13852/Dia Dos Mortos

Dia Dos Mortos
Date of Scene:	04 October 2021
Location:	Shannon's Room (East Halls), Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Roberto Tells Shannon the story of his first meeting with Sam and the sad tale of Juliana Sandoval. He also admits a truth as Friendship blooms into more.
Cast of Characters:	Sunspot, Nightingale

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Sunspot has posed:
Roberto Da Costa knocks on Shannon's dorm room, it is the middle of the day and he is de facto alumni, almost a teacher, he's taught her some flight training, that counts, right? Roberto DaCosta does not stand on decomrum. So, he knocks and leans against the door jamb to wait, that world conquering smile on his lips, and pint of chocolate decadence in his hand.

Nightingale has posed:
     It's a lazy sort of afternoon for Shannon, for once. Her classes for the day are done, there are no school trips going awry, and she's gotten in her physical training for the day long since at the crack of dawn. Her guitar is in her lap, her head bent over the strings, a pencil behind her ear and a notebook of music paper in front of her. She plucks a few notes, humming a light melody, and jots a few notes down on the page. A few more notes, and a few more marks on the page. It goes on this way for a while, until she has the makings of a verse, sung softly to the jaunty plucking of the notes on her guitar.

"Captured my attention, make my heart stop and listen
When you look my way
Blue jeans and a ball cap, thinking that you're all that
And I'm thinking the same...."

     The knock at her door has Shannon resting her hands on the guitar strings to silence them, looking up to see who's there. "Oh! 'Berto! Hey... what's going on? Come on in!"

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto Da Costa smiles and nods politely, "Ola, Anjo, another song?" He smiles, "That is good for us. I brought you some of your favorite." he offers you the pint of chocolatey ice cream and a spoon. "Take a break, I hope you had a good time in the mediterranean? I am sorry I was not able to spend more time with you. But I was talking with Sam, did he ever tell you the story of how we met?"

Nightingale has posed:
     "Mhm, something a little more lighthearted than my last two songs," Shannon replied, laying her guitar down to one side and reaching for the chocolatey treat. Alright, perhaps it was more like 'snatch the ice cream from 'Berto's hands like a half-starved child', the way she dug into it! And, of course, she pays the price, with her face briefly contorting into a tell-tale expression of pain congruent with the phenomenon known as 'brain freeze'.

     As that expression fades into a wry smile, she lets out a little sigh of relief, but shakes her head. "It was a good trip, and no... I don't think he ever told me about how you two met. How'd it happen?"

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto Da Costa smiles and sits, facing you, "It is not quite a story befitting happy times I am afraid. Sam had fallen in with a bad sort. He'd been recruited into the a bad crowd, he was working with Donald Pierce. My powers kicked in at a tryout match for the national team. I was a sure thing until another player fouled me and I lost my temper and my powers kicked in. I am lucky I did not kill him in my rage, but the opposing team thought I had and they wanted to string up the mutie." Roberto shakes his head, "The same people who were cheering my success not ten minutes before." He watches and smiles sadly, "Juliana Sandoval was the only one who stood up for me that day. She was my best friend growing up and ... quite possibly the love of my life. She stood in front of those men, and stared them down, she wouldn't let them take me. We thought that we were being saved by security forces but it was only Pierces mecenaries coming to round us up. They took us both, I think they may have thought she was a mutant as well."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon winced as she listened to Roberto's tale, her brows furrowing deeply. "I was never threatened like you were, when my gifts manifested," she finally offers. "But having people you knew your whole life cheering you and trusting you one moment, then jeering at you and turning their backs on you the next... it's harsh." She runs her fingers through her hair, letting out a deep sigh. "Juliana sounds like a remarkable person. Gutsy. You were lucky to have her stand up with you that day. I... didn't have anyone like that with me."

