Music of the Night


Vinnie is inside the Anechoic Chamber to play the Balalaika at his best. After his performance, he was cheered by Finn and Marceline and when he come out from the chamber, he opened the disc tray to retrieve his music to be added in his recordings collection.

Finn: (clapping) Woohoo!
Marceline: Wow. So that's how it's played.
Vinnie: Well, do you like it? (puts disc in the hidden storage that opens by tapping)
Finn: It was awesome!
Marceline: How did you get that uh, thing?
Vinnie: Looted from my old castle. My brother once told me that my grandpa collected like 75% of the world's instruments.
Marceline: You sure know a lot about it.
Vinnie: Indeed. I spent 20 sleepless nights to master all of it and to top it all, I put my most time and effort on this 3 stringed baby.

She checked on Vin while he's talking to Finn about the balalaika and the correct use of the chamber because his behavior was different to a common vampire. She came up with a plan in a form of hanging out. Vin became nervous after she left and he showed it by constantly fixing his clothes and grooming his already fine hair. Finn gave him an advice that soon calm him down and made him get ready for tonight.

Marceline: Hey Vin.
Vinnie: Yes?
Marceline: I'll be going home now but you have to be there at 6.
Vinnie: Why?
Marceline: Why? I wanna hang out with you.
Vinnie: Oh, sure. I'll meet you there.
Finn: What about me?
Marceline: No Finn. It's just only him and me. See ya. (jumps out of the window with her umbrella)
Vinnie: Bye... (nervous) You gotta help me Finn.
Finn: Help with what?
Vinnie: This will be my first time hanging out with her and I don't know what to do.
Finn: Weren't you very confident with the Princesses back then?
Vinnie: That's because I'm not used to date with royals but even though she's a vampire queen~ (sigh) Why do I have these special feelings with her?
Finn: Chillax man. You'll be fine and it's just hanging out, not a date.
Vinnie: Just hanging out?
Finn: Keep your feelings inside and see her as a friend from the outside.
Vinnie: You're right. How do you know about that?
Finn: Jake taught me.
Vinnie: Oh.

After wearing his trench coat, he's ready to go to the cave. He came here just in time and she came out from the cave wearing a no smoking symbol shirt tucked out, cycling shorts, and sandals. He doesn't even complain why she's not wearing much.

Vinnie: (looks at his wrist pretending that he has a watch). I'm here.
Marceline: And so do I.
Vinnie: (looks partially) So, you ready?
Marceline: Remember Vin, I lead and you follow me. Alright? Let's go. (flies)
Vinnie: (shouts) Um, Marcy!?
Marceline: What?
Vinnie: You do know I can't fly. Right?
Marceline: What about the time we~
Vinnie: That's just my one time per day ability and I just cleaned the house with that.
Marceline: Geez. Guess I'm supposed to carry you all the way, right?
Vinnie: Yup.

She now carries Vinnie around to the spot that she thinks is lesson #1 for releasing the vampire in him. She brought him to the outskirts and they have found victims for scaring. She goes first after teaching him how it's done.

Vinnie: You know, I never experienced what it's like to look in bird's eye view. It's great.
Marceline: Yeah, yeah. Hey, make it useful by finding our victims.
Vinnie: I see two of them.
Marceline: Perfect. (landed behind the bush) Now do as I do, okay?
Vinnie: (serious nod)

She stalked behind her victim and as he looked behind, she shapeshifts into a scary demon that scared the poor man away. Vinnie seemed amused and she came back to him only to tell him to do the exact same thing as she did for the other victim they spotted. He on the other hand has another way to scare and he puts his Shadowcery to it's highest potential for scaring. Lucky for him, his target is going to the brightly lit wall for the shadow to scare it.

