Twisted Tuesday: Coming at you from Damaged Saints

 

When Jagger sings for them the first time, he tries his best to mimic their former singer, but when he lets loose and sings the one song of theirs that he didn't to sing, it completely blows them away and changes every perception they have of him. 

Damaged Saint's can be found here: Damaged Saints

“I think I’ll take that beer now,” he remarked, scurrying away from the trio before someone got it in their heads to start playing another song. Mercifully, the beers had twist tops. He opened two, holding the second while he pounded the first, nearly done with it when he felt someone trying to liberate the second one from his cold fingers.

Kayden.

Go figure.

“I’m planning on drinking that,” Jagger said, refusing to let it go.

“Dude, relax and just breathe for a minute. You down the second as fast as you finished that one and they’re gonna hit like a son of a bitch about ten minutes from now. Don’t think that’s going to work out quite the way you’re hoping.”

“Right. As opposed to how well it’s working out now,” Jagger grumbled, gently tugging the beer away from Kayden so he could drink that one too.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Alcohol hits different at high altitudes, which you’re about to experience firsthand.”

“It’ll be an improvement, I promise you.”

“Maybe, but what we’ve heard already didn’t sound bad at all, it just wasn’t what we’re after.”

“Yeah, I got that.”

“Then figure out how to work with it,” Kayden said before grabbing a beer of his own and leaving Jagger to get his mind right before returning to the mic.

“Take two,” Mickey said, only instead of Kayden playing the opening chords to the previous song, Robbie tapped out the intro to an entirely different one. Like the first one, it wasn’t on the list Jagger had given them and he was beginning to suspect that they weren’t going to set him up to sing any of the ones that were.

Kayden had been right about one thing though. That beer was hitting nicely and that ball of nerves that had been firmly lodged in his gut was rapidly unraveling. Truth was he loved the fuck out of the song they were prompting him to sing, even if the reason was painful as hell. It just wasn’t one the beer and vodka crowd ever asked for, considering the harsh reality of the story it told.

Was far too easy to give in to the rage and pain steeped words, the emotions sucking him under until he felt vulnerable and exposed.

We were born dyin’ one minute at a time

First breath, last cry, mere inches from the end

Cliff dive over a sad abyss of hopeless dreams

Broken, frayed now, shredded at the seams.

Restless moments where hopes lie unrefined

We’re still chasing, floundering and blind

Rebels, angels desperate to be free

Always haunted by who we hoped to be.

We chased the ghosts of fireflies

On crazy, moonlit suicide rides

You cursed the pain, the thunder, graveyards, ghosts and glue

Those clingy moments, failed races never won but in the end

You cursed the demons who were your friends

You cursed the rain, the summer, purple, spring and blue

But the one you cursed most…was you.

Was you.

You did the one thing you swore you’d never do

Liar, deceiver

Curse me for trusting you!

Into the abyss you leapt without even saying goodbye

No scream, no note, no reason why

Metal, flesh, and blood fusing into one,

Jaded, we cling to mad delusions of purple suns

You cursed the pain, the thunder, graveyards, ghosts and glue

Those clingy moments, failed races never won but in the end

You cursed the demons who were your friends

You cursed the rain, the summer, purple, spring and blue

But the one you cursed most…was you.

Was you.

A broken line divides love and hate

Sweeping me away from you

And every empty war we fought

Was one step closer to the end

You ran away, you quit, unfinished business yet to tend

I’m pissed at you my precious friend

I’m pissed at you my precious friend.

You cursed the pain, the thunder, graveyards, ghosts and glue

Those clingy moments, failed races never won but in the end

You cursed the demons who were your friends

You cursed the rain, the summer, purple, spring and blue

But the one you cursed most…was you.

Was you.

The one you cursed the most was you.

Was you.

The one you cursed the most was you.

Tears stung his eyes by the time he was through, the crushing weight of dozens of memories pressed down on him, threatening to drown him in their intensity. Swiping a hand across his eyes didn’t help, nor did holding his breath and trying to count backward as far as he could before he had to inhale again. Jagger clutched that mic stand like a lifeline, his shaggy hair flopping into his face as he pressed his head against the mic, certain the audition was about to be over. Maybe that was a good thing. At this point, the three of them were probably wishing he’d never shown up at their door…either time.

