12624/Belated Christmas Presents

Belated Christmas Presents
Date of Scene:	08 January 2021
Location:	Sam's Room (North Halls), Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Sam and Shannon talk about life, recent events, and future plans. A late Christmas gift is given. The bonds of family, adopted or otherwise, hold strong.
Cast of Characters:	Nightingale, Cannonball

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Nightingale has posed:
     It's late in the evening, when most could, would, or should be going to bed. But instead, there is a knock at Sam's door, in the classic 'shave and a haircut' pattern. "Big bro?" comes the familiar call, accompanied by what sounds like paper rustling. "Got a sec?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will come to the door, the young man, wearing jeans and a t-shirt still but barefoot. "Hey you everything ok?" He will ask of her, as he steps aside to let her in.

Nightingale has posed:
Sure enough, Shannon slips into the room, in her pink satin two-piece pajamas, and floofy Old English Sheepdog slippers. In her arms is a fairly sizeable, soft package wrapped in holographic gold paper with a plain silver ribbon. She hugs Sam fiercely and smiles. "For once, yeah. What about you, been keeping out of trouble?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and hugs her back "Mostly, at least as much as I can." He will motion towards a seat "Want something to drink?" He offers heading over to a mini fridge

Nightingale has posed:
     "Got any root beer? Or what's that cherry stuff from back home you introduced me to? That stuff's seriously good." Shannon's got a bit of a smile on her face, and... is that pride, making her sit up just a bit straighter? No, surely it must be a trick of the light. The package rustles in her lap as she settles down into the seat, wiggling her feet around to make the little pink felt tongues on her slippers flop about in very canine fashion.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie does bring her and himself a cheerwine, and sits down facing her "So, you seem a bit excited, did I miss something good?"

Nightingale has posed:
     The cheerwine is accepted with a smile, a healthy swig of the stuff sent on its way. Shannon's wings ruffle and almost flutter behind her, as if in delight at the rare treat. "Well... nothing major. But how often have you heard Mr. Proudstar ever compliment anything?" She smiles a bit wider, and reaches over to plop the package on Sam's lap. "That, and I finally got that back from having had to send it out for finishing work. Wish I could have had it ready for the trip down to Kentucky but no such luck. Call it a late Merry Christmas for you and Alexis."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will take the package and carefully opens it looking at it, he smiles and says "Thanks kiddo, would pull it out but going to tape it back close so Alexis can open it also." He offers with a smile. He then says "James, can once in a while, but not as often, So, what were you two working on?

Nightingale has posed:
     "Remember those tartan fabrics you had me make some aprons for ma Guthrie out of last Christmas? I used what was left from those to make that quilt. Been working on it all year, pieced most of that top by hand. I had to have it sent out for finishing work, though, it was too big to finish on my own sewing machine. Came out to be queen size."

     Shannon puffs up a little bit, almost seeming to preen as her wings flare out behind her. "It wasn't just me, there was Indira and I running one of his obstacle courses. But she finished her run first, so for a bit it was just Mr. Proudstar and I. Came to something called the Salmon Ladder, and don't ask me how, I nailed it on the first try. No falling in the water. Rarely heard him compliment much, so yeah."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles a bit and does not tell Shannon she should be good at that one, not wanting to lessen her feel of accomplishment "Cool will have to see if he recorded the session, and yea he can be very serious, but you gotta remember I have known him since he was younger.

Nightingale has posed:
     "I should be good at this stuff anyways, just practice hasn't always been great recently. So it was kind of nice." Giggling, Shannon reaches over to nudge Sam's shoulder, eyes twinkling with mirth. "Oh, when you were both younger? You mean when the hills were young?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie grins at her "Up hill both ways." He jokes with her. "You have it in you to do anything you set your mind to if you apply yourself.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Sometimes feels a bit hit-or-miss lately, though. So when I nailed it, it felt pretty damn good for once." Pause. "Kind of surprised myself when the three of us from the team had a tiny run-in with Magneto and some of his acolytes, too. Seems all that training's been paying off. Actually managed to airlift Jeremy to a safe place. Last time I tried anything like that, I was only able to haul up a good bit less."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Told ya practice practice, works the same as the music stuff. I am proud of you kiddo, I remember when I made my first successful hard turn, feels great.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Even better, it was in an urban setting, in Bushwick. Close quarters flying is my weak point, and I -still- managed." Smiling, she reaches over, but the hope in her eyes wavers for just a moment. However, that's all it is--a moment--before her her smile widens.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "What else is on your mind kiddo?" He asks her. "I saw it cross ya face, spill it kiddo"

Nightingale has posed:
     "A lot of things, but I don't want to bother anyone." Nibbling her lower lip, Shannon smiles a bit. "I hope I get to stay and help here... but will I ever be good enough for that? And even if I do, I've got to have other plans, too." Running her fingers through her hair, she sighs a little bit. "Ever since that whole mess with Magneto, it's made me wonder if that plan will ever be possible, whether I'm found to be good enough to stay here or whether I have to go after graduation. See, I'm fixing to hopefully start studying for the state EMT exam next month, so I'll be ready for it by summer. But with things really starting to turn ugly out there with this whole Cure thing, is that even going to be possible now?"

