Music's In My Soul (Zander)

[Deleted]

Brandon was hanging out in the music shop at Hogsmeade. Honestly, it wasn't a surprise. He normally spent at least some time there on Hogsmeade visits, looking at all the instruments. But today was different. He was going to see Zander. It was interesting, how excited he was to see his old friend. It had been way too long. Sure, they communicated via owl for over a year, but that wasn't the same thing as meeting with one another. And it was weird to be at Hogwarts without Zander around, even though Brandon wasn't really a student there. As he often did when in this shop, Brandon got distracted by a really cool guitar, not even noticing when the bell rang, indicating that someone else had joined him in the store.

@zander

[Deleted]

Zander was completely and totally thrilled to be meeting up with his friend Brandon today. He had his guitar in it's bag slug over his back, ready for music at any moment as usual. He headed toward Dominic Maestro's, the music shop where he was to find Brandon. Zander was glad that they had owls and all, but he was a hands on kind of person. He preferred to talk face to face. So, he entered the shop, eyes searching, until he found him. Zander grinned, moving to step up beside Brandon and the guitar he was looking at. "That's a nice one. Not as nice as Kimber here," he chuckled, gesturing to his own as he waited for Brandon to face him.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Brandon jumped a little, taken completely by surprise when he heard Zander's voice. Of course, he knew Zander was coming, but he forgot for a moment. Something about this place gave him a tendency to forget what he was doing. Quite often Brandon was late to meetings in Hogsmeade because he got distracted in the music store and lost track of the time. Maybe he should work on that, but he knew that Zander wouldn't be one to judge him because of it. He grinned as he turned to face his friend. "Well not all of us can get amazing guitars like yours, man," he said, eyes glancing at Zander's guitar. "You going to do a concert today?" he asked with a teasing smile. He knew better than most that when you were a musician it was best to carry an instrument with you at all times if possible. You never knew when the music was going to hit you. "So how are you?" he asked, watching his friend carefully. Sure, Brandon's life wasn't easy, but at the moment he knew that Zander's was definitely harder and he wanted to be there for his good friend.

@zander

[Deleted]

Zander laughed as Brandonm complimented his guitar. "That's true," he said with another loving pat on his guitar bag. Then, at Brandons next question, Zander shook his head, "nah, just normal Zander today. Not super famous Zander," he winked. He lifted his bag over his shoulder so that the guitar was in front rather then on his back. "I'm good, man. How are you?" he asked, taking a seat on the nearest stool and unzipping his guitar bag to get Kimber out.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Brandon chuckled a little when Zander said he was just normal today. "Unless one of your fans recognizes you through the window. Or if anyone hears you play," Brandon couldn't help but tease. It was interesting how being with one of his old friends awakened this side of him. For the last year, he'd been trying to make new friendships with new people, but this was so much easier. He didn't have to worry about how Zander would react to anything he said, or what he would think about the way Brandon acted. It was already common knowledge that they both cared about one another and were good friends, which was a nice change. Things were still strange with most people at Hogwarts since he came back too, which made being with Zander even more calming to Brandon. "Don't worry, I won't run away if they do recognize you," he teased with a shrug, watching as Zander sat down and started taking his guitar out. Were they going to do music today? Brandon smiled, hoping so. "I'm good too. A lot better than I've been in a while, to be honest. I started playing again. Didn't tell anyone that I stopped, but for a while there I just couldn't. It's nice to be back," Back at Hogwarts, back with his music. Both were the truth and Brandon was glad that he didn't have to hide the truth from Zander. He hadn't told hardly anyone about his lack of muse.

@zander

[Deleted]

At Brandons words about a fan recognizing him, Zanders eyes widened and he looked around in a mock panic. He chuckle, eyes softening, as he patted his guitar, "shhh, no one will know I'm here. We'll just play quietly," well, depending on the song. If a song was meant to be loud then Zander would play it loud he wasn't really the type to not give a song the sound it was meant for! he wasn't a monster! Zander breathed a sigh, reaching a hand out to place it on Brandons shoulder, "thank you, my friend," he said. At least he'd have Brandon to fend of the bevvy of beautiful ladies.

Brandon said he was good too, and Zander tried to believe it. he sounded better, so that was good. Playing again was always a good time. "I'm so glad, Brandon. I'm sorry you ever stopped but so did I, for a while there. I think it happens to everyone," he said with a firm nod. "Come on, let's play," he offered.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Brandon laughed when Zander pretended to be worried about people recognizing him. “Well, at least we’ll start quietly,” he amended, knowing that both he and Zander would get louder if that’s how the music was supposed to be. The good news was, they were inside the music store. Not very many people came in here, so it was unlikely that anyone would hear them playing at all. Now, if they were outside … then they might attract some attention, but here? They should be fine. His lips twisted into another smile. “Of course, man. Anything to help a fellow musician and good friend.”

“I think you’re right,” Brandon agreed, realizing that surely he wasn’t the only one who let go of his music every once in a while. He nodded quickly, “Yes, lets. What are you in the mood for today?” he asked curiously. After all, Zander was the one who had to make extra effort to be here. It was only polite to let him choose what they did first, right? Well, that and the fact that he was the one with the guitar. Granted, Brandon had an understanding with the owner of the shop that he could borrow instruments here, as long as he didn’t take them out of the store. He picked up the guitar he’d been admiring before and a simple nearby stool so he could sit beside Zander as they played.

@zander

[Deleted]

Zander chuckled, "good point. Can't really control it if the music wants to get loud. That's not our fault," he shrugged, chuckling. He laughed a little louder when Brandon played along, saying he'd do anything to help a fellow musical friend. They were always a good pair, the two of them. Easily conversing with easy banter and jokes. Zander missed having friends around more... in fact, he missed seeing friends at all. It was so rare now.

