4987/Let's make a song together

Let's make a song together
Date of Scene:	23 July 2018
Location:	Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Andrea plays a new song she wrote. Scott got to meet Mason. Andrea admits she is not as perfect as Mason says she is.
Cast of Characters:	Rage, Cyclops, Mason Steele

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Rage has posed:
It's early in the morning and Andrea has tucked herself away into the sound proof music room complete wtih a large studio and multiple instruments hanging on the wall to be used. She is currently settled at a piano, practicing the Moonlight Sonata as her fingers dance along the ivory and black keys. As she focuses on the sheet of music in front of her, she rocks back and forth with a light hum ni her throat, as if she was trying to harmonize her vocals along with the notes from the piano. The door is cracked open to let some fresh air in and at times a student may poke their head in to watch and listen before they move on down the halls.

Cyclops has posed:
Like every single morning , Scott can be found wandering the hallways of the mansion. Like clockwork, he is up and ready to go within half an hour. His coffee is made and he sets off. He starts with the second floor before making his way downstairs. Which is where he is now, making his way down the stairs into the main foyer area. When he reaches the landing, he glances down one hallway then the other. Nothing out of the ordinary. Except he notices a few students poking their heads into the music room.

Taking a sip of coffee, he turns and walks down the hallway until he, too, is poking his head in to see Andrea sitting at the piano. He leans his shoulder against the wall and takes another sip of coffee as he listens to her play Moonlight Sonata.

Mason Steele has posed:
    Mason wanders the hall in a T-shirt and slack jeans today, making his way...well, not anywhere in particular, as his bare feet might indicate. He's supposed to join the powers control class, but that's not meeting at the moment. He didn't sign up for anything else during the summer. He's got a healthy breakfast of potato chips, carrying the bag in his right hand as his left pulls out a couple. They are good for vocals, you know. Because the only thing better than one teen idol at the school is two!
    He chomps on the chips, hearing Andrea, and since he hasn't taken the time to really process who the teachers are, he walks up next to Scott, glancing up at him. "Shades inside, bold choice," he comments casually, popping another chip into his mouth. He steps so he can crane his head through the doorway, seeing who he thought he would, and then leans against the opposite side of the doorway on the outside so that he is not standing at an awkwardly close proximity to Scott.

Rage has posed:
As the song finishes, a new one begins as it is a lot more upbeat and quick. It seems that Andrea was using the Sonata to warm her fingers up. As she plays, she reaches over to tap a beat machine next to her to start to playing a more quicker electro pop style of beat. Her fingers return to the keys in front of her as she wobbles left and right along with the groove. This is a song that could easily hit the charts and be played in the clubs. There is a growing intensity about it. Empowering.

"I used to think that there was nothing in this world! But there I stood and I was down, down, down! You and I know what goes around, comes around! So now I'm going to tear you down, down, down! With you my love was a loaded gun! So now you better run!"

"Fire at will! I am a cannonball shooting through the air, so come on! Come on! Be still and fire at will! I keep a steady march and my heart beats like a drum, so come on! Fire at will! Give me your best shot, fire at will!"

The rumbling bass from the drum machine echoes through the studio as she puts her all into the piano keys. So focused, she has yet to notice the pair lingering by.

"I found a strength in me that's about to be released. Hard luck you're going down, down, down. No matter what you say, no matter what you do, we're going down in flames! I'm afraid this masquerade is over, I have you in my sights. Fire at will!"

There is a small cheer from behind them as a few of the students is trying to peek past Mason and Scott to watch. This is a new song that they are hearing.

Cyclops has posed:
As Scott leans against the wall listening, he hears the sound of chips being chewed moments before Mason's proclamation at his fashion sense. Casting a sideways glance over at Mason, his expression remains unchanges. A mix of the utter lack of amusement but managing to be polite at the same time. It's a look he's had a lot of pratice making and has become surprisingly good at. His eyes look the young man over, noticing his lack of shoes, but pays it no mind.

As Andrea goes into her next, more upbeat song, Scott pushes away from the wall and turns in an attempt to leave the music room but he turns around to find a crowd of students crammed into the doorway to sneak a peek at what he assumes is the school's only mega pop star.

The students don't even notice him and make no effort to move out of his way. Pursing his lips in realization that he's now trapped, he simply turns around and tries not to block the view until the performance is over. He folds his arms across his chest as he leans against the wall once again, this time with his back.

Mason Steele has posed:
    Mason pops another chip into his mouth, crunching it casually. "Yeah, she sometimes does that," he comments to Scott as he sees him trapped by the small crowd. "I think it's an attention getting thing." He turns his head back into the room. "Good job Andrea, you have achieved gridlock in the hallway," he says in a tone that she might recognize as teasing, but might not sound that way to people who don't know him.