“Now that’s what we were looking for.”

That was Robbie’s voice, coming from somewhere super close and a little to the left of him. Everything was bleary when he raised his head and tried to focus on him. “I’m sorry. I’ve wasted enough of your time. I need to hit the road before it’s too late for me to make it all the way home.”

“First off, you ain’t going nowhere after drinking those beers, and secondly, didn’t you hear what I just said to you?”

Robbie had a hand on his shoulder now, the weight of it helping to ground him a little. The fact that they were so touchy feely was kinda nice even when one of them was trying to detain him or steal his beer. He could easily get used to it, even if that made it harder for him to reign in his emotions.

Pressing the heels of his palms against his eyes at least meant they wouldn’t be able to see the tears that lingered. He rubbed at them until no moisture remained. By the time he got himself back under control all three of them had surrounded him.

“Damn, dude, do you know how much of a compliment it is to us that our song moved you like that?” Kayden asked, staring at him with this strange mix of confusion and awe. “I got chills listening to you and almost forgot that I was supposed to be playing.”

“You weren’t the only one,” Mickey said. “I’ve played that song so many times I figured I was immune to the gut punch it was supposed to pack. You nearly knocked me on my ass when you got to the part about the broken line between love and hate.”

“Doesn’t mean I’ll be any good with the rest of your material.”

Robbie snorted at that and cocked his head to the side like he was trying to figure something out. If the answers would get him away from the piercing intensity of that bright blue gaze, then Jagger would have happily given them to him. It was sharp and intimate and way too much and yet Jagger couldn’t manage to look away.

“Yeah, it does,” Robbie said. “Only question now is if you’ll stick around long enough for us to prove it to you?”

Musical Monday: Where music can change perception and bring healing.

 

Ryu knows that his new Kissmas Daddy has been sad and alone since his last boy left him. Daddy might not move as smoothly as others, but that doesn't mean they can't dance together, something Ryu sets out to prove to him early in their relationship. 

I've aways loved exploring the healing properties of music and the way it can bridge the gap between people of different generations and backgrounds. The fact that Ryu has such an intimate connection with music through his dancing is one of many bridges that help connect him and his new Daddy. By showing Hank that he won't treat him different, Ryu helps Hank start to move past the feelings of inadequacy that were sparked after his last boy left him. That isn't to say that Ryu doesn't see Hank's limitations due to his injury, he does, but he doesn't define his new Daddy by what he is unable to do, instead, he looks for ways that he can lessen the burden on him around the house and property while also showing Hank that it's okay for Hank not to do everything himself. That they can be a true team in every way something that developed over the course of the story. 

A Daddy for Christmas: Ryu can be found here: A Daddy for Christmas: Ryu

That was the other wonderful thing about his new little. Ryu was respectful when it came to Hank’s work. He paused in the doorway or at the side of Hank’s desk and waited to be acknowledged whenever Hank was working, and he always waited until Hank’s pen was down and his drawing tablet was out of his hands before assuming his place in Hank’s arms.

Last night, as they’d been doing the dishes together, Ryu had turned into Hank’s embrace and suddenly he’d found himself swaying to the beat of the soft song playing on the radio. Ryu didn’t care if Hank could only shuffle side to side without his cane, all he seemed to care about was being there with him, touching, holding, laughing when Artemis leaped up onto the counter, sliding in a small puddle and half landing in the sink, her fur wet and plastered to her face as she yowled and leaped down, looking damned disgruntled and pissed.

“See kitty, that’s karma,” Ryu said before kneeling to clean up the drips of what she’d left behind. “Shouldn’t have stolen my binky.”

That had gotten Hank laughing almost as hard as seeing his soaked cat skitter out of the kitten. Ryu talked like he held a grudge, but not twenty minutes later he’d sat with Artemis on his lap, feeding her treats while he dried her fur.

He was a sweetheart.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, drawing his gaze away from the deep, bending arch Ryu had folded himself into. Holy shit but he couldn’t wait to see the way the boy moved when he was riding Hank’s cock. Would it be slow and sensuous, rough and wild, or a whirlwind tangle of both with a healthy dose of exploration on the side?

Damn, that buzzing was insistent, the screen bright and flashing as he withdrew it from his jeans.

