Track 02 - Practice Equals Showtime Minus Fun

"Can you n-n-not stand over my shoulder l-like that?" Elsa stammered, pulling her turtleneck up over her mouth and nose as her other hand fine-tuned the bass line that Ariel was laying down. Over her right shoulder loomed Anna, bending down to catch a glimpse of the blonde's laptop while she absentmindedly hummed 'Henry VIII' into the microphone.

"Aw, don't be like that Squeaks, I just wanna watch you do your thing!" Anna grinned, cut off at the end by a fit of coughing.

"Okay...but...your b-breath is sort of...foul." the blonde stated, voice muffled through her shirt's fabric. "G-good dental hygiene is important for vocalists, and I r-r-refuse to let you squander your talent."

Anna whooped gleefully. "I've got taaaalent, you hear that girls? She said I'm taaalented!"

"Thank god it's with this, 'cuz there's no way I'm letting you near my tubs, no matter how good a banger you claim to be." Rapunzel smirked, pulling several drinks out of the fridger. "Squeaker? Anything to drink?"

"Hah, banger, heh heh..." Anna interjected with a cackle.

Free from Anna's breath attack, Elsa lowered her collar and blushed. "J-just water please, if there's any in a b-b-bottle." Adjusting her glasses awkwardly, she continued, "Is that gonna be m-my name when I'm here f-f-forever?"

"Yup, band rules." Ariel remarked offhandedly, seated on the floor with a large speaker propping her up. "Old newbie gets to name the new newbie...and unless we pick up any insane roadies, you're the newest newbie for the forseeable future." Fingers plucking out the 'Charge!' tune, she opened her eyes and looked at Elsa intently. "Hope you do stick around, though...I haven't heard us THIS smooth sounding in months."

Blushing profusely now, Elsa waved her hand dismissively. "N-no, I told you the other d-day. You're all so t-t-talented, I'm just helping to p-polish it. Also, your music helps m-me with...things. In my head I mean. This is...p-payback too, I guess." Noticing all eyes were on her, Elsa slapped her face down on the desk so hard her laptop jumped. Covering her head with her forearms, she piteously whimpered, "C-can you not stare p-p-p-p-POUGHKEEPSIE!"

Anna snorted, cocking an eyebrow at the embarrassed young woman. "Um...wait, what?"

"Town in New York." Rapunzel informed her bandmates, hurling a bottle of iced tea at Anna's head.

"God damnit, don't fucking hurt the talent Punz!" Anna groaned, scrambling for her drink.

"You be nice." Rapunzel chided, placing Elsa's bottle of water on her desk and leaning down, whispering, "That's your way of controlling it, huh?"

Lifting her head an inch to look back at the blonde's gentle smile, Elsa sighed, lips quirking into a small smile of her own. "Y-yeah, it's a coping t-tool, saw it on a show I used to watch with my p-parents."

"Aw, I didn't mean it like that Squeaker." Anna sighed, awkwardly scratching her head. "We all have our own little...things. None bad, just what make us flavorful!"

Unplugging her bass, Ariel stood up and stretched. "Speaking of your fucking weird turns of phrase, I need a god damn burrito in my mouth, like, yesterday."

Whispering conspiratorially, Rapunzel informed Elsa, "We never know if she means a REAL burrito, or her boyfriend's, you know..."

"Yeah Ari, you go girl! Go get you some meat in that taco!" Anna cheered, ducking the empty milk carton hurled in her direction.

"Get some sleep for tomorrow's show. And Punz, cancel the god damn Showtime subscription." Ariel grumbled, adjusting the spiked collar she never took off. "Fucking L Word is all Anna ever watches and it's pissing me off."

"NO PUNZIE, DON'T TAKE SHANE AWAY FROM MEEEEE!"