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto Da Costa smiles sadly and offers you his hand, "I am sorry that you did not, sorry that I could not be there. But by when my story is over you may count yourself lucky. "We were take hostage by Donald and his goons, including Sam. But Julianna knew that Sam was different she could sense it. She was the one who kept humanizing us to him asking about his family... " Berto stops, and collects himself, his eyes welling up, "It was honestly all her." He smiles sadly, "The X-Men were closing in, we knew that but not that Pierce had told them to kill us rather that let us be rescued, all of us. The men turned their guns on us and Julianna threw her body in front of mine. She saved my life with her own, I think she felt her humanity would protect her... but I wonder if she knew it would not would she have done the same?" Berto shrugs, and looks at you, his face tear streaked, "I maybe a romantic, Anjo, but I feel she would have. She dies in her arms and the rage that overtook me, we fought our way out with Sam's help." Takes a moment to collect himself, and he nods, "But Julianna was gone." he shakes his head, "If she had survived I cannot say we would still be together, so much has happened between now and then but her lose, it still hurts me. Not always but some days, some nights when I'm alone." He shrugs, and chuckles ruefully. He then takes your hand an kisses it but we can learn to love again Anjo."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon is shocked to complete silence as she listens to Roberto's tale, from his capture by Donald Pierce and his henchmen, to Julianna's sacrifice, and the final battle that freed the captured mutants in the end. Without a single word, she reaches over to her nightstand, withdrawing a simple white handkerchief with a hand-embroidered ruby throated hummingbird in one corner, and offers it to him. "I'm so sorry," she whispers, not knowing what else to say or to do, even as he kisses her hand.

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto Da Costa smiles and nods, he takes the handkerchief and dabs his eyes, wipes his face. "Obrigado, Querido. There is nothing to say, Anjo, it is years in the past, the wound has healed, well, it's scarred over." He gives a soft chuckle, "I share this to say that we do move on, that life continues even from the darkest times, Querido. We can learn to love again, there is always hope, always the future." He's still holding your hand, he looks at it, blushes faintly and releases it.

Nightingale has posed:
     "True, we do move on," Shannon agrees, after a long several moments' worth of silence. "It can get harder each time, but we move on. My first crush, became a big brother to me. My second, well... batted for the other team. Two more disappeared on me with little to no word. One decided I was better in the friend zone. And Ted... he's doing what he needs to do for himself. He's putting his gifts to use helping others, and I can't damn him for that. His loss hurt particularly deep, though. We dared to let ourselves dream, what life after this place would be like, and never once did we think it would turn out like it has."

     A soft sigh escapes her, wings drooping behind her as she thinks for a moment. "Life will continue on, but I'm scared to let myself dream like that again. It'll just be taken away in the end. And... what is 'Querido'?" Only then does she, too, realize he was still holding her hand, her own cheeks turning a bit rosy as she lets her hand rest in her lap.

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto Da Costa swallows and nods at her words, "That is true... It means Dear one, and I would very much like for you to keep dreaming like that Querido." Berto meets your gaze and smiles gently. "But I will give you as much time as you need."

Nightingale has posed:
     Wait. What was he saying? Shannon's brows flick upwards as she peers at Roberto, her wings ruffling and slowly beginning to curl around her like a feathery shield. Surely he couldn't mean what she thought he did--did he? After a few moments more, she dips her head, allowing herself a small smile. "I'll try to let myself dream a little, then," she finally replies. "Maybe we could go have a little coffee somewhere... what do you think?"

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto Da Costa smiles and nods, "I'd like that." He walks to the window and opens it, smiling and stepping out / launching himself with practiced ease into the air outside. The evening air is cool, the fall night beautiful. He hangs there waiting for you.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon closes the curtains on her window briefly, just long enough for her to change into something else. When they open again and she takes to the air, she's in some flannel-lined blue jeans against autumn's chill, her favorite caramel suede calf-length boots, and a dove grey tunic sweater with a matching turtleneck beneath. "Lead on!" she calls out, allowing herself a small smile.

     Perhaps it'd be a nice evening after all.

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto Da Costa smiles and headtilts then reaches out and taps your shoulder, "Tag, you're it." and darts away playing tag, slipping through the air but never getting to far away he keeps the game fair, not letting you win but not using her superior speed to breakaway he keeps it fun and interesting.