The Weeping Song • •

[duncan cameron metalia]

Duncan was working even when he wasn’t. One of his favourite things about The Double LL was that it was non-stop, and nights out with the people he employed at the magazine often turned into feature pieces either on the blog or in printed form. He adored the cheesy, sometimes slightly blurred photographs that they’d use alongside a down to earth review of a restaurant that made someone scream something profane and ridiculous, or a bar that got another so drunk they spent the next three days hungover at their desk making no sense at all as they tried to hit their deadlines. Duncan’s whole goal with his magazine was that it was meant to capture the true heart of New York City, and though they were still new and fresh, he thought they were doing that. Their pieces were real, captured friends being friends, and hit home with those who had lived in the city for years. There was still a lot Duncan wanted to achieve, but he knew he couldn’t demand it all at once.

Still, because he thought like that, he didn’t really switch off, even when he was taking a night off to enjoy his own favourite haunts in the city. Back Alley had been one of the first places he found when he came to New York after Phoenix. He still went there now whenever he gave himself a night off. He’d taken to the stage a few times, after befriending one of the brothers and being coaxed into a few of the live sets they had there, but Duncan didn’t dream of being a performer. He had grown up around that world, and called Hollywood stars his parents, aunts and uncles. He was surprisingly private despite being used to that, and there had never been the temptation to even dip his toes into the realm of red carpets and paparazzi. No one in New York knew of his parentage, and Duncan aspired to keep it that way; he wanted his success to be his own, and not have people become curious about him just because of who his famous parents were.

Tonight he sat at the bar, working over some ideas in his head. Back Alley had been the first place he reviewed as the music writer in The Double LL, singing its praises and encouraging everyone to check out both the store and the bar. He wanted to do more though, but he wasn’t sure what. He knew Chance’s tale, but had left it out for respect when he wrote his piece; he focused only on the music then. Still, at the same time as wanting to praise the place a million times over, Duncan didn’t want to overrun the place with tourists and needy hipsters – an entirely selfish thought. He liked the bar being busy, but still quiet enough that it wasn’t overly rowdy or troublesome on the nights he came by. Gulping back the last of the whiskey in his glass, he slid the empty back across the bar and waited for Landry to come back over when she had the chance. Duncan was familiar with the Tracy family, but he knew the brothers better than he knew the women, just because he had spent a fair amount of time in the shop downstairs with his guitar talking music and business. “Same again, please. And, uh, throw some ribs in for me, will you? Extra barbecue sauce.”

• • •

TAGGED! Landry Alyson Tracy
WORDS! 578!
OUTFIT! Handsome Hunk!
LYRICS! I Bring The Weather With Me - - - The Amity Affliction
NOTES!

[Landry Alyson Tracy]

As much as Landry loved teaching lessons downstairs at the shop, she really loved when the sun went down and she went upstairs for her hours at the bar the family ran. The music was louder, the crowd was a little rowdier and she loved practicing the fancy moves behind the bar when mixing up a fancy cocktail. She should have been scared out of her mind and for a while, she had been. She'd been too scared to be in the bar alone, wished she didn't have to be when she needed to be but she didn't voice her fears out loud. Her entire family was going through enough already and Landry didn't want to add to that with something so ridiculous. Yes, of course her fear was reasonable and very understandable but they had businesses to run and people needed to see them as a united front, unafraid to continue living when faced with almost certain doom. Her brother made it out the other side of that alive and though he couldn't speak, he was alive. And that was what matter at the end of the day for Landry; Chance was alive and her sweet little niece didn't have to grow up without a daddy.

Eventually she got over her fears though and the bar became just another place she could be found. And though it wasn't her favourite place, that would always be the practice rooms downstairs, it was such a close second it may as well have been tied for first. Except when little Marie Lowenstein came in for her Cello lessons. That girl had been in lessons for five years and still couldn't carry a tune to save her life. And Landry had tried every single trick she could think of to bring music into this ten year old's life but nothing stuck. As least Landry booked her lesson times to be just before she was due up at the bar. She could down a strong shot of the top shelf whiskey, which she needed after hearing someone murder her favourite instrument so ruthlessly. It made her want to cry but at least she had four other students who absolutely blew her away with their skill. And her time up at the bar allowed her to gloat or forget; depending on who was her last student.

