If Light Escapes

Calliope, 29, Food Lady, mother of Little Bear, Little Bun, and Little Bird, roti addict.

[calliope-mccleary]

ofkolby​:

“sounds like you have your hands full. have you gotten yourself a pair of noise cancelling-headphones yet? because you totally should, they work wonders. i had a neighbour once who decided he wanted to learn how to play the electric guitar and insisted he use an amp.” kolby rolled her eyes, swearing she could still hear the sound. “the diaper thing, however, could be extremely beneficial in the long run.” she took a breath and a sip of her coffee before continuing. “i’m good. really good. i’ve just been spending most of my time at work, nothing too exciting. ⁠— i’d be more than happy to take the kiddos off your hands for a night if you ever needed some peace and quiet.” 

“Three kids, no help? Nah, it’s a breeze.” She shook her head, snorting quietly. “No, it’s alright. She wants me to teach her, at least, so I told her he’d take her with me to our practice space next time I meet with my band.” That space being the basement of her friends’ gallery/workshop, Moonhaus. “It’s definitely beneficial. If I can teach him how to put them on frontways, we’re set.” Calliope grinned. Milo was her little grump, taking the most after Ransom between their two kids, but he doted on Sabine like she was the most important person in the world. “You don’t have to do that, Kolby. They can be a handful. Three handfuls. You should go out and climb a tree or something.”

[calliope-mccleary]

zachmcntgcmery​:

“Can’t blame her, everyone wants to play ‘em. They’re just real cool.” Maybe he should take up the drums, was it too late? Maybe Diona wanted to teach him. Once she learned. “None of that sounds as sad as the tone in your voice, Call” he shrugged. “What’s really up, or do you just need a break from the kiddo’s?” He asked, leaning his arm on the table between them. “I’m

“Yeah, but I feel betrayed. I’m supposed to be her favorite drummer. I cut the crusts off her sandwiches,” Cal whined. She sighed, rubbing her hand over her face and through her hair. “No, I’m fine just... having a bad day, I guess. Missing Ransom,” she admitted. She did need a break though, even if she’d never admit it. There wasn’t a babysitter in the world she’d trust with their kids. Anyway, she assumed it would be hard to find one who’d want to care for three young children. “Please, I don’t want to talk about it, though. Just... talk to me about something fun.”

[calliope-mccleary]

judenolans​:

“Here— listen,” Jude said, and scrolled back to the venue’s instagram where his band and Matt’s band had played two weeks ago. He read off the comment: “This dude is a sleazebag piece of shit. He invited me up on his tour bus, did coke with me and the other guys in his band…and it goes on like that for some time, getting into a rather unpleasant thing I may or may not have done. But in like, 2013. This is ancient history.” He shook his head, hoping she wouldn’t press him to read the rest of the comment. It already had 22 likes and with any hope, would not garner more.

“I definitely don’t encourage your kid to be anything like me, unless skate tricks or shredding guitar are involved. Then encourage away. You don’t sound morose, you just sound like you need a little break. Are your kids on fire? Are any of them one day away from starving to death? No, so you’re doing just fine.” 

Calliope’s brows furrowed as she listened to him, a wry smile on her lips. “You know there’s no such thing as ancient history in the internet age.” Cal prayed he wasn’t getting MeToo’d. She didn’t want to think about what that would do to their friendship. “I would suggest apologizing for whatever it is you did, but I have no idea how PR works, so.”

Cal shook her head, saying, “I’m fine. I don’t need a break.” Huge lie. “And even if I did, I can’t. Maybe if it was just me and Little Bear but.... I’m alright.”

[kravitzicons]

don’t forget to like the post if you save/use, DON’T claim it as your own, be honest! i hope you like it. ☆

[calliope-mccleary]

eddiemcmvhon​:

Eddie listened to the rant with his eyebrows raised and a small smile quirking his lips, only letting out a low whistle once she’d finished. “I’ve got nothing on you, that’s for sure,” he answered with a laugh. “Meg White’s a fantastic drummer but I guess if I had a kid trying to be a bassist because of Flea instead of me I’d be a little disappointed too. I mean, I’d be proud he had taste but still. You tried talking to her about it?”

“She is a fantastic drummer, so, like, I’m offended, but also really proud? I guess this is what having children with strong opinions is like.” Calliope giggled. It was a dream come true for Diona to take an interest in an instrument in the first place. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, right? “I did. She said she wanted to be loud like her, but that I have to teach her, so I guess I haven’t completely lost to Meg.”