Ernie.

Joy.

                                                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

For those who have expressed curiosity over the song that was on the radio, I give the tune they were dancing to. 

Fireworks Fridays: That moment when passion or tempers explode!

 Passion, fury and joy, three emotions that often elicit similar responses. On Fireworks Fridays we celebrate the times when characters get a little out of control. From revealing secrets to expressing frustration, from dancing with glee to that scorching, toe-curling kiss, the fireworks crackle like lightning and sizzle with all the explosiveness of a supernova. Today we have a special treat in the form of three such moments, each from a brand-new holiday release. 

Our first entry is from TL Travis' A Daddy for Christmas: Brighton, which was released just a few hours ago. A Daddy for Christmas: Brighton can be found here: A Daddy For Christmas: Brighton

Together we had the kitchen cleaned in no time. “Brighton, I've got a surprise for you.” I led him into the living room where the tree sat in the corner. It stood just like any other home decor you’d see only in the place of a fake Ficus stood a real tree. I purposely placed it in a spot near the front window for passersby to admire it. “I thought we'd decorate the Christmas tree together.” Brighton’s face lit up as bright as the lights we were about to put on it.

“Really?” His hopeful gaze bore into mine. Did he think I’d tease him about this?

“Really, sweetheart, and these tubs are filled with the decorations I've used over the years. I thought this year we'd get a real tree for our first Christmas and come spring we could plant it in the garden outside. Sustainability at its finest.” I was rather proud of myself for that decision.

“We?” It wasn’t a sarcastic question, more one filled with…hope.

“That’s the plan, we.” Brighton nearly bowled me over when he tried to hug me. As I’d guessed, this boy wasn't one who wanted what I could buy him as opposed to some that I had in the past. Brighton was all about the memories we could make, and time spent together. Sure, I paid for the tree, but I already had the decorations. For him it was about not only having a Christmas tree but engaging in the decorating of it as a team. Never having had a real Christmas as he’d mentioned to me had my mind filled with a million things I wanted to do and get for him. It was to the point where I had to slap my own hand last week while shopping online. He had plenty he'd get to open on Christmas morning from his Daddy and I'd enjoy every moment I got to watch him.

“Okay,” his excitement radiated to the point he couldn’t stand still. “What do we start with?”

Our second entry is from my newest release A Daddy for Christmas: Ryu, which was released just a few days ago. A Daddy for Christmas: Ryu can be found here: A Daddy For Christmas: Ryu

A quick peek into the living room showed Ryu seated on the couch, legs crossed with a blanket haphazardly draped over his shoulders. His tongue poked out between his lips as he scowled at the metal puzzle he held in his hands, one of several items that had been in the basket with him. Hank watched as Ryu shook it then slammed two of the pieces together several times, muttering fit, fit, fit, beneath his breath before tossing it on the floor, crossing his arms, and glaring at it.

Oh boy.

“Ryu, I think it’s time you put that toy up, don’t you?” Hank said.

“No!”

His boy was pouting now, still glaring at the toy, and it was easy to see that somewhere during the day he’d slipped into his little headspace and without Hank to engage with, had moved from activity to activity with little regard for the chaos he’d left behind.

“Daddy’s sorry he left you all alone today, especially after your wonderful surprise this morning,” Hank said, unprepared for the glaring look of fury his boy shot him.

Ryu’s eyes narrowed and his face scrunched up, then he stuck his tongue out at Hank.
“Daddy mean!”

“And Ryu is being very rude to Daddy right now, which isn’t nice either,” Hank said. “I believe you know that, but in case you need a reminder you’re going to go to the corner, sit in your chair, and think about it for a little while.”

“No!”

“Yes. Right now, Ryu. Move!” Hank said sternly. He kept his voice low, but firm, as he moved away from Ryu to turn off the television and go the kitchen to drag out a chair, which he set in the emptiest corner he could find. “And when you are done sitting, you will pick everything up and put it back where it belongs, is that understood.”

“Daddy meanest daddy ever!” Ryu said but he got off the couch, stomped to the chair, and sat his butt in it like he’d been told.

