side of the counter behind which a very thin gentleman stood washing a glass in front of the kegs.

Off to the side of the scene was a fiddling quartet, the most well heard of which was the violinist, who was standing atop a little box to help project his melodies. They were playing a medley of fiddling pieces that mixed with some traditional Stump Day music, as the holiday was coming close at hand, and had helped to complete the quaint aspect which the tavern held so well.

Entering the lively act were two unlikely individuals for the place: the Princess Star and her boyfriend, Marco, dressed in the least conspicuous attire they could manage to find in the castle. They weren't there to lord over anyone, and didn't want anyone to think that they were, so they dressed up much as they did when they were on Earth: Marco in a red hoodie, jeans, and brown sneakers; Star in her teal dress with the pink ghost, purple and orange leggings, and monster-face boots. And, of course, her devil-horn headband. She couldn't do without that.

They did their best not to disturb the comforting atmosphere in the sanctuary from external chill, but they still drew the attention of some of the less occupied inhabitants of the establishment. To their luck, though, the bartender had never been close enough to the princess to recognize her by face only, and was not begging to give his largess as was, unfortunately, wont of many of Mewni's peasants when they were visited by a noble or royal. Star was trying desperately to change that, but in the meantime she would just avoid going out in her royal dress; she didn't like wearing it anyway.

The two new patrons stepped up to the bar and pulled up stools. "Come on Marco, this'll be fun. You just have to let loose for a little while. We'll take two beers to start with, sir!" Star told the tapster with a cheery but warm tone to match the mood of the place.

"I don't know Star, what if we do something stupid?"

"Don't worry so much Marco. Here, drink up!"

--

Their speech was beginning to slur after the next few drinks. "What else have you got, mister bar-man?" Star asked the barkeep with her now staggering voice.

--

"Another round for everyone, all on me!" cried Star in a drunken stupor.

--

"Look Star," Marco slipped her headband of her head and placed it on his own. "I'm the princess of Mewni!" he stumbled out.

--

"We're gonna need a room for the night I think,––– Nah, we just need the one bed."

--

"Marco..." Star prodded him timidly on the forehead, opening up the stinging hangover headache which he would no doubt have all day.

"Oww! Star! What're you doing? Why are we… you..." his flickering-open eyes were greeted by a sight he had only seen on rare occasion, and never at such close a proximity. He couldn't help his initial feelings of desire, but very quickly another thought arose in him, prompted primarily by the sheepish look on Star's face and the realization that his body was in a similar state to Star's. "Star… Did we…?"

She nodded. Marco's face grew hotter.

"Oh…. oh god…."

"Yeah…."

"Oh god…. Star, are you ok? I didn't… you… I mean… you're not…."

"No, I don't think so…." An awkward silence fell between the two of them.

"Umm, Marco?"

"Yes, Star?"

"I'm sorry I made you come and do this with me. It's my fault, and now this happened, and I don't know if we were really ready and it was our first time and I… it's my fault, I forced you to do this," some tears began to well in her eyes as thoughts of how Marco must've felt about it wrenched at her gut.

"Star… it's not your fault; neither of us were in control. I guess we really just have to be glad that we didn't go and do it with someone else." Marco made a half-hearted grin to break the mood, but Star didn't take to it.

"But… our first time was supposed to be special, and, because of me, we can't have that anymore."

"Even if the details are still a little hazy for me, I know that what we did last night was special. And, even if we were drunk, I think it must have been perfect. I don't regret doing it with you one bit. You know, as long as we aren't about to have a kid. I'm definitely not quite ready for that yet." Star cracked a bit of laughter at his last joking comment, and the two of them shared one of the most endearing embraces they ever would. They stayed in the room for a long while, alone in each other's caring grip. But soon, they would have to return to the palace; they would need help set up for the upcoming celebrations, and family would surely be arriving soon.

--

Star's Keyblade4114: Hell yeah!

Guest(s?): Firstly, I am really, really sorry if my last response came off as rude to you (whomever wrote the first guest response), I understand the difficulties of the language barrier and get that it can be hard to translate things how you want to. Thanks for the clarification (whomever wrote the second guest response), I have a much better idea of what you(?) were trying to say, and I appreciate the advice.

Second, I'm glad that I didn't do such a bad job at hinting at it that no one realized they were naked XD. I started writing it without the killer being an idea, so when I wrote out that they did it up on the roof and realized I wanted to use the chapter to set stuff up for the future, I realized I didn't want to take that fact out so that I could hint at even more things in the future. It was really funny for me to write with that thought in mind, and I'm glad it was funny for you too.