Victim: Huh? What's that?
Marceline: (shapeshifts and growled at the victim)
Victim: Aaaahhhhh! (runs fast)
Vinnie: Wow.
Marceline: Now you do it.
Vinnie: Hmmm. (looks at his hands and the victim who is going to the lit wall) I have an idea and it involves scaring from afar.
Marceline: What?
Victim: It's a wonderful night to jog and there's no way that could ruin my night.
Vinnie: Not on my watch.

He laid down his hand to the ground for the shadow to slide from the bush afar to the wall and as it reaches to it and his victim is on time at the wall, he formed his shadow to a dreadful apparition. The victim screamed and then Vinnie does his "Shadow Dance" to make the shadow alive and create dastardly forms to further torment the victim until it ran away in terror. He's somewhat proud of it but Marceline is slightly disappointed.

Vinnie: Who needs to transform when I have this?
Marceline: (turns back, facepalm and groan). Let's go somewhere else.

Now they flew to the graveyard near the cliff for his 2nd lesson to vampirism. She's teaching him how to transform since he failed to do it the last time. Unfortunately, things doesn't go well as he did it the other way again.

Marceline: You should have used that demon form like last time.
Vinnie: Are you crazy? That thing could have insta-killed it. Besides, that gave me a wake up call to never use it again.
Marceline: Anyways, do you know how to transform into others like, a bat?
Vinnie: Lemme try. (transformed into a wolf) No. (Transformed into mist) Nope.
Marceline: What about invisibility? (turns invisible and visible again)
Vinnie: My master never taught me that.
Marceline: Really!?
Vinnie: Hey, what's the matter?
Marceline: Nothing, it's just~

Suddenly, he heard a shout and it's near their area. The shout came from the doomed hunter who was surrounded by Why-wolves. He wanted to help but she wanted him not to. In response, he had to save the hunter in which it made her mad.

Hunter: Help!
Vinnie: Over there! He needed our help.
Marceline: You don't need to save him. He deserved it.
Vinnie: Are you mad? He's part of my guild! (slides down)
Marceline: (groaned) Get back here! You idiot.

He got down and fought the Why-wolves with his new katana, Onisame which was forged from his broken Tenshisame and saved his fellow hunter. He later went to the cliff to return to her. She has never been this disappointed.

Hunter: Thank you fellow hunter. I would be eaten if I'm all alone.
Vinnie: Don't worry about it. But you need to be careful next time.

Vinnie: I'm back.
Marceline: Well, how was it?
Vinnie: Oh man, what's got into you? It would be dishonorable if I witness a fellow hunter but didn't save him.
Marceline: Fine, whatever... (stomach grumbling) You want something to eat?
Vinnie: Yeah and I know the place.

She got tired of his alternate ways so they settled in for some snacks in the kiosk. There was only one employee there and since it's a bit late, there was no people in sight. She ordered something red as always (shake with a red straw) and then she saw him carried a tray with meals that doesn't contain red. She tried to calm down to tell him about what he's eating. His explanation flipped her so hard.

Marceline: (inner monologue) It's not working. There's got to be another way to convince him.
Vinnie: Sorry I'm late. Good thing I brought sheets of gold to buy this.
Marceline: (tense) What is that?
Vinnie: Food.
Marceline: Aren't you supposed to eat red? There's no red in it.
Vinnie: For heavens sake, now you want me to be picky? (laughs) I'm glad to be part human so I get to eat anything and feel fine without red. That was just optional so I don't care.
Marceline: Grrrrarhh! WHY CAN'T I EVEN MAKE YOU BE LIKE ME!?
Vinnie: Excuse me?
Marceline: I'm so sick of looking at you like this. You failed to scare like me, you are not meant to be a hero and~
Vinnie: Wait a second, the hangout, the stuff you made me do. Are you trying to make me evil, like a vampire?
Marceline: Yes and I did all of this because you've been an embarrassment to our race since I first met you. You never do what I do at all! I don't even know what's wrong with you. (continues outburst)

Vinnie got so mad that he stopped her rant with a hard slap. He defended his life choices and he doesn't want to be pushed around to be like someone he isn't or doesn't want to be.

