The petite blonde in the ultra-trendy clothes flashed a big phony grin at he camera, giving a look that, on the surface, made her appear overjoyed to interview this band, but to the trained eye, it was clear that she wanted nothing to do with these people and knew that the feeling was mutual.

“Hi, I’m Nicki Bellereve, interviewing what is currently the hottest band in the US, Elsinore Revolution,” the girl chirped.

Tacita scowled a little (as much as she could while trying to maintain a reasonably pleasant demeanor for the camera) and thought, What does she know about us as a band, anyway? She looks more like a Kodie Madison fan than someone who likes our stuff. This… this kid, who was probably born about a year or two before I graduated? If I could slap her, I would. I’m glad I spilled punch on her a few years ago. She ticks me off.

“So, tell me, what inspired you to choose such an… interesting name for your band?” Nicki asked.


“Well,” Tacita spoke up, acid and razorblades in her voice, “as our fans know, Graham loves Shakespeare’s works, especially Hamlet. I’m sure you’ve read it?”

Nicki shrugged. She hadn’t.

“Well,” Tacita continued, “the castle in it is called Elsinore, and at the end, almost everyone dies, and this guy Fortinbras takes over. Sort of a revolution, if you will.” Tacita chuckled a little. “Some of the other names we considered were Steampunk Theory, Isotope, and Egress.” Tacita smirked and narrowed her eyes at Nicki. “We wanted to appeal to a more intellectual audience.”

Nicki frowned a little, and Tacita knew that the damage had been done. Nicki, however, tried her best to recover. “Some of your music videos are somewhat controversial, like the one for your cover of Don’t Come Around Here No More. In it, a young woman who has been bullied by her peers blows up a building they’re in and watches the explosion from a hill.


Graham smiled, remembering that one. The idea had come from Valo, who was directing the video and often provided many ideas for their music videos. Tacita had even gotten Ophelia involved with the shoot, portraying the woman who blew up the building.

“Well,” Graham said slowly, “a lot of people are treated badly for no apparent reason. We wanted to show someone who just couldn’t take anymore, who was at the end of her rope, and our friend Jessica DeSidiro--”

“--The feminist leader?” Nicki spoke up. “The one who’s always on the news ranting about sexual harassment in the workplace?”

“I’m surprised you’d know that,” Tacita muttered. Louder, she responded, “Yes. She and Ophelia Foley-Cloud, who appeared in the video, are good friends of mine.”

“I understand that Ophelia is even considered to be an unofficial member of the band, given her frequent contributions to the music videos and recordings.”


“Ophelia is very talented when it comes to creative stuff,” Tom Cassada spoke up. The long-haired young man was the youngest member of the band. “She has a great voice, as you can tell from her work on Never and Wish You Were Here.”

“We’ve invited her to join officially,” bald-headed Kevin Eldwin added. “But she’s really busy, what with her fashion line and all. But when we’re in the Oakdale area, for a concert or whatever, she usually finds time to join us for a jam session.”


Nicki flashed a cruel smile at Tacita. “Yes, and I understand she and her partner Charlotte Cloud are taking care of your daughter. Isn’t that right, Tacita?”

Tacita glared at Nicki, and in as calm a voice as she could muster, she responded, “Well, it’s difficult to care for a child when you’re always on the road. Ophelia and Charlotte are the kindest, most responsible people I know, and I feel that Lisa is in good hands.”

“Really? Tell me, Tacita, have you ever figured out who Lisa’s father is?”

Dreadlocked redhead Andrew Fleming spoke up, trying to come between the verbally sparring women. “I don’t think that’s a very professional question to ask.”

“Calm down,” Tacita said, patting Andrew’s arm. She glared at Nicki. “I’ll be happy to answer this. Nicki, I know exactly who Lisa’s father is. I will not, however, name him. All I’ll say is that I don’t want him to have any part in her life.” Tacita rolled her eyes and continued, “Funny, I’m the only one you’re questioning about this stuff, even though Graham has a wife and kid back home in Oakdale, and Kevin has a girlfriend and two kids. Tell me, Nicki, what exactly do you have against me? Are you still angry about the time I accidentally spilled punch on your dress at that party Miko Lavoise had? Or the time J.J. Thorpe left you and started dating me a few months later? Tell me, what is it that makes you hate me so much?”

Nicki stammered for several seconds, then gestured at the camera person to cease filming.