hearts on the line -- dan

[LANA LEIGH PAYNE]

As usual, fingers lightly tapped on Lana's thigh, thumbing out random beats here and there. It was actually quite an interesting an ordeal, if you were really bored in like a doctor's office and happened to notice her do this. She'd tap something out, then stop for a while, looking around to see if she had bothered anyone or if someone was watching her. Then, she'd continue. Sometimes, it was the beat to her own band's songs, or a lot of the time it would be other songs. Or, in fact, she'd make up her own rhythms. Leaning against the door of her band's tour bus, she happened to be tapping out the Demi Lovato song, "Gonna Get Caught."

One arm was wrapped around her, grabbing at her other arm. Her eyes were searching the deserted area where all the tour buses were parked, looking for the certain Mr. Jones. Today, they had an interview set up. To be honest, Lana never could imagine that someone would want to interview her. It surprised her every time. Sure, she was one of the rare female drummers. But so what? There was like four others on tour. Shrugging at herself, she stood from her leaning stance on the bus, and walked in a small circle, kicking the pebbles in the dirt area where Can You Find Me's bus happened to be parked. She'd offered Dan some time before the next set for her interview, which was a decent amount of time because the next set for can You Find Me wasn't for another two hours. That gave him enough time to get all his questions asked, take some pictures for his little blog or...well, whatever he did.

Once she finally did notice someone coming over, a smile slowly spread on her lips as she did whenever anyone was around. She lifted an arm and waved, calling him over. "Hey, Dan. Over here!"

outfit; click here
notes; so excited.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[DANIEL AMADEUS JONES]

<sub>Daniel was in one of those black moods again. The kind elicited by overly cheerful baristas at the Starbucks counter, or women who kept pictures of their seven cats in their wallets. The November Chill was on his skin, nipping at the back of his ears in an attempt to distract him from the matter at hand.

He'd made it through four interviews already in the day. Chatting with audience members and fans was never his favorite part of any encounter, but at least that part of it was quick.

He was investigating his notes, checking the name on a source against the one listed in his black-berry when he heard his name.

"Hey, Dan. Over here!"

He let the direction from which the voice had called him direct his movements, keeping his eyes on the screen rather than the ground in front of him. "It's Daniel, actually. I'm guess you're..." He squinted at his screen, absently pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "Lana Payne? From 'Can You Find Me?'" That was what his schedule had to say on the matter. His eyes raised from the device, finally, in order to put a face to the name.

She was dressed in a way he'd figured only elementary school girls dressed, with so many details built into the ensemble that he didn't know where to fasten his attention. His pupils dilated and then re-focused, and he was forced to take his glasses off, under the guise of cleaning them, before he continued.

She was an attractive girl, for certain, and matched the voice that had called out to him. He'd gotten past the initial reaction to any woman some time ago, but he knew straight away that she was beautiful by any standard, and her smile would entrance any man. Her energy reached out to him in a wave, something he'd discovered was common in this tour, but hers was at least positive. He replaced his glasses, bracing himself for what he expected to be a bubbly exchange, determined to look her in the eye, so that he could conduct a proper conversation. The reported summoned his practiced 'let's hang out' smile, and offered his hand with a low, soft greeting. "Nice to meet you."</sub>

MY HEART BEAT 429 TIMES FOR YOU
OUTFIT

[LANA LEIGH PAYNE]

Well, apparently this guy needed a dire vacation. Smirking, Lana nodded as she was told his name was Daniel. After he stated her full name, she nodded. Then, mimicking him she said, "Well, it's Lana. Actually." Of course, Lana was only teasing. After shaking his hand and repeating the same whole 'nice to meet you' phrase, she eyed him, taking in his physical features. From what she could see, he was young, but his whole correcting people and getting down to business made him seem older. He was of course attractive, and as he smiled Lana couldn't help herself but to let out another small grin.

Running a hand through her hair, she slowly returned both hands into her pockets, shifting weight on her feet. "Well, I guess I should be straight with you. I really don't know what this interview is going to be about, or why your not going to interview Grant." Grant was the last name of their lead singer, and it was the only thing Lana let herself call him. However, she put on another happy smile and her eyes widened with a bubbly feeling. "Not to say I don't appreciate it or anything, because I do!" She made sure to say it quickly. She already knew how everyone was all offensive these days. As the sun brightened over the heads, calling in the heat for the day, she raised a hand over her eyes, squinting.

