10167/Looking At Instruments

Looking At Instruments
Date of Scene:	23 November 2019
Location:	Music Center - Salem Center
Synopsis:	Kitty, Ellie, Sam Bean and Negasonic run into each other at the Music Center.
Cast of Characters:	Shadowcat, Samuel Morgan, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Nightingale

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Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty was wandering around downtown Salem Center. One place that a lot of people like to stop in is the Music Center. Even if just buying music, there are plenty of interesting instruments to look at, and many of the area musicians who stop in will try them out, playing. Jam sessions are likely to start up, and you never really know what you might hear on any given day.

Kitty stops in, though she actually has a bit of an interest in an instrument. "I just don't know which one," she comments to herself as she looks around the shop. She starts walking around the outside, looking at the bass guitars, classical guitars, electric guitars, saxophones, cellos, and a few other things.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Aside from the trip to New York a few days ago, Bean had been cloistered in the school for weeks. Despite mingling with the students, he hadn't been out in public on his own in quite some time, and decided it was time to do something about it. Walking around Salem with Bear on a lead, most people seeing the Shepherd assume he has trouble seeing and move out of the way, giving the teenager ample space to get around with a relatively large bubble of space to himself. But it's the open street, there are hundreds upon hundreds of strangers, and it's not too far from the spot where just over a month ago HYDRA had tried to get him by running him over with a car. As time passes, he's checking angles more and more, falling back onto the training rammed into him, and the trip outside to clear his head starts to turn into a slide towards hypervigilance.

    Not having any of this nonsense, Bear comes to a sudden stop and refuses to let Bean pass. He really wants to go inside, away from the people, away from the wide open street.

    And, as it would turn out, towards a familiar figure. And so Bean enters the music center, guided there in the most literal sense by his trusty canine companion, only realising where he is after stepping inside. Oh... hmm... "Didn't Shannon say something about a new flute?"

Negasonic Teenage Warhead has posed:
Ellie is in a small section dedicated to old vinyls. This place is all things music after all not just instruments.

Also sure it is 2027 and Vinyl is so retro it may actually be a fossil of some sort especially compared to the sound quality you can get off the newer devices but Ellie isn't really one to walk to anyone elses beat.

The turns over in her hands an actual vinyl of The Clash: London Calling and studies the back thoughtfully.

Hearing Kitty talking to herself has her look over then step to look around a shelf. "Hey Kitkat... you thinking of learning the guitar?" pause "... little kumbaya fireside shit?" okay she just can't seem to help herself.

She gives an upnod to Samuel then blinks "Ok.. not even touching that one..."

Shadowcat has posed:
It's quite possible that Bear smelled a couple of familiar scents leading to the doorway. Not just Kitty and Negasonic, but Rogue has been here on enough occasions that Bear might even note something of her, possibly, even if she isn't here just now.

But the former two are. Kitty flashes Negasonic a smile as the other girl says something and draws her attention. She lets out a laugh and says, "You know, the last time I was in here, it was to catch up with Rogue and show her the hippy Halloween costume I was wearing. So that's kind of fitting."

Kitty grins and says, "Oh, was thinking maybe of an instrument to putter around with. If I had spare time, you know." She gives a little laugh at that ever happening too.

Kitty looks over to Samuel and waves hello. "Hey Sam. Good to see you. And Bear," she says. Kitty doesn't greet the dog, seeing the vest on him. "What was that about-" she says, before hearing Negasonic's comic. Kitty covers her mouth to cover her grin.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Walked right into that one." Bean admits, giving Negasonic a nod in return. At least his sense of comedy seems to be improving. This means he also sees where Ellie is standing, spotting the vinyl section. "Ah, awesome. Records that are compatible with my player..." Which seems to imply that Samuel Morgan, technopath and all-round technology geek, who even yesterday was asking pertinent tech questions of Tony Stark, has an old style record player somewhere. Miracles, they just don't cease.

    "Good afternoon Miss Pryde. Bear absolutely wanted to come inside." Which is code for 'I'm going to chill here a bit until the first signs of a panic attack go away', but he gives the instruments his due attention. Enough, even, that he surreptitiously starts to look up features of all the different brands on display. "Everyone seems to play an instrument, maybe I should start too."

