10203/Baby steps to new beginnings

Baby steps to new beginnings
Date of Scene:	26 November 2019
Location:	Andrea's Room (East Halls), Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Jay comes to Andrea to talk about his trip home.
Cast of Characters:	Rage, Icarus

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Rage has posed:
It's late at night and Andrea is quietly strumming away on her guitar. She's in her pajama bottoms and a thin nightshirt. She has a few candles on in the room and the window cracked to let some crisp, cool air in so that the room won't be too stuffy. She is settled on the edge of her bed with a notebook next to her, as well as a canteen of water. She has been watching her phone at times, waiting for a text or a call. She almost starts to wonder if maybe he won't come home after all. That once he gets a taste of his old life, he will decided to give up the city life. She can't blame him if he did. Home is where the heart is.

Icarus has posed:
Her phone signals a text incoming.

<Saying bye to Ma and Littles. Teleporting in 5. Seeya soon>

Rage has posed:
Glancing down at her phone, Andrea puts her guitar to the side and smiles, texting him back.

<< In my room. See you soon. Tell Paige I said Hi. >>

Icarus has posed:
Five minutes later, there is a knock on her bedroom door. It is immediately opened by Jay, sticking his head in before opening it more fully. "Brought you something from Ma."

He steps in, holding a fresh Apple Brown Betty. With vanilla ice cream which is starting to melt. "It's still hot. Got to love teleportation." He steps in. "Ma made it for us for dessert so thought I'd bring you some."

Rage has posed:
Perking upwards at the sight of him, Andrea puts her phone to the side and smiles. "Yeah? That smells good. Come on over." She says as she makes room for him on the bed. "I haven't had your mom's food yet. I think Shannon has and she raves about it."

"How was your trip? Did you get to see everyone and some of your friends?"

Icarus has posed:
"Then you are in for a treat." Jay moves to the bed, sitting on the side and giving her the bowl. There is a spoon poked into the ice cream, ready for munching. "No one has yet matched Ma's."

He waits for her to take a bite anxiously even as he answers her question. "Ma and the Littles. Was too short of a trip really to go see my friends. Have to do that when I'm down for Christmas."

Rage has posed:
Taking the spoon, Andrea pops a bite into her mouth, then sighs out happily as she leans in against his shoulder. "This is /really/ good." She sighs out happily. "Next time you teleport over, I'm coming with and not leaving the kitchen. I never get a chance to have real old school homemade food."

"You gonna call your friends ahead of time and make plans? Go to your old stomping grounds? They know about your wings?"

Icarus has posed:
"Yeah, Ma really is the best. Despite the short notice, she had all our favorites made for us. It was good seeing her," Jay admits with a happy smile. One of the happier moments for him, though Andrea has seen it before.

"Some of my friends do. Not all. Hopefully can get with the band next time I'm there. Maybe even go play a gig together for old time's sake. I used to show my wings on stage. They were a gimmick. People thought they were a prop," he admits with a chuckle.

Rage has posed:
Grinning, Andrea asks, "Do you have any videos of your old shows? I'd love to see them and watch you play." She continues to eat hungrily until she is finishsed, even going so far as to pop a few bites into his mouth cutely as she feeds him.

Once the bowl is put to the side, she slides her arms around his, resting her cheek into his shoulder. She takes in a deep breath, then lets it out. "I was almost afraid you wouldn't come back, that you'd trade all of this away for your Kentucky life. I was already working on my speech to tear you a new one." She teases lightly.

Icarus has posed:
That gets a snort from Jay. "Well, it might surprise you but I did think about it. Then realized I like it here. I have made some friends. And met you." He gives her a quick hug then wraps his wings around her before shifting them back a second to dig his phone out of his pocket. Then the wings return to surround them like a feathery blanket.

"I probably should tell you my secret though before I show you the video."

Rage has posed:
Once his wings come back around her, Andrea scoots in as close as she can get to him as her arms wrap about his waist. She has the happiest look upon her face as she is cocooned by him. "Got a secret, huh? I like secrets." She says as she peeks up at him with her dark brown eyes.

Icarus has posed:
He puts his thumb on the button and unlocks his phone. There he quickly flicks over to his playlist, bringing up Journey. He knows they are one of her favorite groups. "Alright. Close your eyes. And don't open them until I squeeze your hand, okay?" He takes one of her hands in his and then waits for her to close her eyes.

Rage has posed:
Giving him a raise of the brows, Andrea is all types of curious now. She closes her eyes and takes his hand, curling her fingers over his. "Okay." She says with a bit of an excited voice.

Icarus has posed:
As she closes her eyes, Jay quickly slides his hand over the screen. It is still the same song, but only the instrumental version. Then he pushes play.

