10958/Meet the Caradenzas

Meet the Caradenzas
Date of Scene:	02 February 2020
Location:	Cambridge, Boston, MA
Synopsis:	Sam Guthrie and Alexis -- returning to Allegra Caradenza, visit her parent at their home in Cambridge, Massachusettes. Things don't go precisely to pot, but they don't g o to plan either.
Cast of Characters:	Prismatic, Cannonball

---

Prismatic has posed:
    The flight included some snow, some cold, and a little turbulence to a park nearby. Allegra had cleaned up and wasn't wearing her normal, casual clothes, but smart gray trousers, brown boots and a gray jacket, though she'd opted for her hood and the flight goggles to protect her head a bit from the wind. It was a quick, brisk walk to a very imposing home near the Cambridge Common, its gray exterior and slate blue roof, its manicured front garden showing signs of being tended even in the dead of winter in New England. Dry, powdry snow listlessly wanders between Harvard and MIT students as evening sets in.

    Alexis stands at the corner, near the corner of the spiked, wrought-iron fence, and breathes out in nervousness.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie would have gotten advice on what to wear from Alexis. His first choice having been black dress pants and a royal purple button up. Sorta his go to for looking presentable. He would have brought a duffle with them that he could either carry or stash somewhere so they could clean up a bit after the flight. Now, he walks along with you. His hand holding hers, and says "I am with you Allegra." He makes sure to use her real name.

Prismatic has posed:
    "I know, Sam." her gloved hand squeezes against Sam. "I know."

    And she turns, and walks to the gate, passes through, pulling sam along, and walks up to the imposing door. It has a knocker in what might be titanium in a stylized C, and a keypad and fancy tech doorbell, which Allegra presses, and holds her breath.

    "Caradenza residence. State your business, please." a gentleman's voice answers.

    "Good evening, are Signor and Mrs. Caradenza in?"

    "May I inquire as to who is asking?"

    "... Allegra Caradenza."

    There is a pause. Three heart beats, and then the door is thrown open.

    A woman in her forties has answered it, her mousy brown hair showing lines of elegant gray. She has light gray eyes, and looks just like an older, paler version of Allegra herself.

    The genes must run strong.

    The two women look at one another, almost unsure where to go from here.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will give the younger woman just the barest of nudges towards her mother. He stands there with her. He will give Allegra's hand another squeeze. Sam is watching the two but also keeping an eye on the area around. he is hoping for this to be a good time, but they are sorta in the enemy's camp and he keeps alert.

Prismatic has posed:
    At Sam's nudge, Allegra gives an awkward smile, her shoulders rising up as she begins with "Hi M-" --

    Before the older woman reaches out, grabs Allegra, and wraps her arms around her, eyes brimming with tears.

    "What in God's name is going on--" comes a voice from inside, and a shorter gentleman appears. He has Allegra's coloring, that deep olivey bronze, the black hair and dark eyes, and he tands, agape a moment as he looks at Amelia and Allegra, and then he takes a deep breath, straightening his jacket a brief moment and trying not to look too emotional.

    "Amelia, Allegra, why don't you come inside and stop trying to heat all of Boston?" he asks, his accent softened slightly, before Amelia Caradenza draws Allegra in, the two speaking in hushed tones as Filipe Caradenza takes over.

    "I apologize for the lack of introduction, it has been... some time since she's been home. Donovan? Please take the gentleman's coat." he calls out, and a butler appears from the side, wearing a smart black suit and silver tie. He offers his hands for Sam's jacket, Allegra removing her own, folding it over an arm.

    "Where have you *been*? No calls, no mail, my heart has been in my throat for four years, Allegra!"

    "Mother... I know, I ... I had to sort myself out after the event. Nana knew I was all right."

    I suppose you'll be wanting the details of the reward then, Mister...?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie takes his jacket off and hands it to the butler, and actually tells the man "Thank you." He then towards Allegra's father, and says "Guthrie, and Ah am not here for a reward sir, I am here with your daughter." He stands up up straight and tries to stay in a bit of a formal stance. Allegra is my friend and Ah wanted to be here for her.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Certainly, Mr. Guthrie." the butler replies, and turns to take Allegra's jacket as well. He's a very stately looking gentleman.

    "This gentleman is a friend of yours?" Amelia asks, and Allegra blushes, he ears turning just this sid eof red.