Now that Marie was out of the building, Landry could breathe a little easier and head up to the shop. Where she would close it out with one of her brothers. She didn't mind it so much, she loved being up at the bar, mixing drinks and making sure her clients upstairs were just as happy as the ones down. She smiled at the familiar faces and felt proud of herself when she got a drink set down before the words were out of their mouths. Duncan was one of the easier reads in the bar. He didn't stray too far from his regular drinks unless the rest of his crowd was there so it was pretty easy to have the drink set in front of him before he even finished asking about the ribs. "Extra like normal person extra or extra like my kind of extra?" She asked with a grin. Duncan was around almost as much as the family was. He'd seen her through some of the biggest and weirdest fights to break out in the bar, as they usually do over a woman uninterested, some of the biggest jokes the family cracked and the breaks long enough to devour some food; which meant he'd seen her attack a plate of ribs with more sauce than meat and wings looking the same. She didn't apologise for it either, she wasn't there to impress anyone with anything other than her drink.

♦ ♦ ♦

Tag || duncan cameron metalia
Words || 633
Clothes || Coming Soon!
Music || The Little Things --Chase Rice
Notes || <3

[duncan cameron metalia]

It was easy for Duncan to hide his parents from the world. His mother had continued to use her maiden name as her stage name, for all intents and purposes. Film buffs recognised his dad, and Duncan played it off as a sheer coincidence if anyone ever questioned him about it – which thankfully was a rare thing. It was his one vow in life; not to make his own name living off the one made by his parents. Yes, they had been successful, and the world knew them for it. Duncan wanted to be known for what he did in his own right though, and not because he was his parent’s child. It might be too easy for him to achieve his goals if people saw him as the son of Hollywood celebrities, rather than just as a hardworking editor in his own right. Thankfully, he didn’t scream Hollywood himself. His body was covered in ink, and he hadn’t been clean shaven since high school. He thought he was a little mean or intimidating to pass as the heartthrob or the boy next door.

He hadn’t exactly been envious of those pretty boys who caught the attention of all the girls though. Duncan had always had more alternative style, been part of the crowd of misfits and punks during high school, and the music obsessed kids during college who hit up every gig they could get tickets for, scoping the scene for a new band to fall in love with and fawn over. He really hadn’t changed all that much, although his clothes were less ripped up since high school now, and he actually had a bit of a grooming routine that went beyond rolling out of bed and out of the front door. He needed to look somewhat decent if he was interviewing people, or playing editor to people who weren’t those who worked for him and had seen him choke on something too spicy, or drink until the ceiling was the floor. The office was like a second home anyway, and he was used to seeing people opt to have blankets around their shoulders, or vegging on the oversized beanbags and working on their laptops there instead of at their desks.

He liked that environment though. It was set up with lounge spaces, and an area to blow off some steam with some duplicate copies of games Billie had donated to them. He could never work in a sterile office space so he didn’t expect those he paid to do the same either. So long as they turned in the pieces he expected from them by the deadlines he gave them, he was a happy enough guy. The magazine office was a loud, crazy place and that was how he envisioned it; full of characters and life. “I want so much sauce I have to fish for those ribs.” He said with a grin before reaching for his drink. He’d end up a mess by the time he was done eating them, but ribs were never a simple meal. The sauce ended up all over his fingers, hands, and then his beard was an entirely different matter and problem, too. Thankfully, he was here alone, and had no intention of trying to impress anyone tonight.

• • •

TAGGED! Landry Alyson Tracy
WORDS! 549!
OUTFIT! Handsome Hunk!
LYRICS! I Bring The Weather With Me - - - The Amity Affliction
NOTES!

[Landry Alyson Tracy]

Landry had always known she would end up in the family business. She had had dreams as a child of becoming a dancer and dancing her way around the globe but she had loved to play just as much and was just as good, if not better at playing the music than she was dancing to it. She then thought perhaps she would become some famous musician, one of those classical types that sold out venues with her cello but she became easily bored playing those classical songs. It went unsaid that her idea of the classics were not Beethoven or Mozart but Hendrix, Cobain, Dylan and Marley. Then she got the idea in her head that she could be part of a band, maybe become a guitarist or a drummer for some artist, go on tour and be something other than just another Tracy kid. The problem with that was that she could be exceptionally opinionated and that sort of personality didn't mesh well on tour. She knew that well enough just from the conversations she's had in the shop with actual musicians actually out on tour with some pretty famous names.