Our third entry is from Brina Brady's new release A Daddy for Christmas: Ryu, which was released just a few days ago. A Daddy for Christmas: Daniel can be found here: A Daddy For Christmas: Daniel

“I use this room for auditions. It’s away from the Glitter Box and doesn’t interfere with the club’s operation. Have you been to my club?”

“Is that a real question?” Daniel thought the question was so stupid. And what did it matter anyway? If you can dance, you can dance anywhere.

“If I ask you a question, it’s real, do you understand?” Mr. Baranov made a quick return to Mr. Grumpy.

“Yes, sir.”

“Answer my fucking question.”

“Going to the Glitter Box was a weekend thing for me when I lived on campus at NYU, and I always got lucky there.”

Daniel’s positive comments about his club brought a smile to Mr. Baranov’s perfect face. He was going to be a challenge to please.

“In three words, describe your positive character traits.”

“Self-disciplined, honest, and ambitious are my top traits on the work scene.”

“And three words to describe your negative ones?”

“Rebellious, vain, and selfish have been mentioned about me.”

“Do you think helping others is important?”

“I don’t know.” Daniel had prepared for the interview, but this question stumped him.

“Have you ever donated money to those less fortunate than you?”

“I don’t think so. It’s right up there with me being selfish, I guess.”

“I believe that helping those who are in need is a vital part of my life. I measure a man’s worth by how much he contributes to the well-being of others, not by how much he benefits himself.”

“Wow! I never thought about life on those terms.” Daniel worried Mr. Baranov hated him as a person who never helped anyone unless there was something in it for him. His parents often mentioned he was selfish and only cared about things concerning his rise to fame and fortune. Unfortunately, that was who he was and how he’d gotten to where he was. 

The entire A Daddy for Christmas collection can be found here:

  A Daddy For Christmas

Thoughtful Thursday: A Chance for the Reader to Chime in

 

It's that time again, when we're looking back on the year that's ending to reflect on all that we've accomplished while also planning for the year ahead and trying to figure out where our pesky ducks have gone. Mine got bailed out, but once they were out of the cuffs they scattered again and the last glimpse I got was of frantically flapping wings and bits of fluff and feathers as they took off for warmer temperatures the little deserters. I guess I'll have to be content to wrangle ferrets and hope the ducks stay out of trouble for a little while. 

In the meantime, I'd love to read your comments and thoughts about the upcoming year and more specifically, the types of themes you'd like to see. Some that I've been considering are:

Text sent to the wrong person sparks a brand-new romance. 

Falling in love on a road trip. 

Stranded together.

Fish out of Water. 

With all the themes out there, I know everyone has their favorites, and I would love to connect with you through yours so please, comment below and let me know about the ones that you love the best. 

In addition to planning for the year to come, I've been wrapping up this year and part of that is my annual holiday sale. This year I am doing it exclusively through payhip. 

I've also launched a ream page and will be adding stories to it throughout the upcoming year. To kick things off though, there is a novella currently available in its entirety, A Season of New Beginnings, an MM holiday second-chance romance that can be found right here. 

Currently, at my payhip store, I have an awesome sale going on. Ten books have been discounted to $1.99, and there are several bundled deals available as well. 

For those who might be interested, my newsletter has been rolling along with the addition of a new serial story which will be updated each week. Two episodes have already been published, so if you love serials or Rockstar Romance you might want to sign up here to never miss an episode. Newsletter Signup here. 

Speaking of stories that can't be found anywhere else, I have a new Vella story that just launched. Episode 2 is about to go live, and it also features a musician, though he's not a star and rarely plays for anyone real these days.

Sometimes what's real gets all mixed up with the things in Rick's head. When that happens, the only people Rick has ever been able to rely on is a fellow homeless man and a wanna be rockstar who just might not be real. At times he exists in Rick's thoughts like a ghost, haunting him with songs and the whispering echo of conversations they may, or may not, have had, and sometimes he's a dream begging Rick to come find him, and the promise of a future Rick never believed he'd have.

 Chasing the Ghosts of Gods. 

You can find them all here. 

My year in review. 

Wednesday WIP: A Sneak Peek at Be My Little Valentine: Shanny's Surprise

 

Releases February 14

Now available for pre-order here!

“It’s…” Shanny groaned, exhaling. “Damnit, it was supposed to be a surprise.”