Negasonic Teenage Warhead has posed:
Ellie walks fully into view with her vinyl and shakes her head. "Right... we should totally start a band with our abundant freetime.. Logan can be our roadie with his free time..."

Honestly Ellie looks a bit tired, she has been burning the candle at both ends with school, danger room and other extracurriculars, and all of the training with the titans, and a girlfriend.

She can sleep when she is dead or something.

"You like Vinyl?" okay yeah miracles, Ellie seems both surprised and skeptical about Sam there having a record player. "Cool." it is faint praise, but from her it is a ton of praise.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty looks at a bass guitar in a considering way, though looks over to Samuel to say, "It's nice in here. Sometimes I'll just grab something to eat and come sit and listen. Long as I don't take the food around the instruments," she says.

She takes the bass off the wall and puts the strap over her shoulder as she gives it a try. "What are you getting?" Kitty asks Ellie, glancing towards the records she has in hand. Kitty fingers a couple of deep notes from the instrument. "I like the base but you kind of need to be in a band. Not really something you just sit around home playing by yourself. Unless it's playing along with some other music," she comments, putting the instrument back.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Andrea got me an old player for my birthday. And a signed Creedence album, which was pretty awesome to be honest. Sounds a bit more... authentic than the digital copies." Either Bean is messing around, or he's a vinyl convert. "And there's the joy of the mechanics of it."

    Plonk and plonk, the deep sounds of the bass, and the odd lure of the amplifier. Up until now, Bean has looked at music as something that exists, created by specialists. But here is his first real introduction to the component parts of the entire musical experience. "You do? Seems like a very solid sound even by itself."

Negasonic Teenage Warhead has posed:
"A real classic ... I think some old dude probably died and his family sold his records here or something..." she holds it up "The Clash.. I mean London Calling was like their big punk album" and of course it is punk. "Too bad old dead dude.. lucky me."

"Yeah if you want friendship fireside circles you probably need an acoustic Kitkat."

"Shit did I miss your birthday... my bad..." she .. doesn't seem sarcastic about that for once, damn she has been so busy and distracted. "Glad Andrea hooked you up."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde waggles a finger towards Negasonic, "You were the one mention the fireside circles. I just want something to play while lounging on the couch with the TV on," she says. Kitty keeps moving down the instruments.

She tells Samuel, "Well, it sounds good for a little bit. And don't get me wrong, a bass is a huge part of music. But it's the kind of thing that gets old, I think, if that's the only instrument going. Especially when it's someone learning and making a lot of mistakes too." She glances back at the walls full of instruments. "Not sure if I want to do a guitar or not. That's the easy answer of course," she says, pausing in front of a classical one.

Nightingale has posed:
     It's quiet, there's no injuries to be tended to in the wellness office, and there's little to no homework that can't wait till a bit later in the evening. The weather is clear for flying, so a quick flight to Salem Center is in order. And the best place to find Shannon? Why, the music center, of course! However, she is coming in with her flute case in hand, and is not looking any too pleased at the moment. However, even in her annoyance, it's hard not to smile as she sees Kitty, Negasonic, and Bean, stopping to wave briefly at all three.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    It's a gap in Bean's upbringing that he doesn't know The Clash. Rather than admit that, his search queries quickly change to cover the band, the album, and ... ooh, now that is worth knowing. "Hey, does that album have 'Train in vain' listed on the track list? If it doesn't, that's an early original."

    Bass guitars. They looked solid. Solid, unassuming, with a deep sound that seems to be the foundation of modern music. It's strangely appealing, and they have at least one less string to fiddle with than regular guitars. On the other hand, those would be more versatile. Hmmm. Bear turns and perks his ears up at seeing Shannon, which alerts Bean that someone has entered. The reflection he catches off the gloss of one of the six-strings identifies Shannon, and he turns to return the wave. Utterly straight faced at seeing her with the flute.

Negasonic Teenage Warhead has posed:
"Well it does fit the guidance counselor trope..."

