The Afterglow [Winnie]

[Deleted]

@winnie

Things were moving quickly. Lance had received an offer to join a band with some of his Hufflepuff friends. There was one issue with that; he didn’t have an instrument to call his own. The owner of Dominic Maestro’s in Hogsmeade had lent him one throughout the school years in order to learn how to play and read music. Most of the time it was an old acoustic guitar that no one had bothered to strum on in years. He was more than happy to do so, but also was limited to weekend trips. Outside of that, his fingers had itched for years to own his own guitar. The problem this time (and it wasn’t really a problem, more so a hitch in his wishes), was that the band he was joining already consisted of two guitar players. Both Zander and Brandon had made names for themselves with their skills, and Lance was nowhere close to their prowess. When he had mentioned his hesitations because of this, they had told him he would pick up the electric bass in no time flat and that it fit his character more than being a guitar player did. So that was what he was doing in a no-maj music shop. All he needed was a cheap bass and maybe a guitar to satiate his desire to play the other.

The problem was that there were hundreds of basses, and he wasn’t sure which would be best for him. The poor no-maj employee was doing her best with bringing new instruments to him as he asked to give trial runs on basically everything that had four strings on it. By the time he had narrowed down his choices from a couple dozen to five bass guitars, the sun was setting. While he felt bad for taking up the employee’s time, this was an important decision to make. Having the wrong instrument would ruin the overall experience and now he was in a position where he had band members to think about as well. Asking for a few minutes to give the remaining bass guitars another run through, Lance picked up the first of his choices, sat down on a bench and began plugging away. He needed something that had the groove he was always trying to find in music. The bass that had that was the bass for him.

[Deleted]

It wasn't exactly something that was known to all that many people, in fact outside of her parents and her siblings - there were maybe only two or three people who knew about how much Winnie loved music. It wasn't that it was a secret exactly, in fact she didn't actively try to hide it - it was more just something she loved for herself. Something that made her happy and maybe it wasn't something she actively wished to share - it was something just for her usually and that was how she liked it. While her preference when it came to music was infact singing - and writing songs but that one she did keep more or less a secret - she knew how to play several instruments as well, mostly she had a preferance for stringed instruments - but she prefered to go to muggle music stores which was where she had found herself today. 

She had waited until it was later, knowing the shop would likely not be a busy by this time as she happily entered and walked around - without even thinking about it she ended up in front of a rather interesting selection before her ears picked up on someone playing, or rather testing out an instrument. The blonde raised her eyes before wandering over, tilting her head slightly as she listened - her eyes glancing over the five bass guitars with interest, now her attention was perked. Usually she saw people picking out more classic guitars - bass ones didn't seem to get as much attention, which she honestly didn't agree with but still. 

It was only after a moment of standing there listening did Winnie decide to approach and her eyes blinked quickly, she was pretty sure she knew that guy. But she was also fairly certain it was from school, yet here they were in Muggle London. She listened for a little longer before gently clapping her hands, "Well - I didn't know you were into music, small world I suppose."

[lancelot ray linley ]

[Deleted]

@winnie

Lance liked getting lost in his own little world while playing. The ability to lose interest in all other thoughts other than plucking strings and what the next note he had to play was amazing. There was one problem though: he always seemed to forget that other people existed in his world, and that sometimes they would stand there and watch him. It had already happened a few times today, mostly with younger kids brought in by their parents. He was a far cry from being anything close to professional, but he knew how to fake his abilities when it came to someone that had never heard what he was doing before. As he neared the end of his practice on the first bass, he heard clapping and he looked up to see a girl standing there. It took a second for his brain to readjust to the non-musical world and realize that he went to school with her – Winnie was her name, and they were in the same year. “Same could be said for you,” Lance grinned up at her. Standing up from his seat, he moved to set the bass back where it belonged on its stand and grabbed the second one. “I have an important job today,” Lance said as he sat back down. “Have to find a bass to buy. You don’t happen to have any suggestions, do you?”