She will hear the piano introduction and that likely will let her know what song he chose.

Then she will hear the lyrics she knows so well, Steve Perry's voice. There is no mistaking his voice. It is very distinctive.

After the first chorus, he squeezes her hand. And when she opens her eyes, she will find it is Jay singing--but with the voice of Steve Perry.

Rage has posed:
As she opens her eyes, Andrea looks up at him and blinks a few times. She holds in her breath as she listens to him sing to her. It's also one of her favorite songs! Open Arms. She doesn't interrupt her serenade as she drinks in this incredible moment, squeezing his hand back excitedly.

Icarus has posed:
He continues to sing but suddenly the voice changes. One moment, it is the artist who should be singing it. The next? Andrea's voice picks up the chorus. But it is still Jay singing the song.

"So now I come to you
With open arms
Nothing to hide believe what I say
So here I am
With open arms
Hoping you'll see
What your love means to me
Open arms...

Rage has posed:
Holding her breath at times, Andrea is just watching him, enthralled by his use of powers. She is also finding herself ten shades of giddy as her cheeks burn with a hot blush. She plays with his fingers, brushing her thumb over his knuckles, giving light tugs on it at times. She doesn't interrupt him as he sings, just content to be sung to in a private concert for one.

Icarus has posed:
As the note fades, he flicks his thumb and then next song starts. It isn't a romantic song but it is meant to show what his voice can do.

"Hey brother
There's and endless road to rediscover"

Then next lines, a second voice should come in on the original track. And just like that track, a second voice is heard. Jay is singing all the parts. At once.

"Hey sister
Know the water's sweet but blood is thicker

Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

Rage has posed:
Grinning at the next song, Andrea knows this one as well. She grins the entire time, looking a bit goofy in her face as she stares at him in a longing manner. She is enthralled by his powers, finding him brilliant and fascinating. "Wow, Jay. That is /amazing/." She breathes out. "You are a walking jukebox."

Icarus has posed:
That causes him to laugh. "Pretty much, yeah. I can sound like anyone, or thing, I want to. So I can sing like the greatest of them. Unless I concentrate, my voice actually sounds like a chorus singing. It's impressive but I have to focus on using my own power to sound like me, if that makes sense? But you can see why I can never go professional." He shrugs a bit. "I mean little gigs sure but once word got out what my powers are, the whole autotune thing from back in the day will seem like a cakewalk. People would be up in arms."

Rage has posed:
"So don't let anyone know about your powers then. Go out and make your mark. Art is art. No one even cared about autotune. Artists got incredibly famous from it because it was so new and out there." Andrea says as she shrugs her shoulders upwards. "If Dazzler and I can make it, then you can also if you really wanted to. You don't need to be the next John Lennon, but you can be the first Jay Guthrie."

Icarus has posed:
"I just figure people would say it wasn't my voice so y'know, blah blah," Jay shrugs again. He fiddles with his phone, pulling up the video she had asked about originally. It was him on the stage, guitar in his lap, band gathered around. His wings were spread out behind him as he sang "Sound of Silence". It was his voice but more gravelly, a bit of an homage to Disturbed when they covered the song.

Rage has posed:
As she listens, Andrea is all smiles once more. She giggles at the sight of his wings, and even more so when the girls in the crowd go crazy over it all. "Look at you. Hunky front man for your band. Did that girl just throw a bra at you?" She says as her brows lift upwards. "I bet half of those girls wouldn't even care if they knew the wings were real. They'd kill each other to make out with a hunky angel."

Icarus has posed:
Jay glances at the screen. "Yeah, it was. Happened sometimes. I just used the wings as a gimmick. It was impressive to people. But no one believed they were real. If they knew they were, it wouldn't have been so welcoming. Not back home. Our family was already not trusted by a lot of folks cause we had so many mutants."

Rage has posed:
"Then how is it that these guys didn't put two and two together? You're a Guthrie on stage with wings on your back. You'd think it was plainly obvious." Andrea says with a smirk at him. "Did you put ducttape on your back or something to try and throw them off?" She puts the phone down, then reaches out to slide her hands into his, squeezing them, tilting her chin up to look into his eyes. "You okay though?"

Icarus has posed:
"I can hide them under clothes. Took a bit to teach myself but just tighten them up against me and put on a baggy shirt and pants, no mutant." Jay knows it seems strange they didn't put two and two together. "I figure they preferred to think I wasn't one but was using the fact there were mutants in the family for a gimmick. Doesn't matter now."

At her question, he considers a moment then shrugs. "I think so. Had my visit, talked a while. Not sure that I got answers but I'm feeling a little better. Maybe that's just cause I got to see the family."