“I think you’d better spill it before we slip full on into interrogation more,” Tiny suggested.

“Do not forget intervention mode too,” Angel added.

“I promise there is nothing going on that needs an intervention,” Shanny said.

“Then why have you been bouncing off the walls and running yourself ragged? Ajay asked.

Shanny’s face flushed before he bolted off the couch and rushed upstairs, meaning all of them gave chase until they were crowded in Shanny’s room, watching him turn his laptop towards them.

“I’m so sick of working at the docks. They keep cutting my hours but heaping more shit on us to accomplish in the time that we’re there. I’m sick of smelling like fish and skateboarding home with guts in my hair.”

“Okay, ewe, I hate when they wind up in the drain after you’ve had a shower, and no offense, but it’s not the most flattering look,” Ajay muttered.

“No shit. You don’t think I know that?” Shanny grumbled. “It's no wonder I haven’t had a real date in forever.

“Soo…” Angel prompted. 

Ohhhh, doesn't that make you wonder what secret he's keeping?

Twisted Tuesday coming to you from A Daddy for Christmas: Ryu

 

On a twisted Tuesday, something is a little to the left of the norm, not that normal is good, or even expected from the characters in my books, but it sure gives me some great material on an awesome day like this. Todays twist comes from my brand new release, A Daddy For Christmas: Ryu. Ryu and Hank go to build a bear, but Ryu's choice of bear isn't like that of other boys and he sure has a way of making it personal for both himself and his Daddy. 

Available Here!

“Now which bear would my boy like?” Daddy asked, “You can pick whichever one you like best.”

Blinking, Ryu stared at the rows and rows and rows of bears, a little overwhelmed by all the choices. There were bears in every color imaginable, and some that didn’t even look like bears even though the name beneath them said they were.

Then his eyes landed on the green bear-lien and from that point on there was no need to look any further. Little Ryu wanted to squeal, jump up and down, and point to it while doing a happy dance, but there were moms and dads with little kids present and he was just big enough at the moment to know that wouldn’t be okay for where they were.

“That one, please,” he said. He did point, but without the dance, and Daddy smiled down at him and made him feel all warm and happy inside, unlike how icky he’d felt the night before.

“Would you like to put a sound recording in your bear?” The lady behind the counter asked. “We have songs and sayings and some people even record their own messages for their bears to say.”

Ryu looked up at Daddy, wanting his voice to be the one that came out of his bear-lien, but not knowing if he would be okay with that. Daddy was watching him closely though and slipped his arm around Ryu’s shoulder, tugging him close so he could speak in his ear.

“Is there something special you want?” Daddy asked.

“I like your voice,” Ryu admitted. “But you can’t say anything growly and commanding with all these people here so maybe could you say something an alien would say?”

Daddy chuckled and smiled down at him. “I think I can manage that. What about….hmmmm…. let's see…hmmmm…which one of you started the rumor that we probe people! It’s lies I tell you, all lies…unless you ask nicely.”

Ryu giggled at that and nodded enthusiastically. “Yes please.”

“I’m going to record the message for him,” Daddy declared, coming around where the saleslady directed. When she heard what he had to say, a smile brightened her face and she had to press her hands to her mouth to keep from laughing until the machine was off.

“That was too cute,” she declared as she loaded the recorded device into the bear. “Now you get to choose an outfit for your bear.”

Ryu had already started looking around at those and decided that he didn’t want the space suit, because it was too much like what a human astronaut would wear, but he also scrunched his nose up at the typical alien one-piece suit that was generic and seemed like every bear-lien would have one. Then he spotted the Easy Rider outfit with its leather jacket, leather pants, black sunglasses, and skull and crossbones bandana and it reminded him of the framed photos of Daddy he’d seen hanging on his office wall.

“That one please,” Ryu declared pointing to it.

Daddy looked quite pleased with Ryu’s choice and he couldn’t help wiggling around and dancing just a little as he watched her carefully dress his bear.

“Someone is very happy,” Daddy said.

“Very, very, very happy,” Ryu said, hugging Daddy tight. “Thank you, Daddy.”

He said that last part softly, so only they could hear, and was rewarded with the perfect kind of squishy hug he loved.

“You are very welcome.”