So her only options really, were the shop and the bar. And lucky for her she loved being around her family and taking care of the bar when it opened and the shop before that. She loved teaching lessons for all the instruments she'd mastered when she'd still be a kid playing around. Plus, she could wear whatever she wanted without worrying if it was appropriate for the work place, or the stage. Someone might say something to her but it was never anything she needed to take all that seriously, like her father or brother's sighing and wishing she'd put some clothes on even when she was wearing shorts and a racer back. She didn't intentionally wear provocative clothing and since no one had said anything to her yet, aside from the men in her family, she would keep it up.

"Right! Put the sauce on your plate and the ribs on mine." She teased even as she started back towards the kitchen to ask Posey to whip them up. Once they were actually old enough to work in the bar, they took turns with the jobs at hand. Landry loved being behind the bar more than she liked being in the kitchen whenever someone ordered up a meal but she could at least throw together what was on their menu. She kept her fridge at home stocked with the same things the bar had because she couldn't make much beyond that. "Posey will have it ready in a few minutes. In the meantime, what are you working on tonight?" She asked, leaning against the bar. He was always working on something and she knew it. Usually Duncan had his whole crew in with him, not always but it was more normal than him taking up a stool at the bar alone.

♦ ♦ ♦

Tag || duncan cameron metalia
Words || 496
Clothes || Pretty Blonde Bartender!
Music || The Little Things --Chase Rice
Notes || <3

[duncan cameron metalia]

Duncan had never aspired to follow in the footsteps of his parents. Hollywood had no attraction to him. He had seen the inside of it, and knew too many so called ‘stars’ away from all the glamour and the glitz. The nice dresses and all the fancy shots were a tiny, tiny part of it all, and Duncan had known that his whole life. He wasn’t going to smile something fake and pretend that the high life was everything it promised to be. It was hard work, and more sweat and tears than it was the photoshopped illusion the media made it out to be. He was happier walking down the street as a nobody, having someone holler at him for revving his bike too loudly. It was a simpler existence, and Duncan preferred to be able to head out and grab food without having to look over his shoulder for the flash of a camera he wasn’t expecting. At least normally the only photos printed were from Cady whenever she came out with him. Her camera was an extension of her arm, it seemed. She had her own collection of shots of the magazine staff eating and drinking their way across the city by now, and Duncan was just waiting for the album to make an appearance. A page by page tale of people mid bite, with sauce on their lips and fingers, chipmunk cheeks and double chins.

Still, Duncan preferred that over perfectly posed and overly edited shots that most magazines posted. He’d rather have those real moments, things people could actually relate to. He made sure his own publications were heavy with that sort of thing, and tried to avoid those airbrushed highlights and heavily cleaned up shots. He was grateful that his staff felt the same way. Cady would probably quit on the spot if he asked her to edit her work like that anyway. She was far too ‘real’ for making her craft an illusion of what it had started out as. It was also why he preferred the home grown spots of New York over the nationwide stores that had taken over every town and city from the west coast to the east coast. They sold the same things all over, and had no unique quality. Duncan preferred something that was fresh, that caught him off guard and that fought to have its place in the city it called home.

“So long as your plate is on my side of the bar and I’m eating from it.” He said, managing to keep a straight face. Duncan loved his food. He was a man who could eat. If the magazine ever went anywhere with a challenge dish he was often egged on by his staff to attempt them. He could finish one, but he felt like he was bloated as anything after that and whatever dessert had caught his attention at the start of the evening. Thankfully, being an active guy meant he wasn’t ballooning out anytime soon and going up a pant size. “Nothing set in stone. I just figured a fresh space might help me sort through some ideas. Plus, here I don’t have an office of crazy people surrounding me.” He only employed the best, but an office of creative spirits could be a loud and wild place to work. Sometimes they all just had to get out of their and find their own space to get some of their work done.