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Music was something that Winnie had always loved, but it was something that she mostly had always kept as something that was special to her and was mostly just for her. It was her escape when things got too much in her head, or something to help when she was feeling less like herself - or even just something to calm her with when she was feeling good. It was her own little thing, so not all that many people knew about it in her life. It wasn't too uncommon for her to make a trip to a Muggle music shop. Honestly she prefered it, this store wasn't a huge one - it was almost cozy really. What she hadn't expected was a familiar face - from school no less. "Well I've come here a few times actually."

Winnie raised her eyes, shooting a small smile before shrugging as she moved her hand on one of the shelves, "You have an important job huh?" She was curious at his words, but it was what he said next that caught her more by surprise, "Well.. if you're looking for a Bass..." she started and gave a small grin, "I'm your girl. I'd be happy to help you with that, she continued as she made her way close to him - grabbing another bass as she passed it, she had played this one before when she stopped in so it was familiar to her, "Well.. I'd suggest trying what feels good first, but if you want I can point out one or two for you to try." As she spoke she began to move her fingers - sitting down beside him as she started to play without thinking - it was something she had been working on herself. 

[lancelot ray linley]

[Deleted]

@winnie

The fact that Winnie had been here a few times already was perfect. That meant he could pick her mind about the prices of the instruments and see if it was worth it to purchase here or elsewhere. So far he had strayed from magical music shops (aside from the one in Hogsmeade) because he didn’t want to have anything charmed or tweaked. Nothing beat the sound of a no-maj instrument, in his opinion. There were some that he talked to, meaning other customers of Dominic Maestro’s, in Hogsmeade, that disagreed with his sentiments on instruments and their magical qualities. Usually those conversations were heated and ended with a degree of venom in the words. Lance could care less what others thought though – he was only interested in music for the sake of entertaining listeners. If he could bring the same enjoyment to people the way that musicians had to him, then he knew that his job had been done correctly. But no-maj instruments were still better.

He grinned as she seemed to question the importance of his job. It was a job of utmost importance. Super important. Extremely important. Thinking about it in different ways in his head wasn’t going to convince her though, and Lance nodded his head. “Starting to learn, so I need something to play on.” Winnie said that she could help find one that worked, and grabbed a bass of her own, something he hadn’t expected her to do. At most, Lance was just looking for some help listening to which one sounded like it fit him best. But having her play along would do it too. Hearing someone else play probably meant that’s what everyone else would hear coming from him. “That one doesn’t sound all that bad,” he stated, pointing at the one in her hands. He had played it earlier, but hadn’t thought much about it. For some reason he wanted something that had more of a bluesy feel to it, even if that wasn’t what the band was supposed to be about. “So how long have you been playing?”

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Music was always something special to Winnie, a kind of sacred thing that she didn't share all that often. She didn't mind opening up a bit though about it - to share her love for music with someone else was a special thing after all. Although she did have her preference in non-magical instruments, she wasn't going to budge much on that though, no matter how much people would try and convince her otherwise. It was honestly why she simply went to shops like this, where she had until today - never bumped into someone she knew - where she could simply enjoy what she knew and loved.

But it seemed Lance had an understanding to what she loved. 

Winnie smiled, nodding at his words, she could understand that he was just starting to learn, but she admired that he was after a non-magical instrument rather than the magical alternative - which in her mind just wasn't up to par with a classic. She didn't even think about it as she grabbed the familiar instrument and simply began to lazily play it, to her it was just natural. She always did so when she came in here - to the point that the few people who worked here didn't even blink anymore when she began to play. Winnie offered a small smile at his words, tilting her head back to him as she nodded, "It's one of my favorites here - comfortable and has a good feel and a great sound as well." she spoke fondly, continuing to play a little, it was second nature to her to play when she held the instrument, "It depends on the sound that you are after though. That's an important decision that you need to make." At his final question she gave a honest grin, "I've been playing for a few years, not many know though.. it's kinda.. my thing you know? What made you want to learn to play though?"