"I guess we could do this inside the bus, unless you like, wanted to go somewhere?" She stopped talking then, subconsciously realizing just how much she talked. Giving an apologetic smile, she respectfully let him reply to all of her statements and questions, slowly moving the hand that wasn't shading her eyes to tap something out on her thigh.

outfit; click here
notes; none.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[DANIEL AMADEUS JONES]

ooc: Oh my gosh she is so maddeningly CUTE.

bic:

<sub>Daniel shook his head no to her offer to go elsewhere, slipping into his most genial, laid back discussion mode. "Naw, the bus should be fine. I won't be too long, anyway." He tucked his phone into his pocket, the device trading places with a weathered, gray digital recorder, checking it's batteries with a quick flick of the power-switch. "I've been trying to talk to all of the girl drummers. You ladies have become a pretty hot commodity." The recorder was fine. He switched again, a living tribute to the concept of perpetual motion. "If I could just grab your picture real quick, before we head in. The light's perfect on your face right now."

And it was. She looked radiant. Daniel surprised himself by the thought. Despite her mouth's propensity to shoot off in random bursts, she seemed like a relatively confident person, who didn't need reassurance from the people around her. It was a quality he appreciated in any human being.

Lana Leigh Payne gazes charmingly into my camera-lens, a grin blossoming casually across her lips, he imaged the words on a magazine page, or on his blog. Her finger-tips tap to someone-else's rhythm, her mind fixed elsewhere, on the tom, the bass, the snare and cymbal.

Drummer girls were in, currently, and making a splash in on-line discussions. They were attractive to the masses because of the status of badassary that came without question attached to the position. He took out his digital camera, which had been riding in another pocket -- he really needed to start carrying that damned messenger bag -- and turned the thing on to 'portrait'.</sub>

[LANA LEIGH PAYNE]

Lana thought about that. Girl drummers were in? Well, it was a good thing, she was sure. But what Lana couldn't figure out was why. But what she did figure was this: all this touring and stuff was usually for 'guys.' Guys usually played all the instruments, and got all sweaty, while girls stuck to singing, or whatever. Lana nodded absentmindedly while he fixed up his little gadgets, and looked up just in time to let out a silly grin, eyes lighting up as usual whenever she was faced to take a picture; it was her favorite passtime. Other than drumming. Of course.

Daniel was making her laugh. Here he was pulling out all this stuff, and she couldn't help but let out a small, subtle giggle, pushing a few strands of hair behind an ear. "Jeez, you have all this stuff. I feel like you need a cajillion pockets just to store it all!" She turned and opened up the bus door, swinging it over as she hopped up on the step to the inside of her bus. Instead of waiting for him, she instead expected him to shut the door and she kept moving into the mostly claustrophobic tour bus, sliding easily and casually into the picnic like table that was attached to the wall of the tour bus. Lana's fingers found the table's top, and she started pitter patting away, this time to one of the band's own songs.

"You can sit across from me, if you want! Or on the bench right there," she started, pointing to a cushion-y brown velvet covered seat across from the picnic table, I don't mind either or.She gave him another grin. He was so adorable, and she was glad she caught herself staring before she looked away, resting her face on her free hand, which was poised on the table. "Hey, I really like your glasses! I wish I could pull of that whole facade but everyone says my cheeks are to cheeky for them...but they're so cute and nerdy..." she paused, biting her lip. "Not that you look nerdy or anything!" She shut up, shaking her head. "Want a coke?"

outfit; click here
notes; i loveee him.

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[DANIEL AMADEUS JONES]

<sub>"That'd be nice," he said of the coke-offer. He took a seat across from her. The camera was out, snapping another picture, this time of her perpetually tapping finger-tips, and then her face. She had a childish look about her that was pleasing on the view-finder. Her smile took over her whole face, including her eyes, which were bright and engaging.

The comment on his glasses provoked a genuine smile, which, he hid by again adjusting them, somewhat self-consciously as he realized she had managed to get a response from him so easily.