    "Ah... mother, this is Mister Samuel Guthrie. He's a teacher at the school I teach at now."

    "/Teach/?" Amelia blinks.

    "Sam, may I introduce my mother, Amelia Florin-Caradenza, formerly of the Metropolitan Opera, and Signor Filipe Caradenza, dancemaster at the Boston Ballet." she steps over to Sam a moment, and she reaches for his hand.

    "Sam's been encouraging me to come home for some time."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will take the ladies hand and lean down brushing a soft kiss on her knuckles in greeting "Ma'am" He says to her "A pleasure to meet you. " He offers a bit of a goofy smile, and adds "Ah have always believed family is a very important and wanted to make sure Allegra as not loosing an important thing."

Prismatic has posed:
    "A pleasure, Mr. Guthrie." Amelia gives a smile. "No doubt that's impressed upon Allegra." she takes a breath, and looks to the short Allegra and tall Sam, and then gives an amused look to Allegra.

    Who presses her lips together a moment, and breathes out in a little puff of air. "I'm... I'm sorry if we've come at a bad time, but I don't think it could wait. My coming home. VIsiting, really. I've been living in New York City and Salem Center." she explains, standing in the hallway.

    Filipe gives a soft huff. "Have we all forgotten manners? Talking in the hallway, come, join us in the study. Mr. Guthrie, Southern gentleman -- bourbon? Or are you a rye whiskey type? I prefer Sambuca myself, but I keep variety spirits on hand in case of visitors."

    "Donovan, would you please have one of the girls fetch tea and refreshments for our guests before my husband pickles the poor man's liver?" Amelia asks gently, and gives a smile, trying to herd everyone to a different room. They pass through the parlor -- the formal livingroom with white furniture and ebony wood and gold accents. It's classy and very, very clean. The next room, in the corner of the front of the house is a study. It's decorated in mahogany tones, has an antique globe and a fire going, and a fully stocked bar, which Filipe steps behind. There's a raised floor behind it so the short man can look Sam eye-to-eye.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie stays close to Allegra, and at the question of her father, he will say "I am driving but thank you." Which he sorta is, just driving himself. He will not even make a face at the mention of tea knowing it will be hot. He returns the man's gaze, giving him an even stare, not trying to challange, but also not being submissive. "Allegra seems to have a real talent as a teacher, she has a gift for connecting with the students, and not only enhancing their love for music but also introducing them to types they are not used to.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Oh come now, a little sip of something won't affect too much -- have you seen the way people drive in this city?" Filipe asks, decanting a bottle and pouring the rich brown liquid into two highball glasses. "And of course she does, she's my daughter. Brilliant violinist, pianist, singer, dancer, just had a bit of stage-fright, but you're ready to come back to the stage, aren't you Allegra? Teaching can wait!"

    "-- but I like teaching, and I'm even working earning a degree in education."

    Amelia seats herself in a comfortable chair, and Allegra sits down on a couch, plenty of roomfor Sam to join her there or Filipe at the bar.

    "So, you teach, boy? What subject?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie stays with Allegra, sitting down with her, and to her father "No thank you sir, just because someone else does something that is not safe there is no reason for me to. I am a guidance counselor as well as teachers assistant for some of the science classes." He will tell them. The habit of calling him boy may erk him but he tries not to show it. "Allegra is very talented in anything she sets her mind to, and will excel in anything she chooses to do." He does put perhaps a bit of extra emphasis on the word She.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Guidance counselor and science teacher? Noble profession, teaching. I always had a healthy respect for my mother-in-law for her dedication to it." Filipe states, and he join them, sipping his own burbon as he watches Sam. "Which school? Juliard? New York Academy?" he inquires.

    Alexis looks up to Sam, and then just softly states:

    "We teach at the Xavier School."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrienods, and says "A private school in upstate New York." He will help with a bit not giving a lot more information on the school. He looks to them, and says "So, Allegra has told me a bit about you both, and you Ah must say she seemed to come of her talents through two very talented parents."

Prismatic has posed:
    "She is greater than the sum of us." Amelia states gently, as maid comes in with a tea tray. She immediately starts service, first for Amelia, who apparently likes hers sweet, and for Allegra who has no sugar to hers. And to Sam -- a little carafe and a tumbler with ice.