[lancelot ray linley ]

[Deleted]

@winnie

The bass did have a nice sound to it. The rippling vibrations coming off of it were more soothing when someone that actually knew how to play was strumming along. The most he had mustered was an amateur attempt at best, followed by quite a bit of plucking on the strings. That was basically all he could do right now though, the no-maj lessons he had been following along with on the internet were great, but they went to slow for his tastes. Lance was afraid to skip a part though, in the off chance something important was discussed, so he was left slogging through video after video, usually leaving them playing as he did other things. Winnie pointed out that he would want an instrument that worked with the sound he was trying to achieve, and Lance took that to mean that not every bass would be the one for him. He knew that already – but it was better to have his thoughts reinforced by her, especially because she knew what she was doing. “For now, I’m looking for one that has a deeper, blues feel to it,” Lance explained, still not sure which bass was best for that. “But I also don’t know what the band I’m supposed to be joining is going to be playing, so maybe one that works for everything?” This was really the debacle he had been having. There were multiple factors at work here, and while he couldn’t sacrifice playability and comfort, he also needed a bass that would fit the band.

She said that she had been playing for a few years now, and Lance listened intently. He had heard that from quite a few students while at Hogwarts; Zander and Brandon weren’t the only musically inclined at the magical school. They just knew how to capitalize on it and make money. He knew that wasn’t the best way to think about it, but making a living off something you loved sounded like a good deal to him, and a hard one to pass up at that. Winnie asked him what had made him want to learn, and Lance grinned. “Like I said, I’m supposed to be joining a band this summer.” Chuckling at the thought of being in a band when he barely knew how to play, he took a deep breath before jumping back into his explanation. “I’ve thought about it for a few years now. Just didn’t have the money or a proper place to practice. Now I have both.” And he would always have them. It was maybe the one good thing Barbara had done for him and Georgie since her reappearance.

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It wasn't really an unusual thing, for as soon as Winnie had an instrument - particularly a Bass in her hands, her fingers instantly began to move - gently strumming against the strings, without even thinking about doing it or what she wanted to play - there her fingers were moving without her thinking about it. The feeling was a relaxing one, and it made her smile a little as she played. Her body calming and relaxing at the familiar sensations of strumming along. She gave a brief nod at Lance's words, something with a blues feel. She hummed slightly in thought, "Something that works with more is probably a good idea to start with, if you're not sure what the band is going to play." It was a more logical thing, even if it wasn't what he wished to play the most, if he was part of a band he'd probably end up playing quite a bit of different sounds.

She offered a slight laugh, shifting as she continued to play lightly, although it was mostly by instinct it was a comfort, "So - you decided to play because you ended up talked into joining a band?" She raised her eyes curiously at the explaination, it was a bit of a strange one as far as reasons go, "Well, if you need some help learning - I'd be happy to help you out if you want," Winnie gave a slight shrug as she spoke, offering her help without much thought. It wasn't often she met others interested in learning to play Bass, far too often someone would come around but end up with the more 'interesting' guitars.

lancelot ray linley

[Deleted]

@winnie

An instrument that would work with anything he was going to be playing actually sounded like a good idea. There was always a chance for him to pick a new bass up at a later point, assuming this career took off. The odds of achieving a heavy funk bass line on a standard piece wasn’t going to happen, but that also wasn’t what the band would be doing. That he knew for sure. Being as versatile for the rest of the guys was what his job was currently, considering that he was just learning how to do all of this stuff. Two of them were basically professionals already, and the third looked like he knew what he was doing.

“Uhh yeah sounds about right,” Lance laughed as Winnie asked him how he ended in the band. “I’ve known them for years, and they used to give me music to check out when I could. So I owe them a lot.” The best part was hearing about a band or artist, and then finding a record of said group at the orphanage. Then he would practically wear the record down listening to it all summer. Those were memories he could never lose. Winnie offered her help, if he needed it while learning, and Lance nodded his head. “I might take you up on that once school starts,” he said, staring at the instrument currently in his hands. “As for right now, this one feels like it’ll work.” Standing up, Lance started placing the ones he had removed from the shelves, back where they belonged, before picking up the one he had chosen. “Thanks for the help. I’ll let you know how it goes,” Lance grinned, before heading towards the employee at the front of the store to figure what else he would need before heading home for the day with his brand new bass.

[Lance End]