• • •

TAGGED! Landry Alyson Tracy
WORDS! 584!
OUTFIT! Handsome Hunk!
LYRICS! I Bring The Weather With Me - - - The Amity Affliction
NOTES!

[Landry Alyson Tracy]

Landry knew she probably should have been scared of someone trying to rob the bar again but she couldn't find it in her to be scared of it. There was too much to be scared of in the world to be afraid to go to work every damn day. There were new precautions and no one was allowed to be there alone anymore. And Landry felt like it was a giant "Fuck you" to the intruder who hurt her brother that she wasn't scared of him, that she showed up every day for work with a bright smile on her face and a dirty joke on the tip if her tongue. She'd had other aspirations when she'd been younger but what little girl didn't want to be a ballerina or a princess. And though she took enough dance classes to be considered a dancer, it was the music that ultimately called to her. She loved how the music made her feel.

Being downstairs meant a lot to her, teaching little kids how to play the instruments that meant the most to Landry was something she'd known she would do even if she'd decided to do something else with her life. She loved seeing those bright eyes light up when they finally got it right. Bartending up at the bar above the shop was something that took Landry by surprise when she realised how much she loved it. Coyote Ugly had been one of her favourite movies though so it made sense that she would find something so sexy and empowering about it; even when there were lulls that meant she was sat at the bar with her own guitar and the notebook that was never far from her reach. She had always said it was her journal and her family, to her knowledge, had never tried to betray her trust by looking through it but it was a book full of her attempts at song writing.

So far the words on those pages hadn't been seen by anyone else's eyes but one day she thought maybe. Baby steps. Those were all things she used to do to separate herself from her family a little bit. Moving into a place of her own had been a huge step but it was easier for her to think in smaller terms. Everything was a baby step, even if it was a huge milestone. Shamelessly flirting with Duncan wasn't so much a baby step and something that just started happening the first night he'd walked in and she'd been behind the bar. Landry was, by nature, a bit of a flirt, though she just considered herself friendly. Her brother's all thought she was too friendly and said as much but she ignored them. The blonde music lover laughed and shot Duncan a teasing smirk. "Nah, I think I'll make you reach for it." She told him with a low chuckle. She poured them both another drink, hers just being a rum and coke, without the rum since she was still working, replacing his empty glass with the next. She was at least attentive with her favourites and knew drink orders off by heart, Duncan's included. "Instead you've decided to surround yourself with a bunch of crazy people in a bar, interesting choice." she teased, heading back to the kitchen to check on his order.

♦ ♦ ♦

Tag || duncan cameron metalia
Words || 560
Clothes || Pretty Blonde Bartender!
Music || The Little Things --Chase Rice
Notes || <3

[duncan cameron metalia]

Plenty of times Duncan had seen the ugly in the world. As the son of two very prominently known names, it had been inevitable for them to live a happy, peaceful life. Someone was snooping around their property a number of times throughout his life; there was always a fan who took their obsession too far. It was why he grew up knowing what the best security systems were and where teams were usually located when it came to big events. Duncan actually suspected that he terrified the company who set up his own office’s alarm system and security package because he was able to explain most of it to them before he had even heard the repertoire from the sales rep who had met him that afternoon when The Double LL was still just an empty space. Duncan wasn’t one for explaining himself though, so he was probably just a terrifying, bearded guy who knew enough about security systems to successfully pull off a clever heist.

He wasn’t going to take it for granted. Anything could happen and Duncan wasn’t about to believe they were invincible. Any system could break or be bypassed eventually, and they were just a small business. Some might see them as easy prey. An office full of modern, expensive gadgets and maybe without the sense to protect them securely. No one he hired was stupid though, and he refused to let them slack when it came to everyone else’s possessions. The office was a relaxed environment, and maybe everyone did have fun there, but he wasn’t going to let it become a messy jumble of insurance claims and paperwork he didn’t want to have to do. It was bad enough keeping up with the building maintenance and the rigorous health and safety garbage that he had to do annually.