It was obvious how a girl like her earned a reputation among some of the festival staff as a charmer. She was magazine-gorgeous had wore her bubbly personality as prominently as her accessories. Daniel noted -- with a tremor of surprise -- that he could almost appreciate it. Rather than let such a thought simmer, he flipped his notebook open, setting it on the table. "So... Let's get some questions out there. Are you ready?"





ooc: I realize his love-at-first-site reaction is coming pretty slowly, but I promise, it will develop.</sub>

[DANIEL AMADEUS JONES]

<sub>What ever Dan had been working up to say became a rock on his tongue. He faltered, pen hovering above the notepad as he regathered himself, his smile half amused and half disbelieving. "I..." He gave a small chuckle, tapping the page. "I believe I'm conducting this interview, Miss Payne." He looked down, clearing the laughter out of his throat so that he could return to being the cynical bastard the magazine paid him to be.

And hell if he was going to tell her his middle name.

He leaned back in his seat, attempting to take control of the conversation, though this girl was obviously one who could command the room with her presence. "So talk to me about Can You Find Me. Now are you the original drummer for the band, or did they go through a couple XY chromosomes first?"</sub>

[LANA LEIGH PAYNE]

"But, I mean," Lana started, completely disregarding his first question, "I can't just tell you all this stuff. You won't even tell me your whole name!" A light, playful smile toyed on her lips as she took another sip of her drink, her eyes purposefully watching him, looking at him dead on. Setting the can down, she cleared her throat, sat up in her best posture, and crossed her fingers together, raising an eyebrow at him with the same teasing smile. "Now, Mr. Daniel. We obviously have to be very professional here. I expect you're of the highest breed of reporter, and this really would be a stagger to your reputation to do things so out of order. Really." Now you could really see she was teasing, seeing that she had put on a mock British accent, and was blinking quite rapidly and nodding her head at him, as if she was closing the deal on a real estate sale or something.

Laughing, Lana shook her head and relaxed. "But anyways, I'll answer this one for you, but in turn you have to tell me your name, okay?" She reached over at the corner of the table and grabbed a napkin, then reached behind her and grabbed one of the pens that was sitting in a cup on the shelves behind her. She was going to be all reporter like too, damnit. "Nope, I'm the original drummer. Grant and I went out like...four years ago? Maybe three, I don't remember. I was one of the first people he contacted when he wanted to start up this band."

outfit; click here
notes; nonee.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[DANIEL AMADEUS JONES]

Damn it, her smile was infectious. He jotted down a note, his pen audibly scratching into the paper. "Great. Fair enough." He pulled his glasses off, scrubbing at a smudge on the corner of the lens. "No one calls me this, but my mother, to my dismay, and with no regard for the life of a first-grade in public school, named me 'Daniel Amadeus'." He replaced the glasses.

"Loads of fun, you can imagine. Talking of which, that's an interesting name you have yourself. Ever earn you some sweet nick-names?" He didn't like admitting that her charm slowed him up. He was off his train of thought already.

[LANA LEIGH PAYNE]

Lana grinned happily. One question down. She scribbled furiously as he had, making a big deal of how the pen was held, the noise of it scratching the paper, and placing it back down. "Cute name kiddo." She smirked, running a hand through her hair, her fingers carefully de-tangling any knots that had occurred. Then, she raised an eyebrow and jutted her head towards his can of cola. "You know, I had to go to the ends of the world and back to get you just that one can of soda...bon appetit, Danny! Drink up." She smiled, folding her legs beneath her on the chair. "Well, I never got any interesting nick names. But I mean if you want, Queen Lana of the People is a suitable nickname you can call me." She grinned, winking as she finished off her own soda.

"Next question. Why don't you use a bag to carry all this stuff around? Seems like a pain in the ass. No offense." She nodded, indicating his camera, phone, notepad, pen, and the recorder.

outfit; click here
notes; nonee.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[DANIEL AMADEUS JONES]

Daniel's brow climbed into an impressive arch, his face frozen in a hybrid expression of amusement and irritation. He dropped the pen, settling his long fingers around the coke-can he now called his own. Fixing her with his best 'if you insist' glare, he dug his nail beneath the tab. He cracked the pan open, releasing a spray of carbonated droplets. A small swell of foam flooded across the top of the lid, dissolving quickly into a small pool of the refreshing soft-drink. Danny lifted the can to his lips -- still staring directly into her eyes -- and gave an audible slurp as he sucked the coke out of the lid.

He set it down on the table with and expression that clearly read 'happy?'.