Marceline: You OUTCAST!
Vinnie: (shouts) Enough! You don't own my fate. (slap)
Store Owner: I do not want to see more of it. (closes down his store)
Marceline: Ouch... Why? (teary eyed)
Vinnie: You don't even care to respect my decision for the way I want to live. I don't want to pressure myself to be a bad guy even for you. I can't believe I'm saying this but you outright misunderstand me!

She got scared from the Vinnie she didn't know he had it. She quickly remembered how Hunson did to her which made her rebellious like him being rebellious to his other race.

Vinnie: (realized what he had done) (calmed down) I just can't get mad at you any longer. Sorry for what I've done to you~
Marceline: I should be the one to say that. I get what you mean. I didn't mean to hurt you, it's just that you strayed away from being a vampire for far too long so I'm giving you the chance to truly live like one. (Vin walks a bit away) Vinnie?

He ends up breaking into a song about his choice in life but Marceline tries to persuade him with the consequences of his choice. She did got a point but Vinnie won't give up with his answer and later brought up his confession that made her caught off guard.

Vinnie: Who am I to you? Do you think I'm your servant? Or maybe a henchman? So tell me what do you think of me. I hate the assumption of knowing me well but they just go ahead to change me by force. No, lemme tell you this because I'm getting sick of telling me things I never want to hear. That is why I ask of you, who am I to you. (noticed a confused look on her face) Call me outcast all you want, I will always stay true to whoever I really am. Hear me this for I am the hunter who dances with the heavens above. Call me religious for I pray the Martian Quaternity and I have this mark to prove my purity. I was never evil at the start so I can't be good at being vile. So at the end of the day, I chose to not live a vampire life. Despite your so-called powers you pitched to me, I see it as an option only to be left to dust.

Marceline: Now you're rustling my jimmies. You are being in denial, that is why I hate about you. You act like some goody too shoes human but you are still and always be a vamp to me. You would've died centuries ago if it weren't the blood that flows in you. If that's how you like it, fine I won't help you because my peeps humiliate me behind your back. I just want to help you out because it's for the best but look at you, you refuse like a child. You don't know what you're missing because you let it hinder all you want. Even if you're part of the guild, you're still a monster to me and probably they will betray you and take your head as their prize and don't you dare blame me in death because I told you so. Soon, your naivete and arrogance will be your downfall and I will show no remorse to~

Vinnie: You didn't realize that for being a dhampir, I am revered wherever I go. All in my guild knows that my race were always the best when it comes to this. Everyone in my long gone clan were half human & vamps but they never used those powers. Let's not forget that I am outright better than you. But, now I must not act this way (slight blush) because I wanna confess. Before I came, your name was on the hit list. I told them to not bother with her anymore. (Marceline was surprised) Because I never felt so vital for the world ever since you grabbed my hand even at the time I failed so hard. After the bout with the king, I assume that my fate is sealed in a land I used to call home but everything changed when I knew I'm still alive and all I think of is you... You have gave me hope and a second chance to live and now here I stand to say that I want to be with you in return. You being here made me feel so happy. You filled the dark void in my heart and now I want to make the choice. I had broken out of my shell for you and it is all because of you. You are the reason why I want to live. Even though we're black and white, I pray that we can work this out... You like what I like as in we share the same things in life. I knelt down and Marceline, I love youuuuuu. Ooooh, oooh, ooooh, oooh, ooooooohh...

He tries to comfort her in disguise of memory sharing then he saw her exes' actions and immediately removed his hand from her face. He began to keep his cool and feel a bit cocky that he won't be like her past suitors in which annoys Marceline a bit.