Duncan definitely couldn’t do it for a living. Business work that kept him tied to an office chair all year around. It was frustrating enough taking care of his own little magazine, and that was something he loved more than anything else in his life right now. He knew – and hoped – that wouldn’t always be the case. His point, as he tried to explain to his dad once before as they drank good whiskey into the early hours of a cold morning, was that it was the tedium of it all. So much seemed pointless to him and served no purpose, but rather existed only to tick a corporate box in the office of someone who worked for the government. Duncan had been several drinks in by that point, but he still stood by the belief. “I’ve had a long day at work and you still want me to work for my ribs?” He said with a shake of his head. “That’s shameful.” Duncan added with a wag of his finger, as though he was actually scolding Landry for her actions. In truth, worse things had been done to him in far more expensive places. “Different kind of crazy. Plus, there’s alcohol. Can’t always drink on the job.” Often times they called getting drunk and wild research and could write the bill off for tax reasons, but Duncan didn’t think it prudent to share that fact with everyone he met. The whole world didn’t need to know that a great deal of boozy shenanigans sparked the inspiration for The Double LL.

• • •

TAGGED! Landry Alyson Tracy
WORDS! 572!
OUTFIT! Handsome Hunk!
LYRICS! I Bring The Weather With Me - - - The Amity Affliction
NOTES!

[Landry Alyson Tracy]

Even if Landry could have picked whatever career in the world she wanted, she still would have stayed home. Music was everything in her world. If she wasn't down in the shop helping teach someone how to play the Cello or piano or guitar, she was up in the bar with the music blasting while she danced and worked. And when she wasn't doing that, she was out at the dance studio letting the music lead the way. She was constantly surrounded by music in some way and she would not change a single thing about that. Music gave people the words they needed when they couldn't find them on their own. Music could change a mood, good or bad with a single note or melody. Music healed heartbreak and brought people to their knees. Music was a universal language and Landry was a fluent speaker.

Landry grinned over at the bearded man. "Best thing about working a bar, I can always drink on the job." She cracked jokes and laughed about the best parts of working at a bar but it was actually rare for to have a proper drink within arms reach that was hers. She stuck to the soda they offered as mix or the water bottle she kept topped with ice water. And the truth was, for her, the best part about working at the bar was that she was surrounded by family. If her brother's weren't up there on the stage or around the bar, they were downstairs providing music lessons, selling some kid's dream guitar to him so he could grow up to be the next Hendrix or they're creating the instruments they all loved so much.

Grinning, Landry danced down to the other end of the bar to help out one of the regulars before popping her head into the kitchen to check on Duncan's food. She waved her hand at Duncan, indicating five more minutes before walking through the swinging kitchen door and grabbing a handful of carrot sticks to hold her over until she could take an actual food break. she never really minded since she could pick whenever she popped into the back to pick up an order. She laughed with her sister, asking for a plate of sauce but instead of agreeing to go along with it, she slapped Landry's hand away and pushed the plate of ribs into her hands instead before pushing her through the door. "Dinner is served."

♦ ♦ ♦

Tag || duncan cameron metalia
Words || 412
Clothes || Pretty Blonde Bartender!
Music || The Little Things --Chase Rice
Notes || I'm sorry -__-' <3

[duncan cameron metalia]

He had devoted himself to The Double LL since it was just a shower idea. He had taken it, nurtured it, and let it grow into something he could now physically hold in his hands. Sometimes, when life was making his head spin, grabbing a fresh copy from a store or a paper stand was enough to remind him of who he was and what he did. He had made a dream become real, and he still had so many more hopes and aspirations for the company. He worked hard to ensure his staff understood what he expected from them, but kicked back enough to show them that he wasn’t the kind of boss people would refer to as a dictator. He was of the ‘work hard, play hard’ belief system when it came to his business, and thankfully a lot of their work was doing the things they enjoyed most of all; music, food, movies, markets…
They were lucky people. And their dynamic was why Duncan could be very selective in who he hired for the vacancies at the magazine. He didn’t want some awkward outcast on the edge of a group photo, or skipping out on the events they all shared because they didn’t like the rest of the staff.