[calliope-mccleary]

judenolans​:

“It does! I swear, I was listening. I just saw a comment on someone’s instagram and think I might be getting cancelled…but your thing’s more important,” he added, eyes earnest. “Well then you’ve gotta bust out the drum kit and show her a sick solo. Assert dominance, you can’t let Meg win. Or, you could bring her down to Fuse for a day and I’ll teach her a few tricks.” They often got kids in at the Fuse studios, and Jude and Leighton had a fun time showing them around, showing them how to pick tunes on different instruments. “I honestly don’t know how you do it, so props. I’ve got a seven month old but she doesn’t even live with me, she’s all the way over on the east coast. If I actually had an active hand in raising her I think I’d be so fuckin’ lost.” 

Cal sighed. “It’s not that important, just babies being babies. Why do you think you’re getting cancelled?” Calliope was grateful that her band was still small, barely beyond the level of hobby. As much as she loved music, she didn’t love the idea of public scrutiny. Jude brightened her mood a little, making her laugh. “I can’t let you teach her anything or else she’ll want to be like you. No, it’s alright. She wants me to teach her at least, so there’s that.” In fact, when Little Bear declared that she didn’t want anyone other than Cal to teach her, she started crying. Calliope shrugged and shook her head, telling him, “You’d figure it out. Everyone does. I wish I could hurry up and figure it out again. I forgot what doing all this stuff alone was like. ...Sorry. Maybe we should talk about something else. Talking about my family... it always makes me sound morose.”

[calliope-mccleary]

temp-orary-reyes​:

Temple laughs, “There is a million female drummers and Meg White was the choice? You gotta introduce Diona to Cindy Blackman,  Karen Carpenter, Torry Costellanno, the list goes on,” they prattle on. “I can’t imagine changing a diaper now let about when I was 3,” they muse in soft wonder. “I’m okay. Living the dream, y’know.”

“Don’t shit on Meg White. The White Stripes would be way less memorable without her,” Cal stated. She didn’t question her daughter’s taste over her choice of role model, just her loyalty. She chuckled. “Milo’s very into being a big brother. If he could do it, he’d take care of Little Bird all by himself. Diona’s the same way but... less cute about it.” They’d had many talks in the last year about how important it was for Di to be a kid. She was so focused on helping Cal all the time. Honestly, it was terrifying. “‘Living the dream’? Any examples, or?”

[calliope-mccleary]

judenolans​:

Jude, granted was not the best listener sometimes. As was the case right now, as he was caught between wanting to listen, but also being distracted by something on his phone. “Sorry, Milo did what?” he said, looking up from his phone. “Hey, as far as music role models go, you can’t go wrong with Meg White. Their song progressions are easy to follow for beginners too, Seven Nation Army for example. You can get the drum and bass parts down easy and bam, you got people performing a song that have never played a song in their life.” 

Calliope gave Jude a look before shaking her head and saying, “Never mind, Jude. It doesn’t matter.” Unconsciously, she began to fiddle with her wedding ring. “She can go a little wrong with Meg White when her mom is also a drummer. I guess we’ve reached the stage where I’m not the coolest person in the world anymore. But Sabine and Milo still think I’m pretty cool, so I guess that’s an upside of of having two little-little kids.”

[calliope-mccleary]

george-emmanuel​:

@slchat​

“I know, I know, I know what you’re going to say. Improv, really?” George said, scrunching up on her whole face as she put on an overly emphasized disgusted voice. “But trust me. If you haven’t watched the Middleditch and Schwartz specials yet, you are missing out. Plus, improv just has a bad rap because it’s usually comedians who are just starting out who do improv. Watching good comedians do improv is still watching good fucking comedians.” 

Calliope chuckled and said, “I like how you said the thing about the specials as if I was ever planning to watch them. You really are a comedian, George.” She didn’t even know who those people were. Other than the big, famous ones, George was the only comedian Cal knew. “You know I’m not a big standup person. I go to your thingies because you’re funny and my friend and that’s it.”

[calliope-mccleary]

“What’s new...? Well, Diona wants to be a drummer now. Not because of me but because of Meg White. Milo took it upon himself to change Sabine’s diaper the other day and he did pretty well for a three-year-old, and I’m addicted to cookies and cream ice cream now.” Calliope inhaled deeply, aware of how depressing she sounded. “Anyway, how are you?”