Marceline: Vin... I can't believe it but, I, No...
Vinnie: (sensed her but he backed out the moment he saw her past with her exes) Guhh!
Marceline: Vin!?
Vinnie: (surprised and then smiled) Some past you got there but worry no more, the past is past and I promise you that I won't be like them.
Marceline: How can you be sure? (turns back) Men are cruel to me. They manipulate, they cheat, they use, I almost gave up on finding men. What makes you think that I would be with you. You said it yourself, we're technically black and white.
Vinnie: But that won't stop me. (hugs from the back slowly) I am now dedicated to my life for you. That's one thing that they lack.
Marceline: (blushed further) Looks who's talking! I'm sure you were wooing the princesses ever since you're here.
Vinnie: They? To be honest, they were that generic. You on the other hand, are unique. You have something that they don't have and I just don't know what.

He reached his pocket and grabbed his portal key. He thinks deep and the portal opened to his desired destination. He laid down the portal key and the door opened behind them.

Marceline: Hey! What're you doing?
Vinnie: (confidently proud) Come with me. Let this "outcast" show you how it's done. Let's go!

He held her hand and both fell from the portal and as they landed in the soft field of flowers, pixies emerged from the flowers. He stood up and Vinnie was dancing with the flow of the wind and laughed, and then she spotted a pixie then proceeded to strangle it. Without even knowing that it's hardcore evil, he followed her by grabbing a pixie that was coming to him and he proceeds to strangle it. Later on, he bought a red cake and then he get the frosting and placed it on her nose. She retaliated with a whole cake to his face and despite this, they both enjoyed it and she started to lick his frosting coated face which made him turn red. Lastly, they snuck into the Tree Fort to scare Finn.

Vinnie: (whispered) Are you sure about this?
Marceline: (whispered) I did that most of the times.

Vin managed to make his scariest face to induce fear to him with her. After a few seconds, she kissed him on the cheek. Vin was surprised of her actions and Finn is still sleeping.

Vinnie: Huh?
Marceline: (nod and smiled)
Vinnie: (smiled and pat on Finn's head)
Finn: What the!?
Vinnie: (made a scary face and hissed)
Finn: Aaah!
Jake: Finn! What's wrong?
Finn: I saw something white and scary~
Jake: Oh man, Finn! It's just a dream.

They flew off the Tree Fort so fast that Finn had no time who's responsible for that and they enjoyed the date.

They are now in the very forest that he traversed to the cliff of sharp oak. They began to tell everything about themselves while walking in a forest with a starry night sky. As he stare at the stars above, he brought up the topic about their lives.