When she notes Shannon coming in she grins "Oh look.. with her flute no less." that aside is shot right to Bean there with a bit of teasing tone.

Then she looks back to Kitty "Well .. I mean it is the sit on the couch and play instrument unless you want classical crap... I suppose you could do a fiddle.. I bet Kentucky would like that?"

Maybe she never stops.. well when sleeping or see previous bit about dead.
She pauses though and looks at the back again. "Ah.. no it has Train in Vain... man I didn't even know they had a version without it... "

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty laughs and sticks her tongue out towards Ellie. "I'm only a part-time guidance counselor. So maybe I should get a tiny one, a ukulele?" she suggests. She seems to have zeroed in on the guitar, though also still has a bit of a pensive look.

"Would help if I had longer fingers," she says, glancing down at her hand. She moves on to look at more instruments. Shannon is given a wave of greeting when she arrives. Kitty tells Samuel, "If you want to give one a try, being at the school there's plenty of people to jam with on a bass. And maybe you'd enjoy playing in a band sometime? Really, whatever sounds good to you, if you want to give it a try, you should," she suggests.

Kitty pauses by the violins and fiddles and gives a chuckle, remembering Ellie's comment, but moves on.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Whoah, Bean... taking up the bass? Nice!" This does bring a little bit of a smile to Shannon's face, though a hint of irritation lingers in her furrowed brows. Brows which are quickly raised at Ellie, and answered with the ruffling of wings and hands placed firmly on her hips. "Okay. Spill it. I get the feeling that I just missed half a conversation, and my ears were burning. So.... dish." Kitty gets an up-nod and a bit of a smile, but her attention is turned right back to Ellie, with a very intent 'look'.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "They didn't. Just forgot to list it on the original sleeve, printing error." Bean, font of knowledge, some of it useful... well, font of trivia anyway.

    "I don't know about the bass. Feels like I should be a bit taller or wider for it. It's like playing the drums, I guess, you either like it or you don't." And, well, quite possibly, he's spent enough time being at the back, being the supporting one. Those guitars are starting to call out. But there's so many!

    Is that fretboard inlaid with a skull and crossbones motif? Why yes it is...

    "Hmm? Oh. ehm..." On the one hand, Bean wants to stay schtumm. On the other hand, can he really risk Ellie with this much of an open target? "I mentioned remembering something about you looking for a new flute." Obviously, hilarity ensued.

Negasonic Teenage Warhead has posed:
Ellie remarks dryly "And I said that I would say absolutely nothing about his commentary." to Shannon. Deadpan nuetral expression at the very intent look.

She heads towards the cash register with a smile now though, it is a bit of a crooked one. "Guitar or Fiddle or GTFO Kitkat... or you could learn to beatbox.. I'd pay money to see you beatboxing for the kids at school... or at your other job..."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde gives a laughing snort about the beatboxing. "Sam, you'll probably grow taller. Really, go with whatever interest you," she tells him. She is still moving along checking out different instruments. She picks up a ukulele, but it's just to let the others see it before she puts it back on its rack and moves on.

Kitty picks up some symbols and gives a soft laugh. "It would be worth it for Pete, but Lockheed would probably fry me before the week was out," she says, setting them back down again.

She comes to a section with banjos. "Hrmmm..." she says, a hand going to her chin to rub it as she considers the instruments. "How difficult is the banjo to play?" she asks one of the store's staff who is nearby. "Oh, maybe a little worse than a guitar, but not much," he says. Kitty looks back at one in contemplation and picks it up, giving it a few plucks.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon raises her eyebrows at Bean. "I mentioned to Andrea that if she got a new flute, I'd be happy to teach her to play the instrument. But no, the only flute I have is the one that was passed down to me by my mother." The implication sinks in, as she looks between Bean and Ellie, and she... facepalms. The very tips of her ears go bright, bright red. "No. Just... NO." Shaking her head, she mutters something about brains and bleach, and heads over to the main counter with her flute case. By the general gist of the murmured conversation between her and the store rep, her flute is in need of some minor maintenance.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Some things cannot be avoided. Flute jokes are among those, it seems. There's an actual smile on his face as Bean continues to look around. He's getting more drawn to the guitars, but also glimpsed at the prices for a moment and decided that it wasn't going to happen soon. Try in the music room first, most likely, and then work out a way to earn some money. Especially now that he left the remaining 180 dollars from his trial run in New York in the collection box of the salvation army.