    "Miss Allegra mentioned you don't like hot tea, I apologize for the presumption." the maid gives a small smile.

    "Thank you, Mel." Allegra gives a smile.

    A platter of thin cucumber sandwiches and a few cookies are set out as well.

    "Pity she chose to eschew the stage for teaching. /Teaching/." -- and he exclaims something in Italian, to which Allegra answers back, though the smug expression on her face was hard to hide.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will look over to Allegra and smiles a bit, he was prepared for hot tea and was not going to complain. He says "Thank you." to the maid as well. He does not catch the Italian as not one of his languages. He will look over to Allegra's mother and aint sure what else to say for now, so will sip his tea quietly.

Prismatic has posed:
    "English, dear. I'm not sure if Mr. Guthrie speaks Italian, and if you must curse please do so where you might not upset the guest." Amelia states, setting her cup down. "And Allegra... you've been gone for four years, what have you done in that time?"

    Allegra looks uncomfortable.

    "... street performance, mostly. Lived in shelters. I was afraid to come home, that I would be a disappointment."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will give Allegra's hand a squeeze in reassurance as he knows she is getting to the part that will be hard for her. He does tense a little bit, ready to defend her if her dad goes bonkers. Sam has known many an anti mutant person over the years, and some of those who have reacted badly even to their own children.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Because of the strage fright? Oh, my darling, everyone gets it from time to time --" Amelia starts up, and Allegra sets her cup down.

    "No, mother, not the stage fright. You remember how when I was twelve, I broke out in that awful rash?"

    "How could I forget? You looked so miserable in the pictures..."

    Allegra raises her hands, and she turns them over. It start with her fingers, pooling blow along the skin as the crystaline structures reflect the light, twisting in prismatic display.

    Amelia looks with surprise, but as predicted, it's Filipe who looks dismayed. HIs hand trembles. The drink lowers to the table, and his eyes turn hard as he levels a look at Allegra.

    "Is that why you came back?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over watching both of their reactions and says "She loves you both and missed you both. More why she was away than why she came back I believe." He says in a bit of defense for her. "It would be a horrible thing to let something like this put a wedge between someone you love. " He resists the urge to remind them that her being a mutant means that at least one if not both of them carried the genetic triggers for it. He does not wish to cause a possible divide between the parents more than that has to be.

Prismatic has posed:
    "A horrible thing is that my daughter -- my own flesh and blood, has become one of those terrorist /freaks/!" he states, and motions with his hands, pointing angrily at hers. "And not even a useful power! Useless mutant! Filth! Non hai capito una sega!" he curses, turning as he fumes in rapid-fire Italian.

    And Allegra, understanding every word, goes pale.

    And then paler than pale.

    Until she's just deathly white in lieu of her own skin, then she stands up, suddenly, upsetting her teacup and saucer and begins to shout back, color coming to her cheeks and ears as an angry, ugly red.

    Amelia, unpeturbed, sips her tea.

    "So, Mr. Guthrie, while I must apologize for my husband's unruliness, may I ask if you, too, are gifted?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods too Amelia , and says "Yes ma'am, and neither of us are terrorists. " He will stand and steps beside Allegra, and says "In fact I believe a terrorist is more someone who acts against someone who has done them no harm to others. Those who would hate and act upon someone because of their beliefs, the happenstance of their birth, be it color, race, human, mutantdom or what. We are all one people and treating someone as if they are less for any reason I feel is very wrong." He adds "I do not deny their are mutants who choose to do bad, but there are humans who make the same choice. If we have to separate people, I believe it should be more by choices than something that can not be chosen.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Mutants are demons from hell, arriving in the flesh to bring about the fall of mankind! Filth, terrorists, whores!" Filipe snarls, "You can take /that/--" he points at Allegra, who is still an angry mishmash of colors, "and get the Hell out of my home before I have you both arrested! Be/gone/!" he slams the glass down, shattering it, causing a tremmor through the table and knocking a picture frame to the floor, where the glass shatters.

    Amelia finishes her tea, calmly, and draws herself up.