Daddy held on to him while they waited for her to finish his bear and tuck it safely in its take-home carton. Ryu had to bite back a squeal when she handed it over because he couldn’t wait to go home and be able to hold his little bear-lein to his heart’s content.

Available Here!

When a Secret Santa matchup sends Ryu to the wrong Daddy, will it be a pleasant surprise for both of them or will grumpy Kissmass Daddy Hank prove why he's been alone for over a year?

The moment Hank lay eyes on the basket outside his door he figured someone down at the club was playing a joke on him. The boy was adorable but certainly not meant for him. Learning who Ryu was meant for changed everything though, and suddenly the man who wasn’t interested in the package on his doorstep was loudly declaring Ryu his. 

Never in his wildest dreams did he think that simple statement would change his bleak holiday season into one of hope and love.

Musical Monday: An interview with Jagger and Johnny

 

Available now on Amazon

And now for an interview with Johnny and Jagger from Damaged Saints!

 

“Okay, so you two pretty much grew up together, am I understanding that correctly?”

Johnny: Three doors down from one another on Coggeshall Street.

Jagger: I don’t ever remember a time when we weren’t Jagger and Johnny.

“And yet, my understanding is that you’ve never played in a band together.”

Johnny: That’s not exactly true. We’ve never been part of the same professional band, but that’s only because you can only have one lead singer. Neither of us plays an instrument so the only choice we had was to look for separate bands to be the frontman for.

“But there have been duel singer bands.”

Jagger: Yeah and we tried the whole Love and Affection thing, but it didn’t work for the kind of music we make.

Johnny: I know we look enough alike to pass for siblings, but at the end of the day, we had to think about the sound we preferred and not just how well we sing in harmony. Don’t get me wrong, we love singing together and are not above pulling a surprise during one another’s sets like folks saw out at Rocktoberfest, but we want those to be special moments, when we’re coming together to have fun.

Jagger: Neither of us was willing to change the paths we were on at that time either. I was looking to stay close to home, Johnny was ready to see the world. Can’t say I blame him. It’s been amazing, seeing the places I’ve seen since we’ve been on tour.

“What’s been your favorite new experience?”

Jagger: The desert. Johnny and I were huge fans of The Doors growing up and when the movie came out we were about all things Morrison. We used to talk about heading out to the desert and following the path that he did. Looking for the snake and all that and seeing what we would see, separate from just following in the footsteps of his visions. Now that we’ve been there, all I can think about is heading back next year and spending more time exploring.

Johnny: I’m good with all of that as long as we don’t run into any sandworms or talking ghosts of dead armadillos.

Jagger: What the hell dude, we agreed never to speak on that again.

“Now that you’ve opened that can of worms, I think the folks out there deserve to hear more about where such an interesting visual comes from.”

Jaggar: You wouldn’t believe us if we told you.

“Try me.”

Johnny: Let me preface this by saying the entire conversation took place in an after hours joint, so there is still debate to this day as to whether it actually took place or was some kind shared delusion, ‘cause we never saw the dude that told us about that shit again, but man, it was a trippy story.

“Now you have no choice but to continue on with the rest of it.”

Johnny: True…as long as…

Jagger: Dude, they heard your disclaimer, damn. Look, Johnny and I were at this after hours place trying to pick up this cutie of a drink slinger who we’d been flirting with for weeks, when this smokin’ hot guitarist staggers up  on the stage and gatecrashes the band’s set, puts their guitar player to shame and their singer too, slays to the point of whipping damn near everyone in the room into a frenzy, then just bows out and come weaving through the crowd to sprawl across our laps.

Johnny: Fucker is huge too. Thank the gods those damned seats were bolted to the floor, or we’d have cracked our skulls open tipping over and crashing into the bar behind us.

Jagger: Handsy fucker too.

“So then not a delusion.”

Johnny: Hmmmmm

Jagger: We’ve been known to get handsy with each other when we’re that riled up, especially when the music is as fuckin’ phenomenal as it was that night. Shit. Can I say fuck?

Johnny: Dude, if you can’t say fuck the first time do you think saying fuck the second time is gonna help?

“We’ll worry about that later, back to the real, not real, maybe make out session between the two of you, what more can you tell us about and these talking armadillos.