Brandon asked what he was in the mood for and fetched the guitar that he had been admiring. "Hmmm..." he considered, strumming a bit on the strings just to hear the sound. "Do you know "I want to love you" by lenachka? It's a female singer, but we could just drop the key. If you don't know it you could easily pick it up, I'm sure," he suggested. He hoped a love song wouldn't upset Brandon too much, due to Callie and all.

@brandon
(I Wanna Love You)

[Deleted]

Brandon shrugged good-naturedly when Zander agreed with him. He figured that would probably happen. He and Zander were good enough friends that they always seemed to be on the same wavelength. "Exactly," he said with a smile. It was nice to have someone around who just understood him, that he didn't need to explain himself to.

He should have expected this. Zander suggested a song and- of course- Brandon knew it. More than that, he was in the right kind of mood for this song, so he nodded. "Yeah, that's a good one," he agreed quickly. He started strumming his guitar, making sure that it was in tune so it wouldn't sound terrible when he and Zander started to play with one another.

Brandon nodded to Zander when he was ready and then started playing. He couldn't stop the smile from overtaking his face as he played and sang with Zander. This was so familiar and much more fun than he'd had in a long time. For the first time since coming back from Durmstrang to spend his last year as a guest at Hogwarts, Brandon felt at home. Of course that would happen while he played with Zander. When it was done, he looked up at his friend, grinning. "That was brilliant." 

@zander

[Deleted]

Zander was glad that Brandon agreed to the song, and didn't seem at all bothered by it. In fact, his friend seemed excited about it. Zander nodded, grinning as they started to strum their guitars, finding the right tune and the right key. Then, at Brandons nod signal, Zander and he started to play the song together. They sang the words, lower than the original singer of course, and Zander couldn't keep the smile off his face. He'd missed this, he'd missed Brandon.

When they were done, his friend said it was brilliant and Zander grinned back. "You should cut a record with me, Brandon," he suggested, totally serious, "I mean really. I'm already going places," he shrugged, trying not to seem too cocky and failing, "I could take you with me."

@brandon

[Deleted]

Singing with Zander brought Brandon back to happier times, and Brandon loved it. The feeling was almost surreal and he wished that it could last longer, but it couldn't. After all, Brandon was still in school and Zander wasn't. Maybe next year they would be able to do this more often. Then Zander said they should record together. "You'd want to do that?" Brandon asked, unable to hide the astonished tone in his voice. He knew Zander was doing well and the fact that he wanted to do that. "I mean, of course I want to! That would be awesome." Brandon tried to tone down his excitement but he knew he wasn't doing a good job at it. Performing with Zander would be ... amazing. 

@zander

[Deleted]

Brandon seemed incredibly surprised at Zan's invitation. Zander smiled widely, leaning forward as Brandon said that he would want to, and that it would be awesome. "Listen, Brandon. I love singing solo, and I'll still do solo stuff, but once you graduate I think this is something worth pursuing," he started, his smile wide but his tone serious, "maybe you could even take a Saturday away from Hogwarts to come record with me in December or January," he suggested. It was clear that Brandon really liked the idea and Zander couldn't deny that he liked it too. Heck, he needed a singing partner!

@brandon
(i'm actually serious though, Zander is going to become like incredibly famous and Brandon can jump along for the ride if he wants XD)

[Deleted]

Brandon couldn't help the grin from spreading over his face when Zander explained that he meant it. "As long as you don't mind me doing solo stuff too, I think that would be great!" There was no point in trying to hide his excitement. Zander would see right through it if he did and he didn't want to hide anything either. "I would love that! Besides, it's not like they're really going to miss me in the ship," Brandon added with a small roll of his eyes. Honestly, he wasn't very close with anyone here from Durmstrang. He made a few friends last year, but they were back at the school. "Why not get our dual career started," he teased with a shrug, trying to play off his enthusiasm. It wouldn't work, but he was still trying it. "That way people won't be too shocked when they see a weird, dark-haired guy join this famous musician here," Brandon added, reaching over to lightly push his friend's shoulder.

@zander

[Deleted]

Zander grinned, nodding, "of course we could both do our solo stuff as well," Zander encouraged. Brandon was so excited it just made Zander laugh and his stomach fill with happiness. This would be amazing! Zander chuckled as he said that they wouldn't miss him on the ship, along with that little eye roll. Then Brandon spoke about how they should get started so that people wouldn't be shocked when he joined Zan. Zan was gently pushed and he leaned away, laughing. "Daw, stop it. They'll love you no matter what," he said. "Let's plan a day next month, December. But for now, let us play another song! Any suggestions?"

@brandon
(we can do a recording session for December too XD)

[Deleted]

Brandon shrugged once his friend answered him, "Then I'm in!" Of course Zander said that they could both have their own solo things, which wasn't a surprise at all. The two of them seemed to be right on the same page, and that was a relief to Brandon. It was nice to finally be talking to someone that understood where he was coming from and where he wanted to go. Even more, it was nice to be with someone that was willing to help him get there. So many people were entirely focused on themselves that they never would have thought to bring someone else along, but that was just who Zander was. And Brandon would have done the same for him if the opportunity presented itself. He laughed when Zander did, feeling slightly giddy at the idea of playing music professionally with his best friend, but at the same time he tried to keep that excitement to himself. No need to overwhelm Zander with it. "I sure hope so," Brandon said with a laugh. "If not you'll be back to a solo career." He didn't really think that would happen, but he was having fun messing around with Zander. "You just let me know when and I'll do what I need to to get there," Brandon promised. There was no way he was going to miss this opportunity and since he wasn't the Durmstrang Champion, he was positive he would be able to get away for a bit. "Hmm ... do you know "Beautiful Mess" by Diamond Rio?" 

@zander
(Beautiful Mess)