    "Bold choice, Miss Pryde."

Negasonic Teenage Warhead has posed:
"I said I wouldn't say anything Shannon."

Yes her tone says everything.

She pays for her record and turns with the package. "Banjo... god.. hills have eyes or deliverance or something... just be a rock god with a guitar Kitty..." she heads towards the door now with a mock shudder. "Bold or painful.. ... I'll see you all at the school I need to run drop this off and then catch a lift to Long Island."

By catch a lift she means a magical teleport from one of her other teammates, which is .. yeah she hasn't been hiding that.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty knows nothing about playing the banjo so just plucks some strings and press on different frets, hearing the different notes. "Hrm," she comments to herself. Just like the flute jokes are inevitable, a certain set of jokes become inevitable around a banjo.

The thought isn't enough for Kitty to put the instrument away. She plunks around on it a bit more, before putting it back and trying a second one. She toys around with that one more and then sets it back and continues on through the store. "Thanks Sam, though still haven't made up mind," she tells him with a grin. "Of course if I get something, Peter's going to want drums," she muses.

She doesn't weigh in on the joke, or more like avoided joke, about the other instruments. Students will be students and they are away from the school. Best to let them work it out themselves.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon waves a bit to Ellie, but has an evil little smirk on her face. "Take care. See you back home." Oh yes. She would not forget this easily. For the moment, she leaves her flute case at the main desk, and it's taken by the store employee, apparently for the instrument to be repaired. "Hate doing that... feels like losing an arm or a leg to me."

She smiles at Kitty, and tilts her head a little bit, crossing her arms. "You're doing way better at that than I would. Maybe you've found your instrument?" Who knows? "I never knew you played anything.'

She also gives Bean a rather pointed look, the one that says 'I will not be moved'. Yeah. No, he's not getting out of whatever it is.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Take care." Bean mentions to Ellie on the way out. He looks like he's about to say more, but decides against it. Asking about something like that in public would be bad form.

    He does, however, know when he's been out-maneuvered and bows to the inevitable with a stoic nod to Shannon. Alea Iacta Est. One way or another, it should be interesting.

    Does he know about banjo jokes? If he didn't before, he probably does now, given Negasonic's reaction to the instrument. Before long, there's a soft 'whurf' from Bear as the Shepherd feels that his human has sufficiently relaxed to brave the outside again. "Well, looks like Bear wants to go outside again. See you at the school."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty tells Shannon, "Well, I don't. Why I'm thinking about picking something up. Always focused on dance classes. Or playing around on the computer." It was more than just playing, but those are stories left for the hacktivist communities to tell.

Kitty pauses by some keyboards to check them out. She plays three or four before one of the store clerks comes over to check on her. "I think I'm going to give it a bit more thought. Do you guys have any Black Friday sales coming up?" she asks. Hearing they do she nods. "I guess I should make up my mind by then," she says.

She smiles to them and then turns back to Shannon and Samuel. "Yeah, think I'll head back. If either of you need a ride, you're welcome to come along," she offers.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon shrugs and smiles a little bit. "Sure, beats flying back in the cold. Thanks for the offer." She falls in step next to Kitty, and looks over at Bean, smiling. "Merry Christmas. Just a little early, that's all. And Kitty... you know if you want to drop by and play my keyboard for a little practice, you're more than welcome. Just bring the cocoa." Yeah, she remembered how that had seemed to make her smile. It'd be worth it.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Thank you for the offer, but I'll walk. Could use the exercise." Rain, sleet, snow... doesn't seem to matter to Bean as he holds the door open for Kitty and Shannon. A gentleman when he wants to be. But, as a certain winged someone has remarked on before, an absolutely stubborn mule at any other time. "Have a safe journey back."