She was trying to sabotage him, obviously. Reclaiming his pen, he scribbled another note down, flipping to a new page. "I keep on meaning to go and pick up a bag, but I've had about ten minutes of down-time between this second and the beginning of the tour. For now, it's pockets. --So who are your influences as a female drummer? Any idols?"

Her ability to disrupt the flow of conversation was unlike anything he'd encountered thus-far on tour. She should have been a lawyer. There was an undeniable attraction there, which went against most of his personal preference. Careful, boy-o.

[LANA LEIGH PAYNE]

Undivided attention on him, Lana just as well met his gaze, her eyes looking deliberately into his. Then, she nodded once he gave her that oh so charming glare, giving him a happy smirk, replying to him facially with a charming eye brow raise and sticking her tongue out at him. "Refreshing, eh?" Lana's fingertips found her empty can and she gripped it lightly, tapping lightly on the can, amused with the acoustic noise it made. "Well, actually. When I was seven I got sent to this music camp, because my mom wanted me to 'expand my singing opportunities.'" She rolled her eyes and laughed. "But instead of playing Barbies with all the other girls, I was playing flag football with the boys. So, anyway. I got into drumming because my best friend at camp, Luke, played them. And he taught me and well, here I am."

It was true, all of it. She'd gone away to the camp to sing, and instead came back with a pair of drumsticks in her bag and money she'd won for a whole new drum set. Then, she widened her eyes. She hadn't even answered his question directly! "I mean, my idol to be honest is my mom. She would have been a huge superstar, if she hadn't gotten pregnant with me. so, she urges me to go on and live this whole music career, and experience everything I can." She nodded, pushing hair out of her face.

"Okay! So how did you get into all this interview stuff?" She hurried and asked him, cocking her head to the side. It was easy to tell that Daniel was entertained by her, and as much as he was trying to remain professional, she was making it hard. Good, that was what she wanted!

outfit; click here
notes; nonee.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[DANIEL AMADEUS JONES]

<sub>"The sorting hat said I should do," Daniel said. "Do you have to deal with a lot of flack among other musicians -- on or off this tour -- for being a girl, or have you mostly encountered pretty progressive people?"

He made some notes about her mother, and also the flag-football at band-camp. He'd have to decide whether he'd be selling the more emotional side of her story, or the quirky, edgier view, which promoted her as a bad-ass and a tomboy. Tomboys were in, lately. Men liked girls who could beat them up and women felt empowered by center-folds who were still fully-clothed.

Her aggressive pursuit of this conversation and her command of the energy was impressive. She would have been a good front man to a band. "And do you sing still, or is it all drums? I haven't been able to sit down and really listen to any of the band's music yet."</sub>

[LANA LEIGH PAYNE]

Nov 27, 2010 12:26:13 GMT -5 LANA LEIGH PAYNE said:

"Dude, so you're a wizard?" Lana played along, shaking her head as if she were in actual disbelief. "You know, when I was eleven I got a little white envelope from a gray owl, and it was all, "You're a witch. Accept it and come join us." And they offered me full tuition and everything. You think I should've gone?" She eagerly anticipated his question, unfolding her legs and leaning forward on the table. The space between herself and Daniel grew smaller, but she didn't mind. Lana read over his page purposefully, even though she knew all he was writing about was what she had just said. Looking up slowly, she offered a smile and sat back down.

"Why don't you come up with me to the concession stands so I can get something to eat?" Was she asking him out? That was up to him to decide. But she sat back, satisfied, with a smirk. She wasn't going to answer anymore questions unless he answered hers. She shrugged her shoulders as if to say, "So are you coming?" before standing up, stretching.

outfit; click here
notes; nonee.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/quote]

[DANIEL AMADEUS JONES]

<sub>Daniel gave her an appraising look over the top of his glasses, his brow remaining glued to his hairline. The flirtation was obvious, but he couldn't decide what to do with it. There was no doubt in his mind that she was fucking desirable, but he'd fallen off enough horses to know better than to let himself be carried away by a pretty face.

There was a personal code that had served him well in the last several months; women were bad news, girlfriends in particular. Sand-paper and salt on old wounds. This girl looked harmless, but they often did.

"Am I going to be able to finish this interview with you if I comply with your list of demands?" He asked.</sub>