Welcome to Gaia! ::

"You'd think some experiences would be universal, but sadly, not everything can be. And parties are definitely one of those things." Michelle gave a smile to Arthur before shrugging. "I mean, I've been to college, it's certainly an experience, but not something for everyone. It's a wonder I made it through both a Bachelor's and Master's degree, honestly."

At the mention of no family, she frowned softly, but didn't comment. "Holidays aren't what they're cracked up to be. I mean, I love them on my own? But I don't love the family reunions that come with them. I love my family, but they get to be a bit much around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Why we had to have two major holidays so close together, I don't know. Why couldn't one of them be like, in the summer or something?"

The person behind the bar called for them, giving them their orders, with Michelle quickly sipping at her tea with a happy little hum. "Mm, I sing along with songs I listen to, but otherwise it's just what I do with the choir. I'm not all that great on my own, I don't think."

"Thank you," she gave Arthur a smile, following and sitting across from him, looking out the window for a moment.

"Oh, yes. We do, it's the community choir, so we're not professional or anything but we do perform every few months, like for Christmas and Easter and the 4th of July and other big holidays. It's fun, and gives a sense of community among the people singing together." She turned and smiled at him once more, looking completely relaxed and even excited about something she really enjoyed.

"I'm not the type to go to church, though we do sometimes sing religious pieces, it's just not our focus."

Michelle let out a soft coo at the cat on the screen before it was covered by the notepad app, her fingers quickly typing out the name of the choir as well as when their next performance would be. "It's just the Destiny City Community Choir, we're singing in early December for the community before Christmas gets here."

There's a pause before she laughs softly. "I'm sure you weren't that bad. Everyone can sing, it's just a matter of singing well -- and that tends to come with being taught."

She took a sip of her tea, thinking on an answer before speaking again. "I tend to love things that come from musical theatre the most. Like, the songs tell *stories*, or even just part of the story and it's so nice to get swept away by it. It's not like pop music that's often about shaking booties, or how some girl dumped the male singer, it's just...not necessarily wholesome, but definitely feels like it has more going for it than popular music does."

Another pause, then, "What kind of songs do you like to sing or listen to when you're on your own? I get wanting to have another voice when you live alone, I always have music of some sort playing specifically because of that. It even helps sometimes."