The folk troll let out an exhausted groan as they tossed their work attire to the side, letting out a breath of air as they slumped against the door of their cottage-like home, rubbing their fingers against their temples. Work today was exhausting, like usual, but Ms. Dionaea was being EXTRA perfectional today, with every arrangement of flowers HAVING to be sorted alphabetically by the first letter on what COLOR they were.

Does not help by the time they walked in with a pounding headache and a dazed mind after spending a night finishing a slightly overdue commission.

That was a stupid thing to do, yeah, but they're barely was any food and they need some extra money.

Kore closed their eyes, trying to relax as a fluttermoth pokes its head out of a room door, mewling and making delighted noises as it fluttered to their owner, nuzzling into their head as a greeting. The folk troll softly chuckled, petting the fluttermoth on the head gently.

"Good evening, Luna. I take it that you've enjoyed an eight-hour nap while I was gone?"

The folk troll tiredly giggled as the moth happily chirped, their little claws wiggling.

"Ah, sounds nice..." Kore sighed out, lips curling into a soft smile as Luna nuzzled into their touch. "I think I should take a nap too. The she-bergen was driving me CRAZY today..."

Luna mewled as she fluttered in the air, the folk troll standing up and doing a few arms stretches as they tread towards the pantry, putting on a pot of water to boil for tea before scrambling through their pantry in search of a tea flavor that fit the current atmosphere.

But of course, being low on material resources in exchange for goods, there were not a lot of flavors to choose from. Only almonds and hibiscus. And Kore was saving the hibiscus flavor for a special occasion so...best to go with the flavor you hate, yeah?!

Grabbing a mug before closing the cabinet door shut, the folk troll discreetly grabbed hold of the almond tea bag, scrunching their nose with disgust as they placed the bag in the empty mug, promptly filling the mug with water before dabbing the tea bag, the warm liquid turning into tea. Kore sat down on the couch with a blanket cozily wrapped around their lower body, slowly taking a sip.

…

…

Yep, nope. Kore slammed their mug down with a disgusted look on their face. They are going to throw hands with whoever created almond-flavored tea, what troll in their right minds would want to drink that-

"Hello? Kore?"

The folk troll's internal rant was halted with a voice and a series of knocks softly pounding against the door, urging them to rush towards the door as the knocks became frantic and louder.

Kore fixed a part of their hair before swinging the door open, staring down two trolls; One of them happened to be their co-worker, Flora, who happened to be a classical/funk troll. She's really sweet, understanding. Has a cool girlfriend too! And the troll beside her, a rock troll with frizzly, wild hair. Doesn't seem to care, or maybe doesn't like being here.

"Oh, hi Flora! Is there something I can help you with...?"

Wow, that wording sounded boring...

"Hello! I and my friend were wondering-"

"You were wondering..." Her friend interrupted, with a hint of disdain in their tone. Kore pointed their eyes at the troll.

"..Right, I was wondering if you'd like to come to this party down at techno beach! I heard there's dancing, the music of all kinds, and snacks and drinks are provided! Oh, and the king of the techno trolls will be there, kick-offing the party!"

Kore let out a soft hiss, nervously rubbing their arms as they tried to think of a reasonable response. "I, don't feel like going...Just got out of work, I'm tired, and it sounds like a lot of trolls will be going to that event-"

"Tons!"

"Yeah, soooooo I'll be staying in my house. Sorry, Flora..."

The classical funk troll gave her a soft sincere smile. "It's fine, just wanted to see if you wanted to come!"

"Pssh, you'd think THIS troll would want to go out for a night of fun?" The rock troll sneered, crossing their arms as they look at the folk troll with dissatisfaction. "This one REEKS of not knowing how to have fun.."

Kore did a double-take, their eyes were so close to glaring daggers at this rock troll.

"Excuse you, I know how to have fun!"

"Yeah right!" The rock troll chuckled with condensation in their voice. "You live in a cottage in symphonyville, you have a mug of tea on your, what's that, a coffee table?"

The folk troll eyes widen the moment they realized the rock troll was peering into their home.

"Hey, can you not, peer into my house!" The folk troll gritted their teeth, as yelling at this troll would come out as 'rude' and 'aggressive' to Flora who was just standing by with a disappointed look on her face.

"Yeah, your right..." The rock troll gave the folk troll a shit-eating grin. "It looks like shit."

There was a long pause between the three trolls, the rock troll keeping their stance as Flora shook her head at them and Kore scowled, their fist clenching as they kept their temper steady.

"Kore, you don't need to-"

"I'M GOING. WAIT A SECOND!" The folk troll said with an angry huff, shutting the door for a brief minute. Luna whimpered in concern as Kore stomped to their bedroom to change quickly. They do not have nice clothes, but that is fine. If the rock troll complains or insults them though, they are going to hit them where it hurts the most. They do not know where, but they'll take a wild guess.

As Kore finished putting up their hair, they take out a thing of flowers for Luna to eat that night, petting said fluttermoth as she rubbed their face to calm them down.

"Thanks, Luna," Kore exhaled, inching towards the doorway. "I'll be back later tonight! Make sure you don't try to eat the couch again!"

The fluttermoth solemnly cooed in reply, watching their owner leave for a night of 'fun'.

Kore took a deep breath as they take in the salty seawater. If their mind were not so unraveled about the many trolls that crowded the caterbus during the ride here, they would escape to fond memories of when they lived with the sea shanty trolls. Loud as they might be, they knew how to make the folk troll comfortable with the atmosphere in every way possible, and naturally treated them like family.

The same cannot be set about the CURRENT atmosphere right now, which consists of bright neon lights, loud chatter and music, and so, many, trolls. A tight feeling swelled in their chest, their wings anxiously twitching as Flora's comforting hand was placed on their shoulder.

