making memories // a musical may-december romance // pafp

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    [size=8]It was a cool, damp autumn day when the old Ford Galaxie pulled into the gravel parking lot of Sundown Records, a place neither it nor its driver had seen in several years. The building hadn't changed much; still just a nondescript aluminum-sided box on a downtown street a few lanes west of the main thoroughfare. Besides the faded, sixties-themed "SUNDOWN" sign, there was nothing to indicate that this was the home of the label behind some of the most successful folk and country acts of the past forty years.


    One of those acts was Todd Mackenzie, the man in the Galaxie. He was on the folk side, but it had been a while since he'd thought of himself as a folk musician. Five years, to be exact; five years since he'd finished his last tour and, disillusioned with road life and the waning popularity of his genre, had declared himself retired at the age of thirty-six. Life had been nice, if a bit dull, since then; a lot of wine drinking and bird-watching and driving around in the country. He'd taken a shot at writing and been dissatisfied with the results; he'd bought a lot of other old cars and restored them; he'd done a little bit of a lot of things, but it had been a long time since he'd written a song.


    Three days ago, his one-time manager who still worked at Sundown, Don Mitchell, had given him a call. "Hey, I know you're retired, but I'm calling in a favour you owe me."


    "I don't remember owing you a favour," Todd had said.


    But he'd listened with interest as Don laid out the situation. He'd made a discovery- an especially big deal because it was a folk discovery, and the folk side of Sundown's lineup had been dwindling even before Todd had hung up his guitar. He'd found this woman singing Gordon Lightfoot songs in a bar in the middle of nowhere. "The voice of an angel," he said with great enthusiasm. "You've got to hear it to believe it. Fantastic."


    "So how do I figure into this?"


    It was simple, as it turned out. She could sing, but she was still something of a diamond in the rough- untrained and untested. Todd was a veteran. He knew the business, knew the art. "You can teach her the ins and outs- turn her from a bar singer into a bonafide folk artist. Think of the opportunity!"


    "Don't you have anyone on the books who could do this? Are you sure this isn't just a scheme to get your most profitable artist back in the studio again?"


    "Don't pull that card on me, Todd. This is a no-strings-attached deal. I'll even pay you for your time. You know times have been dry lately; I wouldn't call you if there was someone else."


    There had been a bit more back-and-forth along those lines, but in the end Todd had agreed. How bad could it be, he figured. He didn't have to let on to anyone that his well of inspiration had run completely dry, and he wasn't sure if he could come out of retirement even if they wanted him to; this was just a job, completely separate from all that. It might even be a nice change from the predictability of his usual life.


    He popped the Galaxie's trunk and stepped out of the front seat, straightening up to his full height of 6'2". He made an impressive figure, long and lean, with a gaunt rugged face and an aquiline nose. His eyes offset the harshness of his features- soft, dark brown and downturned. His wavy dark hair was speckled with streaks of silver; in his performing days he'd kept it shoulder-length, often purposefully wild, but now it was short and neatly groomed. His clothing also showed little sign of his previous life, just a pair of grey cargo pants and a blue t-shirt that read "KAWARTHA HIGHLANDS PROVINCIAL PARK", complete with a picture of a loon. His only concession to the folk musician image was the pendant around his neck- a small, carved bone turtle.


    He paused momentarily to walk over to the back of the car and remove his guitar, in its case, from the trunk- still an old friend, although he had sorely neglected it these past few years.


    He walked up to the front door, shoes crunching on the gravel, and opened it with the sound of a small jingling bell. The lobby hadn't changed at all, besides perhaps a few new additions to the display of gold and platinum albums along the wall to his left. He saw his own albums there and tried not to look at them. Don emerged from a door, a whirlwind of shaggy gray hair and the colourful Hawaiian patterns that were still his trademark. "Oh good, you're here! Come on, she's waiting for you in the studio," he said quickly, and Todd followed him down the hall and into the familiar shag-carpeted room.
    And there she was, sitting on a stool.


    All of a sudden he didn't know what to say.


    He blinked as the door shut behind him and they were alone in the room.