Vinnie: Did you see the look on Finn's face? Good thing he wasn't able to know it's me.
Marceline: Yeah. I got to admit, you're not bad.
Vinnie: Thank you... It's a beautiful night. I think it's about time to, talk about our lives.
Marceline: What? That's so sudden of you.
Vinnie: Well, I brought you close to me, didn't I? It would be awkward if we don't know each other.
Marceline: It would be way more awkward if you wanted that. Above all, we only~ you insisted me on dating for an hour.
Vinnie: Fair enough... You first.
Marceline: Me? What about you?
Vinnie: I insist. It's okay if you don't include the basics. (both sat on a tree)
Marceline: Fine... I was born a thousand years ago and it was little before the war. I used to be under care by a man named Simon when I was kid.
Vinnie: Simon?
Marceline: He's the Ice King now. You know him?
Vinnie: His name sounds familiar to me but I don't know how...
Marceline: I was all alone again ever since he and I went separate ways. I haven't met my parents until I got a bit older. I usually meet my dad though but I haven't seen my mother for a long time. I hated him for eating my fries.
Vinnie: No kidding?
Marceline: Do you know what is like to earn something only to be taken away unceremoniously? I bought it for myself and he took it away from me. I ran away from him so I roamed the world since. During my time alone, I used to tangle with the Vampire King.
Vinnie: So that's why you earn the title as the Vampire Queen.
Marceline: Yeah but I killed him afterwards then Ash came along. He was a cool wizard and he amuses me with his magic. I hated him for he sold Hambo for a stupid gift.
Vinnie: Hambo?
Marceline: A stuff toy that Simon gave it to me. I used to have it for a very long time and it took me heck to get it back until it was time to lose it for good. Now it's your turn. I told you enough.
Vinnie: Very well... My name is Vin Orimoto Heavendancer. I am 365 years old and I'm a hunter who hails from Huntsland. I remembered that my childhood was mistreated as my entire family except my mother, hated me so much especially my dad.
Marceline: Oh my.
Vinnie: To really make my dad worse than yours, he commanded my siblings and forced my mother to slander me to death. I was laid dying out in the cold and I feel like there's no hope left for me. I did have hope along with my friend but it was false. Next thing you know it, my parents were left behind and I, along with my siblings were trained under Master Hunson.
Marceline: You mean my dad!?
Vinnie: Wait, my master is your dad?
Marceline: I should have known that it was him who taught you the moves.
Vinnie: For 350 years, I was trained under him and I learned most of it during that time and it's strange, considering the fact that he's like a better father figure to me.
Marceline: To you, yes. To me, he's been a thorn in my life. He tricked me onto wearing an amulet that transformed me into something I refuse. I never want to succeed him. I have a "life".
Vinnie: At least, I'm glad you have a father to "care" for you but it gets worse. All my training to impress my parents were nothing. I want to prove them wrong and I want to show them that I am better when I got back but before you know it, they're gone before they even see me...
Marceline: I'm sorry... I never knew what you've been through.
Vinnie: You don't know a lot about my strife. I had almost died thrice by now. I've been ignored, hated and it hurts me when I lack anything... I just don't get this world. I don't get why I have to live like this! It made me feel. Feel... (facepalm on the exposed head) What's the use. I wasn't grown as manly as they do. Look at me. What do you think I look like?
Marceline: Now that you mentioned it, I mistakenly thought you're a girl.
Vinnie: (starts to creep her out and in tears) It does make me feel so odd and weird. It's how I make my solace from the pains of my childhood life. I blamed my behavior to everyone's negligence. I tried and tried to renew on my own but I just can't accept the fact that fate led me to this! I'm not even gifted at all but (intensifies) why must I keep walking to a path full of death coming to me? It's unfair, it's unjust. It was all uncalled for! I don't deserve this. I don't~ I DON'T (hugs her in tears)

Marceline: (inner monologue) His life is more tortured than I was... (To Vinnie) Let it all go. You have friends now to help you. You have me, remember. It'll be alright. (continues) You are starting to get awkward so please stop. For crying out loud, I get it but you're better than this. Just, calm down...

Vinnie: (sniffs and stops crying) My apologies. I held so much pain in my shoulders for so long. (jokingly smiled) You know, for a dead being, you are warm for me. Really, I feel it. Thank you... (sigh and silence for a few seconds) Do you know the old saying, better to be late than never? I've waited so long for this and it was worth it. I was at the peak of a greater life when I first met Finn and Jake. Soon after, everything changed...

Both told their life story and walked through the end of the forest path. He lived a life worse than hers. Even if the date he wanted was a success, she still denies it. He still kept a smile and then fate led him to a better path for them. The wind blew hard and she complained about the cold wind.

Marceline: You poor thing. You're more tormented than I am.
Vinnie: I'm glad it all changed ever since I stayed here. I was now able to have a lot of friends and above all, I'm glad that my first love has to be you.
Marceline: Glad? (tried playing hard to get with a laugh) How can you be glad? I have my standards you know and you're not there yet. I know you're good but it's all a fluke to me. What makes you think that we're perfect for us? Huh?
Vinnie: Figures...

As they got out from the forest, the cold wind passed by.

Marceline: Ah, brrr.
Vinnie: What's wrong? You cold?
Marceline: It's okay. I can take it.

Vinnie proceeds to remove the chains then he take off his coat. As he puts the coat on her, she felt surprised because she didn't expect that. His words made her look down and blushed thinking that she's wrong about him.