    But Allegra is faster, and of all things she slaps her father accross his face, tears running down her cheeks though she stands, defiant.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will take a moment while both father and daughter are distracted and hands the Amelia a card. It is for the club, and has his name and number on it. He will then steps closer, and put his arm around Allegra "Mutants are not evil, no more than Italians were evil after world war two. All people are hated or feared by someone for some reason. Your daughter loves you both, and your hatred has cost you four years with her. Now your going to let it cost you even more. I hope and pray for you that the good lord will help you see past this hatred and hardness in your heart, and find your peace to one day accept your family as they are."

Prismatic has posed:
    "I am Allegra Caradenza. I am your /daughter/. And now that we have established that four years have gone by that I would have rather be homeless and starving rather than bring shame to you I will let the shame be yours to carry now." she states coldly.

    "Thank you, Mr. Guthrie, next time I visit New York I shall stop in." Amelia states gently, putting a hand on Sam's shoulder.

    "Donovan, please bring our guests their coats, I'm afraid the visit will have to be cut short."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will look to the mother, and says to her "We will be looking forward to seeing and hearing from you." He tells her, giving her a clue of what Allegra means to him. To her father, he will just shakes his head and squeezes Allegra's hand "We should go hon, hopefully someday soon he will see what a wonderful thing he is giving up not wanting to be part of your life." He is ready to step between father and daughter if need be.

Prismatic has posed:
    "I told you to get out." Filipe states, enunciating every word carefully between gritted teeth.

    And Allegra turns, giving a soft 'Thank you' to Donovan as he holds her jacket open for her, and she turns to stare at the door as if she were trying to burn a hole in it. Donovan hands Sam his jacket quietly, with a soft apology on behalf of his employer.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will put his coat on, and will lead Allegra back to the door. He looks to Donovan, and says "Thank you again, and I hope your day goes well." He expects the staff will have a rough day dealing with Filipe." He will walks with Allegra "Sorry it did not go better love, but there is some hope." He will tell her explaining later.

Prismatic has posed:
    "I don't know what I was expecting. This was a mistake. Now instead of having a missing daughter he hates me vehemently and I never should have agreed to this business in the first place. I should have just stayed at the school, kept my head down and--" she trails off, leaning against Sam as Donovan opens the door, and she steps out.

    "... no. It's his shame. Not mine. I shouldn't hide who I am anymore."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to her, and once they are out of ear range of her father he will look to her "You will hear from your mother after this love, Ah gave her contact information, and she said something very important that tells me. She will be a part of your life, even if she has to be subtle with it. She asked if Ah was gifted, not if Ah was a mutant or cursed or what not." He will pull something out of his pocket. A mini cerbro he had used recently on meeting a new mutant for the school, and looks to see if it is picking up anyone nearby besides them.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Cerebro?" Allegra asks, and she pures her lips a moment and...

    Realistically, it lights up. Cambridge is a hotspot for college students, people all over the world -- and yes, even in the house they were just in, there was a mutant.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "I got a suspision." He tells her. He will put an arm around her. He will say to Allegra "It is a mutant detection device, there is a much better version in the school, that the telepaths can use. The smaller hand held versions just pick up in the area nearby and don't tell much about them." He looks back to the house, and asks softly "There ever been anything unexplained you have noticed around the house?"

Prismatic has posed:
    "Sam, I hardly spent time there. I was always with my grandmother." Allegra replies quietly as they walk, though she does look back over her shoulder at the house one last time before she picked up the pace.

    "Boston was never really home anyway."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Well hon, now your not hiding any more, I know your dad's reaction sucks ass, but tell me love do you feel freer?" He resists the urge to flip the man off. While wondering if her mom might be a mutant as well.

Prismatic has posed:
    "I... I do. I feel like I can be me again, and not have to hide. It's his problem, not mine." she replies quietly, leaning against Sam.

    "Thank you for not punching him out for what he called me."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to her, and offer her a smile and says "Ah told you Ah would try my best, plus to be honest your slapping him had more meaning than even if I stomped a mud hole in his ass you could drive a semi through.

Prismatic has posed:
    "... that has to be the second most Southern thing I have ever heard you say." Allegra comments.. The snow and wind pick up a little bit as they walk, wiping away their footprint in their wake.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie wraps his arms around her, and says "Lets head home." He will kick in the blastfield to get them back to where their bag is, where she can get her goggles and be ready for the longer flight home.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Yeah, let's go home." Alexis states, her arms linking with his.

    She doesn't even hide her face on the long flight back, this time.