"I and Minerva are going to be on the dancefloor! We can meet up in an hour or so to leave together, is that okay?"

"Y-yeah..." The folk troll said with a forced excited tone, trying not to set the funk/classical troll's feelings down. She smiled and raced off ahead with Minerva's arm hooked with her's, their bored expression disappearing as the duo mixed into the crowd of dancing trolls, bopping along to the current music that played.

The folk troll wonders why their even friends in the first place. Minerva seems kind of...spiteful. And Judgmental. Something that could be contrasted with Flora's kind and positive attitude. Kore shook their head. No, it's none of their business what their friendship might delve into. Besides, they have…bigger things they need to worry about. Like-

"Please move!"

The folk troll let out a soft gasp as they stumbled, trying to keep their balanced after they were shoved aside by a pop troll and his techno girlfriend. They quietly glared down at the blue pop troll as the couple walked away, rubbing their arm from the twinge of soreness from the push.

Rude pastel-faced fucker…

Kore let out a groan as they peeked up at where the DJ booth was set up;

It was set up on a seashell-like stage, with a rainbow-banded techno troll controlling the booth itself. His eyes were so focused on each other, his hands shifting and moving along to the beat as if he were synced to the music itself. He paused every once in a while to hype everyone up, his cheerful smile nearly infectious.

And each time the crowd roared with excitement and vigor, prompting the folk troll to cover their ears and wince.

The folk troll exhaled as they walk over to a bar that has been set up by the beachside. They are not much of a drinker themselves, but they will happily pretend to be drunk in favor of consuming to their skyrocketing anxiety. They let out a huff as they sat on one of the bar stools, waiting for the bartender to notice them.

As they waited, they put a piece of their curly hair on their shoulders, running their fingers through the many locks and whatnot. Kore's paused as their eyes met the shorelines of the sea, where young trollings were discreetly splashing each other with the glittery water, others playing with small lily pads that were lit with neon lights, making them more visible in the dim night.

Their eyes looked further out into the open sea, a feeling of loneliness washing over them as memories of the sea shanty trolls started to flood back.

Was it a good idea to move onto land…? The sole reason they came here was so that they can improve themselves in terms of adjusting to all the other trolls. But the whole thing felt fruitless. Yes, they managed to gain a home in Symphonyvile, and they have Luna with them so they don't be entirely lonely, but everything just feels so…blank.

Kore snaps out of their train of thought as the bartender tapped his fingers in front of them, a blank expression masking his features as he waited for their order.

"Um…Black Raspberry Sparkling water, please? With extra ice."

The bartender nodded as he got to work making the folk troll's drink, doing a few well-known bartender tricks and moves that would usually make trolls swoon. Kore, however, just stared at him with confusion with an eyebrow inching downward, blinking as the bartender slammed their drink down in front of them.

"Uh, thaaaaaank you…" The folk troll drawled in confusion, the tender giving a subtle nod as he swiftly moves to clean a few glass cups.

Kore dabs the straw that was placed decoratively in their beverage, ice cubes bobbing along with each ripple the folk troll produced with their straw. After a few minutes of watching random trolls pass by the bar area in favor of dancing along to the admittedly addictive EDM tune, Kore took a sip of their drink, a fizzy sensation cooling their mouth and throat, sending a wintry sensation along the trolls' spine.

Kore let out a content sigh, a sense of relaxation tempting them to calm down. And for a moment, they were at peace.

Until a set of fingers brushed down on the folk trolls' left arm, causing them to let out a panicked gasp, slapping the hand away in the process. They stared down what seems to be a country-western troll, his lips curling upwards into a flirtatious, yet disturbing smile. Kore felt their anxiety spike and internally tried to keep their cool.

"C-can I help you…?" The folk troll asked with a hint of aversion in their voice, crossing their arms as the eyes pointed at the random stranger.

"Ah, nothin'…" He paused, looking up and down the folk troll body, causing them to cross their arms as a wave of discomfort washes over them. "Just that you look like a troll that you look like a real peach~!"

The country troll gave them a wink, and suddenly Kore felt something get caught in their throat, resulting in them peering back in their drink. He gave them a hard, aggravated look, his palms slowly balled up into a fist.

"Really? You say nothin' after I complimented you?"

"Well, you made me feel uncomfortable, so NO, I'm not saying anything to you.." Kore sneered, glaring down the country troll at the corner. He was scowling in response.

"Besides," Kore paused, taking a long sip of their drink and exhaling. "A compliment isn't gonna get a troll to fond over you, it takes-"

"YEAH YEAH I HEARD, JUST THOUGHT YOU WERE CHEAP ENOUGH TO FALL FOR IT." The country troll hollered, the country troll hollered, slamming his fists against the bar table that made the glasses shook, the bartender's arm's launching forward to prevent them from falling over and spilling everywhere.

Kore narrowed their eyes down at the country troll. "Excuse you? CHEAP? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

"A gentletroll unlike yourself. I've trying to be nice and y'all being stubborn as an adorabull with a needle up their butt!"

The folk troll can feel their blood boiling, their fist-clenching with rage as if they're ready to tear this troll a new one, their eyes on the verge of becoming wet with tears.

"Can you just leave me alone, please? It's all I'm asking..."

The country troll let out a gruff tsk. "You are such a crybaby. You don't belong here; you belong in a ranch for a bunch of sorry lowlifes…"

Kore paused, their anger being replaced with a form of sadness and self-hatred. They closed their eyes shut to make sure the stranger doesn't see them cry.

That was until they heard the stranger let out a gasp, a set of hooves pacing back as a faint neon light haze their shut vision.

"Hey bud, that's not nice to say…"