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    Hey, thanks for reading this far! If you haven't already figured it out, let me give you the rundown. This is a May-December romance; that is, a romance with a significant age gap between two people. My character, Todd, is 41. Yours should be between 24 and 27. If you're not comfortable with that, now's your chance to get out of here and pretend you never saw this thread! But if you're still interested, here's the plot.


    My character, Todd, was a very well-known folk musician through the late 80s to the early 2000s. But he lost his joy, so to speak, and decided to retire rather than continue with something that didn't make him happy anymore. Now he's been called back into the studio to mentor your character, a talented singer who wants nothing more than to be a famous folk artist like him. He'll teach her to play the guitar and how to be a professional musician- she'll help him to find joy in music again and get his mojo back. They'll definitely start falling for each other along the way. They'll almost certainly record music together. They might even tour together!


    This'll be a pretty cute and fluffy roleplay. My posts probably won't all be as long as this one- I always go overboard on first posts- but I am an advanced roleplayer and I'm looking for an advanced partner as well (3+ good paragraphs and i'll be satisfied)! You can make your first post a sort of introductory thing, outlining how she was "discovered" and ending with her introducing herself to Todd (or go in a totally different direction- I'm cool with that!). The only real guideline I have for your character is please do not make her a shy, insecure type. It won't work well with the scenario- and that's not Todd's type ;)


    Please don't track if you're not going to reply! Can't wait to get started.

    Sounds good! I forgot to mention in the thread that the studio is in Ottawa and most of the roleplay will be set in Eastern Ontario and all over Canada. Our characters are both Canadian c:



    ~white rose~

    ( Nineteen ~ College girl )



    (Alright cool! Something new for me to try out)


    She couldn't believe she was actually here, in the studio of Sundown Records. It was a dream. It had to be a dream. She'd wake up soon, right? She felt a twinge in her chest at the thought, though she knew it wouldn't happen. No, she was here for real, and she was going to be trained to expand on her talent. This was it. This was the opportunity that she had always dreamed of having, but believed it would forever remain out of her grasp.


    Amy Reynolds, a folk singer.


    Her heart did twists as she thought of the possible title once again, remembering the day she was offering this opportunity. She had been at work, just a normal night, a normal shift. Her wavy blonde hair had been tied back while her vivid green eyes were scanning the tables as she walked around the bar. She wore a clean white shirt, a slim fitting, short black skirt, and an apron to tie together the apparel. At twenty-five and with her small height of five foot, five inches, it fit her frame well without showing too much off. A waitress was all she was, working by the hour for whatever tips she could gather. It was the only job she could really get at the time, and she was happy to work if it meant bringing in the money she needed.


    It was getting late and the crowds were flooding in. Many of the customers enjoyed the music, but wanted something that could take them back to good days, or their days of prime. Amy's coworkers knew that she grew up on folk songs, and knew she could sing. Amy, however, didn't want to do it at first. Soon enough, though, she was persuaded to take a step onto the stage, and to stand behind the mic.


    That's when her dream began. She sang only a few songs and then left the stage open for the band, knowing she needed to return to work. But a gentleman by the name of Don Mitchell had stopped her when she did so, and they began to talk about her singing. The next thing Amy knew, she had an offer and was now sitting in the studio, waiting for the one who would be teaching her all she needed to know.


    Her heart pounded at the very memory and she twirled around on the stool, letting out a light laugh. This is actually happening. I'm going to be a singer! A goofy grin spread across her light pink lips and she drew a breath as she made the stool come to a stop. She needed to act professional, right? She smoothed a hand over her v-necked, pink, flowing blouse, situating a small locket that hung around her neck. The pink blouse was accented by her light navy jeans and her black flats tied the outfit together nicely. Her blonde waves hung down around her shoulders, and she wore only a light hint of makeup.


    Professional, but comfy.


    She looked up when she heard the door open up and she froze in her seat as her bright, emerald gaze connected with the soft, dark brown gaze of none other than Todd Mackenzie, the famous folk musician. Her mouth hung opened slightly as she blinked at him, as if trying to understand if he was real or simply an image of imagination. No way... H-he's my teacher?! She barely registered that the door had shut behind him, or that she probably looked ridiculous in her current state. But who could blame her for such a reaction?