     Now she really looks worried, leaning in for a hug. "Dr. McCoy's been keeping to himself since all that happened. He and miss Munroe were the ones to welcome me here. He's always been really kind and someone I can look up to. I'm worried for him. I know he's got to be hurting, but I don't know how to reach out to him, without maybe making him feel worse."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Hank is a trooper, I know that sounds, dumb, but he will be ok, He is one of the strongest guys I know when it comes to willpower, he has been through a lot and keeps going. And I think you have it in you just gotta keep working on it. and paramedics are always needed"

Nightingale has posed:
     "Yeah, especially around here. Found out EMT's and paramedics are actually a little bit different. Plus, got to have something to do while I'm working on med school. Hey, someone's got to give Dr. McCoy a bit of a break around here sometimes." The last is spoken with a bit of humor, and Shannon cracks a small smile.

     "Yeah, I know he's a trooper. But still... wish I could tell him he's not alone. Sure, student to teacher, but hopefully maybe a friend, too."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over to her, and says "I am sure you could get on here as a school nurse, even if you do not make the other side of things, but I think you can make it.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Still got another year to go before that. Damned if I'm not gonna try like hell to make it, though."

     Leaning back in the chair, Shannon takes another swig of the cheerwine, purring with a bit of delight as she enjoys the treat. "Also been kind of sitting on something I'm not sure can wait any longer. Think the holidays have been eating my messages to Mr. Summers and Miss Grey on this one, and they probably ought to know about it if they don't already...."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie 's brow raises a bit listening to her. He does sip his drink and moves to get a bag of jerky from his desk, offering her some.

Nightingale has posed:
     "They might want to know that now SHIELD and the Avengers are getting involved in things in Bushwick." Shannon accepts some of the jerky, nibbling on the edge of a piece for a few minutes as she composes herself. "I'm not sure just how far they're involved and with what. That's something they may have to look into themselves. But I do know one of them was a younger gentleman not too much older than me, went by the call sign Slipstream, and noted an Avengers affiliation. He referred to the other person present as 'Falcon'. Dark-skinned gentleman, had a backpack on that sprouted metallic wings, that look a bit like mine. Flies way faster, though, plus he's the one that mentioned SHIELD being en route to the scene. So yeeeeah, I bugged out of there real quick."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "I might have to check into it, I did not hear about that/ I am spending to much time with work probably."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Yeah, it was on the 28th. So I figured the holidays were still a little crazy for Mr. Summers and Miss Grey, and that's why I haven't been able to get through to them." Shannon smiles and hugs Sam tightly. "Better to check into it and it turns out to be nothing, than to have our folks get blindsided by it. Didn't want to just sit on this one."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods his head a bit and says "They tell you anything about what they were doing??

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon shakes her head. "No, I don't know much about what they were doing. It looked like one of the labs that's been set up in Bushwick. Not the same one Magneto hit, a different one. They were getting shaken down by some mercs, and then Slipstream and Falcon get involved." She smiles a little bit sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck in tell-tale fashion. "I might or might not have helped heal a guard that got knocked down. And I might or might not have headed to the clinic so I wouldn't upset anyone here..."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Might or might not huh?" He grins a bit at her. "Well long as ya aint getting yaself to exploded."

Nightingale has posed:
     "It was just a few cracked ribs, mild concussion, and some bruises I took on. Nothing internal. Seemed like this Falcon had some medical training, but you know damn well I can't stand to see someone suffering unnecessarily." Shannon grinned a bit sheepishly. "I still made sure to rest up even after the clinic."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "I swear going to come in there and you have moved your sewing machine and keyboard in there." He teases her a bit

Nightingale has posed:
     "Wrong clinic. I meant the one that opened up in Bushwick." Shannon chuckles, and shakes her head. "You don't really think I wanted to wind up downstairs again, do you?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Well, figured you might be getting a little home sick." He jokes"

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon just rubs her temples and chuckles a little bit. "Yeah, no. Been trying to stay out of there as much as I can. What good will I do anyone here, if that becomes a home away from home?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie grins at her, and says "Well it is good to have ya mobile more often." He teases her a bit "so, what else been going on?