Johnny: Actually, it was the ghost of a talking armadillo which actually brings up a hell of a lot more questions, like if it could talk before it died, or if it can only talk after it was already dead.

Jagger: You’re forgetting whether it could always talk, and we just couldn’t understand it and if it only got a translator after it got its ticket punched.

Johnny: There is that too.

“Okay, so…maybe our listeners can chime in on that a little later.”

Johnny: Yeah, I’d be curious to know what they think.

Jagger: Me to. As for that other question though, about the real, not real, maybe make out sessions, that’s just a typical Saturday night between me and Johnny. We don’t worry about that shit and if it did or didn’t happen. The guy though, he just kinda started rambling, like, I thought those were lyrics at first and that he was so out of it he thought he was still up on the stage, but then he starts talking about being out in the desert, trying to draw this image of a guitar and cactus merging. He goes on and on about how rough and prickly the music would sound if it was filled with cactus wine and tequila and how he wanted to capture the essence of that in his drawings and just couldn’t find the perfect cactus to serve as the inspiration until this ghostly armadillo started talking to him right after he sidestepped its corpse. Guess it was run over by a jeep or something and still pissed off at the human in the pink Jeep that had hit it.

“O-kay.”

Johnny: So then he says that the armadillo let him to the perfect cactus all while sharing it’s tale of being stuck in the wheel well of this jeep for several miles before he bounced loose and all the things that whirled past and how sometimes it had seemed like it was all in slow motion or maybe it was just that life was on fast forward and the only way to slow down was to pause for death.

Jagger: It was seriously deep.

“Yes, it does sound like a rather profound interpretation.”

Johnny: Yeah, see and I got that ‘cause sometimes the days just melt into one big ball of sudden events that you never realized were so close until you’re watching the fireworks go off to usher in another year. It’s all such a blur sometimes.  

Jagger: He said we should check it out and see for ourselves. That if you wandered long enough the sands would give up their secrets, even if all they hid was lizard droppings and old armadillo bones. Now that we’re on the road together, we figure we’ll see for ourselves what’s out there. Who knows, maybe we’ll find our own inspirations.

Johnny: That or we’ll learn just how many crevices sand can find a way to get into and how difficult it will be to get it out.

Jagger: And how much help we’ll need accomplishing that particular feat.

Johnny: Uh-huh, I know you. You’ll ask for help even if you don’t need it.

Jagger: Of course, that’s half the fun, and you’d do the same damn thing too.

Johnny: Hell yeah, I would.

“I can see why it’s so much fun for the two of you now that you’re on the road together. You’re bands have been on fire since Rocktoberfest and as I understand it, a little Johnny and Jagger project is underway.”

Jagger: Yes, though I wouldn’t say it’s just a Jagger and Johnny project, we’ve got the members of both bands involved with a few guest appearances here and there too. The main thing is that it will be an all-acoustic project and that we’ll be donating the proceeds of the project to help fund a new performing arts center in our city, one that includes music lessons for those wishing to take classes in drums, piano, bass or guitar.

Johnny: We want to make it so no kid who wants to learn is turned away. We’re planning on putting scholarship funding in place and seeing to it that the staff is paid so there is never a worry about finding volunteers and making sure they are volunteering for the right reasons.

Jagger: Growing up we had friends who shared piano lessons. Each pitched in five dollars a week, which was pretty much their lunch money at a dollar a day back then. Lessons were ten dollars a week, so one would go one week, then go over to the other one’s house and do the lesson with him and the next week they would switch. They each had one of those huge bulky keyboards you could find for fifteen bucks at the Salvation Amry and they helped each other learn until they could start self-studying. They made it work but not every kid is that lucky. For some growing up the music is the only friend they have.

“It sounds like a wonderful project, I hope to hear more about it in the future. Wouldn’t it be an amazing thing to some day sit here in this studio across from someone who is where the two of you are now in the industry who’d gotten their start there.”

Johnny: It would be a hell of thing to get to sit back and listen to.

Jagger: Amen.

“Thank you both for being here today. I look forward to hearing all about the desert adventures the two of you get up to.”

Jagger: If it turns out the way we hope it will, they’ll be no keeping it from anyone.”

For those who wanted to see more of Johnny and Draven, keep your eyes out for their upcoming story in 2024!

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