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    [center][fancypost=width:550px][align=justify][color=white][size=8]Todd couldn't help but smile at her reaction- looks like she hadn't been expecting him. It was oddly reassuring to find, if not a fan, then at least someone who recognized his face after all this time. She appeared too starstruck to speak at the moment, so it looked like it was up to him to break the silence.


    "You must be-" he cast about for her name- Don had mentioned it, hadn't he? "-Amy. I'm Todd; it's a pleasure to meet you." She clearly already knew who he was, but it was just a formality; not introducing himself would simply be rude. Todd Mackenzie was many things- jaded, yes; cynical, maybe- but one thing he had never been and did not plan to ever be was rude. He went over to the wall, where some extra stools were lined up, and picked one up. He walked it back across the small room, placed it down, and sat down facing her.


    She had the right look, he thought- the wholesome rural girl, a classic and effective folk image. And her outfit choice was nice too. He would have had to have a very awkward conversation if she'd come in here in heels and a miniskirt.


    "You've garnered some high praise from my former boss," he began. "He thinks you've got lots of potential, and I've never known him to be wrong about potential. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe you could sing, so don't worry, this isn't a test. But I'd still like to know what I'm working with. Could you sing "Song for a Winter's Night" for me?" Don had mentioned she'd been singing Gordon Lightfoot songs when he'd heard her- this particular song was one he had always found challenging and enjoyable to cover, so it seemed like an appropriate way to find out what she had.


    He leaned back and gave her an encouraging smile. His body language was relaxed, no pressure, but his eyes betrayed his interest.


    ~white rose~

    ( Nineteen ~ College girl )



    Amy came out of her trance as he began to speak, introducing himself and clarifying that she was who she was. "Um, yes, I mean- It's nice to meet you too." She felt a blush forming on her fair cheeks as she tried to rangle in her words. The last thing she wanted to do was look unprofessional right now. Everything was riding on this meeting, or at least that was what she had heard from others.


    She sat up a bit straighter as he gathered his own stool, her features breaking into a bright smile as he spoke of her acquiring some praise of potential. Her hands played with the hem of her shirt, a nervous habit she had possessed for years, but the rest of her body beamed with excitement and curiosity. She paused for a moment as she heard his request and began to think of the song in her head. A gentle smile then took over her lips and she nodded. "Sure, I'd love to sing that one."


    She shifted a bit upon the bar stool, clearing her throats softly. She knew this song was more of the challenging ones, but this one also held a special meaning to her as well. She began to sing, letting the words flow out on her voice. "The lamp is burnin' low upon my table top,
    the snow is softly fallin'."     She knew the words well as she continued, though she wasn't entirely on note with some of the phrases. It didn't sound bad, but to one who had heard and sang the songs long enough, it was clear to hear.


    Amy knew this as she continued to sing, hoping she wasn't too far off for Todd's taste. She was practically self taught, with the exception of her father, so being off was to be expected right? Either way, she sang whole heartedly, holding where it needed to be held as well growing softer or louder at the respected intervals.


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    [fancypost=width:550px][align=justify][color=white][size=8]Todd closed his eyes and listened as she sang. Don was right, he thought; she had a lovely voice, open and unaffected. She wasn't note-perfect, but who ever was? It wasn't a pop star's voice- too sweet and earnest- but it could certainly be a folk singer's voice. And what a perfect soprano! She reminded him of Rose Ryder, the country singer he'd toured with in the 90s, except Rose had been hard and careworn. Amy seemed just the opposite- eager and full of hope.


    He nodded when she finished. "That's a tricky song; you did a good job. You've got the voice for the job, no doubt about that." Lest he seem over-enthusiastic in his praise, he added, "Your range needs work, though. Am I right in guessing that you've never had any formal musical training?"


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    (sorry for short post- in a hurry!)


    ~white rose~

    ( Nineteen ~ College girl )



    Amy breathed a sigh of relief when he gave his praise, a broad smile of relief never leaving her features. She had done it. She did well and got the praise of Todd Mackenzie. She could hardly believe it. Her heart slowed its nervous pounding hearing he was pleased, and she began to relax noticeably. Her hands slowed their nervous movement and she nodded her response to having formal training.