Marceline: Uh, what are you doing? (Vin made her wear his coat) Ah!?
Vinnie: Don't worry. You won't feel cold anymore. (smiled with eye's closed)
Marceline: (whimper) (inner monologue) What's wrong with me? I can't believe I let him win. Maybe, I was wrong about him. Could he really be the man I was hoping for?

Next morning, Finn and Jake went to his home and they were provided instructions to go to the Game Room at the 5th Floor. Once they entered the room, Vinnie and Marceline noticed them.

Finn: Hey Vin?
Vinnie: Oh, good morning Finn~
Marceline: And Jake.
Jake: Marceline!? What's she doing here?
Vinnie: I let her stay in my house last night and we were just playing a new game.
Finn: A new game? I thought we're having a Triple Threat game today.
Jake: Wait, wait, wait. You and her in one house last night?
Vinnie: What's wrong with that and did you know that HD-MO can support four players?
Marceline: It's okay you guys. I'll be going home now and leave the Boy's Day Out for you three. Well, Vinnie? Till we meet again.
Vinnie: (pauses the game and both went to the balcony) Bye Marcy. We'll meet again~ (kissed)
Marceline: See ya boys!

(later)

Finn: Ooo! You did it.
Jake: Whoa whoa! Did I miss anything?
Finn: He dated her last night.
Jake: No way! You and the Vampire Queen?
Vinnie: History has been written, boys. History has been written. Alright boys, wanna play Tears of Peace?

[END]


Trivia

- Vinnie and Marceline are a couple now.
- He was unable to use Psychokinesis because of his chores. Even if he didn't do that, he only have 2 minutes of flight and he won't use it again until the next day.
- His full name was revealed to include a Japanese middle initial.
- His age may be too young for her like their age gap is more than 600 years but due to the fact that dhampirs age faster than vampires, their human reckoning ages are possibly the same or even a bit older than the pure counterpart.
- The one he saved was a fellow hunter from the still surviving Hunter's Guild. She was against the decision because the guild hunted down numerous vampires in the past. He ignored it and was oblivious that he doesn't care about the past too much.
- Vinnie was claimed to be the last hunter until there was a fellow hunter in Ooo.

Cultural References

- His shadow dance is similar to Blackmore's shadow dance in Castlevania Order of Ecclesia.
- Vinnie played a Balalaika which is a stringed instrument from Russia and he used the Prima variant.
- The wolf and mist transformations are a reference to Alucard's forms except the bat form in Castlevania Symphony of the Night.
* Oddly, the title itself is sounded similar to the game's title.
- Tears of Peace is a parody of Gears of War.
- The hunter is wearing a similar outfit to Daud's Whaler's outfit from Dishonored. That is the outfit for the recent Hunter's Guild.
- While Tenshisame means Angel Rain, Onisame means Demon Shark because "ame" means rain and "same" means shark in Japanese. His new katana is longer than his former even though he forged it from the former's remains which is shorter.
- HD-MO's 4 player support is similar to some console supporting 4 players in one console.

Episodic Connections

- Her life story mentioned about Hunson's misdeeds like the fries in "It came from the Nightosphere" and the trickery to wear the amulet in "Daddy's Little Monster".
- Some parts of Vin's song references to the first three episodes.
- The events take place a day after Reaper's Muse.

Songs used

- Duet of Two Opposites
- Dance with Me by The Orleans (instrumental)

Author's notes

- Originally, they were supposed to have a gig and he admitted to be dissonant. He can play the instrument harmoniously but he can't do it while singing or even an a cappella. He may have a good voice but he sure can't sing well. There are exceptions like he can sing if he copies the style and memorizes the lyrics and timing so trying to make an original with his vocals would ruin the entire music.
- This story has been reworked to make it a bit shorter and the song is now in a form of duet. Vinnie clearly won the duet for he had surprised her with a confession.