Nightingale has posed:
     "Pretty much gearing up for classes to start again. Really glad about the trip to Kentucky over the holidays." Shannon smiled, stretching out in the chair, looking around. "It was kind of nice to be needed and wanted again. Got to see my folks again at New Year's, too. Shorter trip this year, they moved to a place a couple hours outside the city. Managed to convince them to get outta Dodge."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Your dad starting a new business up here, or working for someone else?"

Nightingale has posed:
     "Working for one of the smaller funeral homes in the area, at least for now." Shannon grins, chuckling softly. "At least he has job security in his line of work."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "People dying to do business with him?" He grins a bit more and says "So, now that is just us, how was singer boot camp?

Nightingale has posed:
     "Real shame that he works with a bunch of stiffs," Shannon replies, perfectly deadpan. "They all give him the cold shoulder."

     It's a minute or so of pure laughter from the winged teen, just enjoying catching up with Sam, cracking some dad jokes, and just overall chilling out. "It was actually a lot of fun. Don't get me wrong, I'm still going into the medical profession, but at least I can look back someday and say I did that, too."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "And who knows, if you decide to be a full fledge doctor with an office and all down the road, you can have your own music playing in the waiting room

Nightingale has posed:
     "Pfft. Y'all would get sick of hearing my music, 'cause I plan on sticking around here and helping out one way or the other." Shannon grins, leaning forward a bit. "Did Andrea tell you at all that I'm actually being tapped for a song? And not as a backup singer, either."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "She had mentioned she had a song that fit you a lot more than it fit her, and was part of why working with ya in all this and all."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nods, and chuckles. "Yeah, well, that's the song she's tapping me for. Kind of in a holding pattern on that at the moment, should give her a call later on and see what the sitrep is with that. Damn good song. Should be fun to see how it turns out."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, a bit and says "So what is the song about, aint been told any details on that.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon grins and clears her throat, sitting up a bit straighter. "I'll do you one better. I'll sing some of it for you." With that, she begins to drum her fingers on the arm of the chair, to keep time with the song as it rings out. It's an anthem of independence lost, and found again, the words powerful ones, indeed.

"I retired my red lipstick 'cause you said you didn't like it
I didn't wear my high heel shoes
'Cause I couldn't be taller than you
I didn't wanna lose my friends, but now it's hard to even find them
It's what you wanted, ain't it?
It's what you wanted

I thought I'd miss you
I thought it hurt me
I thought I'd miss you
I thought I'd miss you

But I miss me more
I miss my own beat, to my own snare drum
I miss me more
Miss my own sheets in the bed I made up
I forgot I had dreams, I forgot I had wings
Forgot who I was before I ever kissed you
Yeah, I thought I'd miss you
But I miss me more"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hmms and listens a bit to this and nods his head foot tapping with the beat a bit and says "Sounds like a song with a pretty good message."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nods, and smiles. "Yeah, it is. Can't claim I wrote it, but it's a pretty good song. Should be fun to see how the whole project turns out." Tilting her head, she peers over at him, and slugs back the last of her cheerwine. "So what have you been up to lately?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Working, considering getting a place for Alexis and me, near here, but maybe not in the mansion proper. I aint sure about it with the farm back home, have been planning some crops for there this spring."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Oh man... that'd suck if you move. Guess the good part is, though, you can always take the Cannonball Express back up here if you do. But I'll miss ya something fierce if you go." Wings and arms alike are wrapped around Sam in a tight hug.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Well was talking about someplace on the lake, not like to far away someplace you could take the feathered freeway to get to." He hugs her back,"

Nightingale has posed:
     Grinning a bit sheepishly, Shannon ducks her head a bit. "When you said 'back home', I thought you meant Kentucky. That's a little bit far for the feathered freeway, big bro."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Na, I own the farm we crashed at back home, but I have someone running it, so It will pay for it's taxes and such."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nods, and smiles. "Well that's good you have that all planned out. Me, I'm just socking away most of what I make, either from my job at the club, or these music things that seem to be cropping up. Let that do its thing in an account, and hopefully by the time I'm able to get into med school, I might not need too much help from scholarships."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Well I figure know a few places that will probably be able to help you if you need it. Trust me I know how it is."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Well, we'll see how that goes in another year or so. Right now, I'm just worried about being able to start studying for the state EMT exam." Shannon bites her lower lip, and tilts her head. "I was considering asking Dr. McCoy about that, but he's got his hands full at the moment. Got any idea who else I could tap?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Well we have had a few people working here besides Hank and Josh, I am sure we can find some to help ya out."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Still wish I could help him." Shannon smiles some, hugging Sam again. "Meantime, what do you think about me heading to the kitchen to get us some hot cocoa?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Sure, I will be done in a bit, maybe sit out and watch the back yard some.