    "I'm kind of self taught," she answered with a small shrug. "Well, my father helped with it for a while, but other than that, I just sang for fun when I could." Her relieved smile gentled as she spoke. She had only ever thought of pursuing a singing career, never convinced that she would be able to ever acquire such a position. It just didnt seem possible, so singing was simply just a small habit or pass time she had formed. Sure she sang on stage here and there, but nothing professional or serious. It was always for anyone that wanted to hear her, or if she was out having some fun.


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    [center][fancypost=width:550px][align=justify][color=white][size=8]"Good. There's no shame in being self taught, you know, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. No matter what kind of fancy music school they went to! Singing is an art, and those places try to turn it into a science. Or a mathematical exercise. They miss the point." He shook his head. "But I get the impression that you find a lot of joy in it. That's extremely important." I ought to know, thought Todd ruefully.


    "Okay, next question," he continued, straightening up to loosen the knot that was beginning to form in the centre of his back. He'd forgotten how uncomfortable the damn stools were in this place. "If you could pick one artist, singer, whatever, whose career you'd like to emulate-- who would it be?"


    ~white rose~

    ( Nineteen ~ College girl )



    Amy smiled as he seemed to speak passionately about it being okay to be self taught. She knew he loved his music, such things were evident in the music itself. She listened carefully to his next question, her lips pursing slightly. It took her a moment to actually begin to narrow her options down.


    "He's not really a folk singer, but I'd like to have a career like Tim McGraw," she said as her grin brightened. "His music sounds amazing, and speaks to so many people in so many different ways. He seems to be so loved by his fans, and doesn't seem to go with whatever sells the next album. He actually works hard at his music to make it great." Amy had a thing for a little bit of every music, but she really liked folk and country the most. Mostly it was because her voice range fit into those categories well.


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    [fancypost=width:550px][align=justify][color=white][size=8]Todd raised his eyebrows; he hadn't been expecting any answer in particular, but the one he got still managed to surprise him. He'd always been rather cynical about country music, or at least the modern take on the genre- his own music was rooted in old country, from back when folk and country were almost indistinguishable and people sang about Heaven and lost loves and wanderlust instead of trucks and getting drunk. Nothing about modern country seemed earnest or genuine to him, but he was mature enough to recognize that his own worldview was deeply cynical, and he wasn't surprised that she didn't share that cynicism.


    Maybe just a tiny bit disappointed.


    "Well, I can't say that I'm an admirer, but I see where you're coming from, and I'm not going to criticize your personal choice. Creative integrity is a pretty noble goal, anyway." He rubbed his chin while considering what to ask next; his callused fingers made a faint scratching sound.


    Just then a knock came at the door- and, without waiting for an answer, the door pushed open and the face of Don Mitchell appeared. "Hey! How's the meet-and-greet coming along?" he asked cheerfully, then turned to Todd. "Can I talk to you for a second?"


    "I'll just be a minute, Amy," he said apologetically as he got up, stretching his back, and followed his old manager out into the hallway.


    "Well?" Don asked when the door closed behind them.


    "She's got her head screwed on straight," said Todd quietly. "She seems like a genuinely nice girl, too; and as far as I can tell she's neither crazy nor stupid. Maybe just a bit naïve, but overall, I think you've found a winner, Don."


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    After your reply I'll skip forward a day (in my next post)- so don't worry about setting up for a reply!


    ~white rose~

    ( Nineteen ~ College girl )



    Amy nodded along with his words. It was nice to hear that he respected her views, as many now a days seemed to become quick to point out what was wrong about another. She liked that he seemed alright with her own views being different from his. It was refreshing. She was already enjoying the idea of being taught by him.


    Her bright gaze looked towards the door as it opened and she recognized Don immediately. "Alright," she responded to Todd as he made his leave, only relaxing her body when the door was shut behind him. She got to her feet, stretching her body out as she walked around. She shook out her hands and let out some gentle breaths. She had been so nervous and she was hoping it hadn't shown. She didn't want to blow this. It was a perfect dream come true, but she knew to take it seriously.


    However, only time would tell if she could pull it off. She knew this was no easy road, and she was willing to work as hard as she must. She just hoped that what she possessed would be enough.


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