Musical Monday: Is it really playing if you never play for anyone?

 

It's Monday again. For some that means trudging out into the cold to cuss out a car that won't start, for me it just means I get to share something music-themed with you. In this case, it's a snippet from one of my current WIPs which doesn't have a proper name yet. Its working title is Naughty Little Brat and it takes place in the same universe as Ryu's story. In fact, the club in Ryu's story is the same club in this one and some of the players appear in both stories. Much like the collection I've been building with Ajay's group of friends, there will be a trio of books centered around the club Ryu's Daddy Hank belongs to, which means you'll be seeing a great deal of them in the upcoming year. 

While I am not ready to put it up on preorder, yet, what I can say is that this will be another holiday read, so look for it around Christmas time and have your hot chocolate, comfy chair ready, and warm, fluffy blanket ready before you dive in. 

“What time did you notice your backpack was missing?”

Again Roan give another of his infuriating little shrugs. “I dunno, thirty minutes or so after I got there. I was gonna change but Ricky said Mr. Branch wanted to talk to me, so I hung my bag on a peg and went to find him.”

“About what time do you think it was when you got there?”

“Around nine, maybe. I cut out of work the moment I was done with my shift. It’s only a ten-minute walk to the club but I usually grab something to eat on the way so, yeah, nine or so.”

“I’d watch the feed between nine and ten going back a couple of nights,” Donovan explained.

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me with this?”

“I wish I was,” Donovan admitted. “But I’m starting to think he might be telling the truth about that stuffy. I’m standing here in his apartment looking at his collection of onesies and that Donkey Kong outfit isn’t here.”

“So? He could have pitched it in a dumpster somewhere the moment you told him you had him on film tearing Kyle’s stuffed animal apart.”

“Why would he bother at that point?”

He heard Callahan start to say something, then stop, sputter, and start again only to barely squeak out a word before finally grumbling beneath his breath about the time he was about to waste. “If it turns out he’s lying, he’s done. You make sure and tell him that. If I go through that footage and don’t see any signs of that bag in someone else’s possession he will never be welcome back at Velvet Illusions again!”

With that Callahan ended the call, leaving Donovan to stare down at his phone and groan. “I’m sure you heard that.”

“Yeah. It’s okay. I was kinda thinking I wouldn’t go back even after my suspension was over.”

“And why is that?”

Roan snorted and raised an eyebrow at him. “Do you really have to ask?”

“Humor me.”

“Fine. It’s not exactly fun for me, I’d rather be here with my guitar.”

“You ever play with anyone else?”

“No.”

“Ever play for anyone else?”

“Nope.”

“So…”

“I like music, what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing. Did I suggest there was?”

“Seems like you were about to.”

“Why not wait and see what happens before you assume?”

Huffing, Roan just flipped his hands to the sky and tensed the moment Donovan reached for the guitar he’d left in the bean bag chair. Leveling a stern gaze at him stopped whatever protest Roan might have made, but he didn’t begin to relax until Donovan started playing Wish You Were Here. It was clear that he didn’t know what to think, or even do in that moment. Even after Donovan began to sing the lyrics, Roan stayed silent and didn’t join in, though he did start mouthing the words about halfway through.

“Great sound,” Donovan said we’d he’d finished. “A Dreadnought isn’t the kind of instrument typically chosen for practice. It’s stage worthy, so why do you have one if you don’t play for an audience?”

“Because it sounded amazing, and the place had an awesome payment plan.”

Donovan let his gaze run over the other guitars in his collection. Only one was a beginner’s instrument. Donovan was willing to bet that it had been Roan’s first.

“You’ve got a good eye for quality instruments,” Donovan said when he spotted a vintage Ibanez flying V circa mid-1970s.

“Pawn shops are my friend,” Roan admitted. “Never would have been able to afford any of them otherwise.”

“I see they take precedence over things like furniture,” Donovan said.