Rage has posed:
Nodding her head, Andrea looks thoughtful for a few moments. "I'm glad you came back feeling okay, and not worse. That was my big worry. I was scared that .. maybe you'd come back and I'd be pushed farther back." She plays with his fingers in hers, tracing them along his palms gently.

"I know this is hard for you, and for me. I just wish I could help in some way, help give you some assurances that everything will be okay. That you could trust yourself with me."

Icarus has posed:
"There's no assurances, no way to help. It's just a matter of me getting to a point I can take those steps." Jay allows her to play with his palms, turning over his hands for her.

"For now, we continue as we've been. You and Brad are my best friends here. And you have a special place since obviously, I'd be wanting us to be more than friends if I were over my hangups. Just let me think on the trip a bit. We'll see."

Rage has posed:
"Hopefully you don't pick Brad over me." Andrea says as she traces their names over his palms with her fingers, giving him a small smile upwards. She shifts some on her knees, then leans forward to brush her lips against his cheek, followed by a nuzzle of her nose against his jawline.

"How about we just take some small steps. Get dinner with me tomorrow night? Let's go somewhere, even if it's just a pizza and some sodas. Go on a date with me? No other expectations but to just go out and spend time together. Tip toes in the water."

Icarus has posed:
"Well when it comes to a bro, I'm afraid Brad does have you beat," Jay says with a laugh. "But as for other things, you're safe there. I'm straight, though Brad is pretty cute..." Yes, he's teasing.

At the request, and kiss, that light stain is in his cheeks but he gives a nod. "Alright. Dinner. Casual, nothing super crazy fancy that you have to pay for everything." He might know her a bit.

Rage has posed:
"If it makes you feel better, do you want to pay?" Andrea asks with a soft laugh as she tucks her head beneath his chin, resting her cheek over his chest. "We can just get pizza and soda. Nothing exciting. I'll dress super casual. Jeans and a hoodie. You can at least open the door for me."

Icarus has posed:
"Well, that is what a gentleman is supposed to do. Open doors and pay for the meal. I know that it's considered old fashioned now, but that's how Ma taught us and I'm not going to break traditions now," Jay says as he wraps his arms around her.

Rage has posed:
"I know, but having a really rich girlfriend has benefits. It means you don't have to stress out about any of that. It's not about ego." Andrea says as she curls her arms about him in return, followed by another nuzzle into his chest, breathing in his scent happily. "I'd rather us have a good time and enjoy stuff you may not have been able to because of my wealth. I'd rather you be happy and have cool experiences. But, I think that I'd be happy no matter what, as long as we were hanging out together. Even if it cost nothing to do so." She tilts her chin upwards, brushing her cheek to his jaw.

Icarus has posed:
"Be careful what you say. I'll have you off camping in the woods on a hunting trip. See if you agree about that whole no cost thing again after that," Jay teases.

Rage has posed:
"I've gone camping before." Andrea says with a laugh as she rises up to loop her arms about his neck, brushing her fingers through his hair. "It's been awhile, but I've done it. My mother is woodsy and we'd go to Tahoe and do some tenting out there. There is no way I'd be able to do it by myself though."

Icarus has posed:
"So your version of camping does have a tent and sleeping bags. I figured if you had been, it would be an RV at a campsite. I know, I know. Shouldn't judge. always full of surprises." Jay says holding up a hand slightly as though ot protect hismelf from the wrath of Andrea

Rage has posed:
"I mean, NOW it would! But not when I was seven or eight." Andrea laughs as she presses her forehead against his, fingers continuing to run through his red hair. "So mean to me." She says poutingly, bumping her nose against his. "Big meany Jay. Guess you owed me a few for the rooster comments."

Icarus has posed:
"I owe you way more than that for the rooster comment," Jay points out with a smirk. "Trust me. Revenge will be had. I have lots of siblings and I have gotten used to taking my time."

Rage has posed:
"Roosters are still handsome birds. Chests all puffed up, strutting around with his cock-a-doodle-doo. Hooking up with all the horned up hens." Andrea teases as she rubs her nose back and forth against his. "And your sister is one of my good friends. She's my ally!" She says as she pushes her thumbs gently into the back of his neck, circling them in a light massage.

Icarus has posed:
"Yeah, I'm not too sure I'm good with you being friends with Paige. It's definitely you all ganging up on me. I'll have to talk to Sam about it," Jay decides as he shakes his head a little.

Rage has posed:
"Well, too bad, so sad. She and I are buddies. She recognized greatness when she was a Senior and I was a Sophomore." Andrea rolls her fingers against the back of his head, giving him an amused smile upon her face. Her nose bumps up against his again, then softly says, "Wrap your wings around me?"