This wasn’t a perfect world, so he knew not everyone could get along with everyone else. However, he wanted to lead a crew of colleagues that could also be friends. He wanted his staff to feel as invested in the magazine as he was. Duncan had never wanted to hire writers or interns who would come along only for a year of experience and then try to climb the next rung on the ladder. The way he saw it, they were on their own, trialling something new. It was like a ‘What’s on’, coupled with general interests, and polished with a tourist’s guide to the city. They found things easily overlooked and screamed “LOOK AT THESE PLACES” for the people who were making magic behind the curtains. Not that everything was always glorious and golden, there were times when places didn’t live up to expectations, or the group weren’t too happy with an event they had been so looking forward to. They were honest about it when publications went out, because Duncan didn’t want his magazine’s reputation to be one of seeing the world through rose tinted glasses.

When his food was finally ready, Duncan felt his stomach rumbling in anticipation. He didn’t actually realise how hungry he was until food was put in front of him most days. He was always busy keeping himself busy! He picked up his messy meal and took a bite, savouring the taste. “As good as ever.” He said after swallowing the food. He took another bite, licking the sauce from his lips. “Anyone new playing soon?” He asked, unable to completely shut off from work. After all, music was his passion and not just his day job.

• • •

TAGGED! Landry Alyson Tracy
WORDS! 500!
LYRICS! I Bring The Weather With Me - - - The Amity Affliction
NOTES!

[Landry Alyson Tracy]

Landry loved working with her family. There was rarely a dull moment and often times arguments broke out that needed to be solved by unconventional means. More than once Landry had been forced to pick up a guitar or settle behind the piano or microphone and play it out with whomever she'd been fighting with. It always started out being something she didn't want to do and ended up getting really into it and laughing about it by the end of the song. She had considered running away from New York for school but in the end, it hadn't felt right to leave. Everything she had ever known and loved was in New York. It didn't help that the thought of being on the other side of the country had given Landry her one and only bout of anxiety. She loved to go out on adventures but they were short-lived and she was back home in a few weeks. If she'd gone off to school, she would have been gone months at a time and she still wasn't sure if that was something she could do.

Moving out of the family home had seemed like a big step for her. But of course, she was the baby and she'd had a stroke at twenty so things were a little different with her. She had made a full recovery, didn't seem to have any sort of bad side effects, even her speech and motor functions were perfectly intact but there was always the thought in the back of everyone's mind; what if it happened again? Landry didn't like thinking about it because it made her feel like she was somehow less, that she couldn't be left alone, which was absolutely not the case. In the following five years, countless doctor's appointments were had and none of them suggested in any way that she had to live with someone else. She needed her space to explore her individuality without having to run it by her parents first. She would still message them before she went to bed at night and when she met up with friends in Manhattan or Brooklyn, she told her parents or one of her siblings; just in case. It was always better to be safe than sorry. But she would not give up her freedom now that she'd finally secured it.

"Did you expect anything less?" Landry tossed at one of her favourite regulars with a cheeky smirk. Her attention returned to clearing up the clean glasses that hadn't yet been put in their correct spots. She hadn't needed to do it, it wasn't actually her job as she hadn't cleaned them but she liked the bar to be particular when she was behind and having a couple of trays of clean glasses just sitting there wouldn't work for her; they needed to be put in their proper places. "One or two in the next couple of weekends. Trials. Wes found them when he was stepping out on the family bar. Says they're good though, so we might forgive him in the next decade." She said with a smirk. Landry turned at the sound of her name and laughed at the cheesy pickup line used before turning to grab the beer she knew one of her favourite regulars was after. They had a little game of offering up the worst, most cringe-worthy pick-up lines they'd heard or thought up. It was the best. She spoke to him for a second, offering up her own bad line before shaking her head and returning to the other end where Duncan sat. "Want another drink with that?" She asked, grabbing a glasses and shaking it in her hand.

♦ ♦ ♦

Tag || duncan cameron metalia
Words || 617
Music || The Little Things --Chase Rice
Notes || <3

[duncan cameron metalia]

Duncan was close to his family, but he didn’t need to be close to them at the same time. He could love them with texts and calls, short moments in long days. They had always had boundaries and barriers put in places to keep Duncan and his sister out of harm’s way, protected from the harsh light and cruel words of the paparazzi that that hounded their parents for longer than Duncan even cared to remember. He had been able to live a relatively normal life because of them; something he was grateful for. He despised those “famous babies” who made a name for themselves off of the name they were born with. It was as though they thought they deserved the same level of fame and success as their parents just because they were the offspring of hardworking actors or musicians. Duncan couldn’t stand it. He wanted to make something of himself because of his own hard work, his own creative ambition and dreams. He wouldn’t even let his dad do an interview for The Double LL, or print a single review of something connected to his parents purely because he didn’t want to be accused of riding on their coattails.

