Style Quest: Metal Violin

Varick sat at the table in front of his parent’s shop, sketching a new dress design. It had been a slow day, so he was able to get most of the drawing completed. As he sat back in his chair, the bell on the door rang to announce a potential customer. With a glance, the Clydesdale could see that it was his white-furred wolf friend Bridgette. She wore her spiked black leather jacket, meaning her band practice had probably just finished. Valkyrie Scream was a band the wolf started with two of her friends in high school. Bridgette was the lead singer, with a guitarist and a drummer backing her up.

 

“Hey there, best friend, you want a mint mocha frappucino with extra chocolate drizzle,” the wolf asked as she held out the drink in her magitech right hand. Varick looked at the drink for a moment. He knew his friend was about to ask him for a favor but wasn’t quite sure what the nature of it would be. The horse took the coffee drink and took a long sip.

 

“Just ask Bridgette,” Varick sighed as he played with the straw. She had a bad habit of dragging out asking even the smallest of favors. It annoyed the Clydesdale tailor a little, but he didn’t mind helping his friend out now and then. 

 

“Valkyrie Scream booked our first paid gig,” Bridgette smiled as she paused momentarily.

“Congrats, and you want me to rig you up some personal pyrotechnics or instant costume changes with spell and glamor threads,” Varick asked after taking another sip of his drink. That would be a relatively easy ask of her. It wouldn’t take more than a couple of hours of work, depending on how complex of a display she was looking for. 

 

“The thing is, my guitarist, can’t make it, and I was hoping you could fill in,” the white wolf finally admitted what she needed.

 

“I play the violin, not the guitar,” Varick exclaimed as he put his drink down. “They are two completely different instruments.” In addition to teaching their son how to be a tailor, the horse’s parents wanted him to learn an instrument. Varick picked the violin because he liked how beautiful it sounded in all the music his parents brought from their home world. The Clydesdales were thrilled by this until their son found the wonders of rock and roll. Soon much to his parent’s annoyance, all Varick was playing was rock and metal anthems on his violin.

 

“Yes, it’ll sound different, but I need a stringed instrument, and you know all the songs we cover,” Bridgette admitted as she sat beside Varick. She clasped her hands and begged, “Please, I’ll give you my portion of the payment.”

 

“Fine, but I want the closing solo,” the Clydesdale finally relented. Bridgette immediately agreed without a thought. Over the next week, Varick would meet up with his friend for band practice once he was done working for the day. The drummer, a black and white tiger named Quinn, didn’t like the idea of a violinist replacing the guitarist, but after a few songs, she started to come around to it. By the end of the week, she was entirely on board with the idea.

 

“Good evening, everyone! We are Valkyrie Scream, and we are here to melt your faces,” Bridgette screamed over the general noise of the bar. There was some mild cheering as the band launched into their first song. Throughout the show, the crowd swayed increasingly to the fans’ side. With Varick on the violin, it made the public curious initially, but by the time the last song, they were cheering for him specifically. 

 

As the last song started, the horse took center stage as he began to a slow, mellow melody. Varick dragged it out till he hit one final note. As the chord finished, Quinn hit drums, and Bridgette started her vocals. Varick hit the beat drop as a plume of blue fire lit up around him. Purple flames licked around the Clydesdale’s hooves as he moved and danced with the beat while still playing. As he sawed away faster and faster on the violin, Varick’s mane and mane came alive with blue and purple flames. Finally, as the last solo came, the horse’s violin strings and bow erupted in purple and blue flames. He played faster and faster till his instrument was nothing but fire. As the song ended, the crowd erupted in a roaring standing ovation.

 

“Congrats, you are now the most popular member of Valkyrie Scream, and you’re only a substitute member,” Bridgette yelled to Varick over the crowd’s roar.