He was stubborn, perhaps overly so, but Duncan knew what he wanted and now he wanted to do things. He was the man who would stay up all night to meet a deadline by himself, to pick up the slack when someone else had been too laidback. He was tough on himself, maybe even tougher on others, but he had told everyone who every interviewed for him that while working at The Double LL would be rewarding it would never be easy. Thankfully everyone had the same work ethic that he commended. If they took a day easy they usually worked double time the next, beating him to the office to make up for the afternoon of distractions or helping a colleague on their own piece. It was a rapport he loved, something he wanted his magazine to be known for.

“If it was then I might have to find another bar to drink in.” He threatened teasingly, raising the glass back to his lips. Duncan frequented a few regular spots in the city depending on his mood and the task at hand. They all served a purpose – usually a musical one – but Back Alley was probably his favourite. It had the perfect balance of being lively while also being relaxing. There was rarely a risk of a fight brewing or someone causing trouble after too many drinks. He nodded his head, tapping his finger against the side of the glass. “Might have to check them out.” He was already thinking ahead, wondering if it was ideal to bring the gang out for another blog piece. He wasn’t sure if it was too soon since the last time they’d hit up The Back Alley, but then that time had been for his birthday, so it was a little different. Either way he’d still be there, perched on a stool, ready to do a review. Duncan liked to scope out the new and upcoming acts, do a review piece if he thought they were someone to watch. “If I didn’t know better I’d think you were trying to get me drunk, Landry.” He smirked, sliding the near empty glass back across the bar to her.

• • •

TAGGED! Landry Alyson Tracy
WORDS! 572!
LYRICS! I Bring The Weather With Me - - - The Amity Affliction
NOTES!

[Landry Alyson Tracy]

There was nothing Landry loved more than her family and their little corner of the world. She got to mingle with music people, everyday people who just enjoyed the music or the family, the food and then there was Duncan and his crowd who wrote magazine articles about the music and the musicians behind it. They'd done a piece or two on the family bar, one of the best-kept secrets or something like it. She had the article pinned to the corkboard as a reminder of what they were doing, just in case any of them were feeling a little blue. They might not look like they were helping, they had a safe place for people to sing their songs, play their music or just enjoy the atmosphere of a friendly place. Landry loved that while they all had their days, they could still see a reason to smile.

Those days were also the best to play the music that was in all their blood. After a song, most of them felt better. Landry knew it always cheered her up, which was why she could be found singing along to the radio playing in the background whenever she was doing something that didn't require having to talk to people. If there was a lull in the orders at the bar and she was forced to wipe down the bar and the various tables, booths, she would sing along. It made the work go by faster. As did dancing around the tables while she cleaned. If there was anything that could come close to how music felt, it was dancing to it. She probably could have made it as a dancer but to be able to create the music or the instruments that made the music, was so much more. She might have considered it all the same except the robbery happened and everything that they were going through separately took a backseat to the family needs. Landry didn't actually mind. She loved her brother and her niece and it was nice to hang out with her and teach her how to spin and twirl and get lost in the movement.

"They're pretty good. Been in a couple of times now for open mic nights but never for a showcase spot." Landry admitted with a grin. "Not as good as the fam but I'm biased so...." She said trailing off. The music she and her brothers made when they were together was something else. Sure, they were really only doing it for fun, none of them really wanted to be the next Partridge family but she could still believe they were the best around. Landry flashed him a wicked grin. "Just trying to see what would happen if you let loose a little, D." Landry quickly refreshed his drink, before looking around at the bar, checking for anyone looking for another drink or maybe to order some food. Seeing nothing, she walked around the bar and took a seat next to Duncan for a short break off her feet. It was easy enough for anyone in there to get her attention and none of them was shy in doing so. She loved the regulars.

♦ ♦ ♦

Tag || duncan cameron metalia
Words || 533
Music || The Little Things --Chase Rice
Notes || <3