Rage has posed:
Tapping the beat machine off, Andrea's fingers slide off the keys and glances over at the sound of Mason's voice. She looks from him to Scott, then offers up a smile. "Good morning. Sorry, I just really wanted to lay this track down while it was warm." She says as she rises up and heads over to the printer to collect the paperwork that pops up, revealing new sheet music for the song she just played. "I didn't mean to cause a scene. Thought I had the door shut all the way."

Cyclops has posed:
As Andrea finishes up and the students all begin to applaud, Scott looks back over to see that even more fans have shown up. He's not getting out of here any time soon it would seem. He flashes Mason another glance after he points out that this is something of a common thing, "So it would seem." He hasn't had the good fortune of meeting Mason yet, so the young man's tone towards Andrea strikes him as contentious.

He opens his mouth to speak again when Andrea beats him to it. Looking over towards Andrea, he simply offers her a nod. "It's no problem, I just wanted to see what was causing everyone to stop by." He thumbs over his shoulder and motions in the direction of the doorway which is overflowing with students, "Just try to keep this to a minimum." He turns to look at all of the students again, frustration causing his brows to furrow.

Mason Steele has posed:
    Mason shrugs, "Hey, it's not so bad really, is it?" he says to Scott. "I mean, it's not like they won't go back to doin' their thing soon enough." He seems far more lax on the matter. Of course, he's a student, not a teacher. "So you one of the teachers?" he asks as he takes another potato chip. "I'm Mason." He switches the bag to his left hand, offering a hand to shake. He has a certain casual confidence about himself, or at least on the surface.

Rage has posed:
"Mason, this is Professor Summers. He has taken over the New Mutants program that I'm in." Andrea says as she slips the papers into the backpack, then closes the lid to the piano as she waves them both in. "May as well close the door behind you. Mason here is a singer also. He and I used to work at Disney together on a few television shows. He's crazy talented. His last album was a chart topper also." She gushes with a proud smile on her face. "He's even accepted into Juliard's as a high school student. How cool is that."

Cyclops has posed:
Scott looks at Mason again as he introduces himself, looking down at the extended hand after the bag of chips exchanges hands. He still can't help but notice the bare feet. Eventually, Scott extends his hand as well and gives Mason's a firm shake as Andrea reveals that she isn't the only pop star on the grounds. Of course there would be another. And of course it would be Mr. Casual here. He retrieves his hand and rests them both behind his back as his lips purse together tightly.

"Quite an achievement," he says finally, a smile appearing on his face. Former child star turned pop sensation. And mutants. He looks from Mason to Andrea, noting her clear affection for the young man and nods. "I'm sure you put just as much effort into your classes as you do your career," he says back to Mason, the smile remaining steadfast.

Mason Steele has posed:
    "Of course!" Mason answers Scott. "I try hard." Of course, if Scott checks his grades later, he is decidedly a 'Cs get degrees' kind of kid. In fact, he skipped his first class on power control so far. He does a good job of sounding genuine though.
    "I'm not some brain kid like Andrea, but I mean, I try hard," he offers. "She just makes me look bad by bein' good at everything. I'm just good at one thing."

Rage has posed:
"I am not good at everything." Andrea insists. "You are good at a lot of things, Mason. Don't sell yourself short." She has such conviction in her voice as she says it. "I wish I could be accepted into such a prestigious program. I am sure everyone sees me as just a bubblegum popstar."

Cyclops has posed:
Scott nods back at Mason. He hasn't looked at the young man's grades and likely won't. He'll get to know the boy eventually and form his own opinion. After all, grades are not necessarily the best measure of a person. In some cases they can be, but he suspects that may not be the case with Mason.

He glances back at Andrea as she gushes about Mason some more and grins slightly to himself. he knows what it's like being head over heels for someone so he can't blame her. Mason seems like the 'cool kid' so the whole thing seems like something out of a movie.

Mason Steele has posed:
    Mason shrugs. "Yeah, I guess," he says. "A bubblegum millionare popstar." He glances back at Scott in time to see his grin. Apparently he's saavy to what he expects it is about, and he gives one of those discreet 'guy nods.' "So you teach here, Mr. Summers?" he asks. "What do you teach?" He offers the bag of potato chips to Andrea.

Rage has posed:
There is a furrow of Andrea's brows at Mason's statement. She lets out a soft sigh as she reaches in for a chip, then puts it into her mouth for a quick one-two crunch and swallow. She gives a glance about the music room, rubbing the back of her neck for a moment. She listens to the pair, glancing over to Scott to see his answer. She already knows, but she won't ruin the surprise.

Cyclops has posed:
The casual nature between the two of them is actually refreshing to see. Most of the time around here it's an awkward ritual between two nervous kids trying to get each others' attentions. Or the problem of unrequited feelings and a broken heart. Or a flock of raving fans following a famous pop star around everywhere she goes. He guesses that's going to be the same with Mason. At least together they are relatively normal.

"Geometry," Scott replies to Mason. Among other things, but he'll let Mason learn more about that once he makes it to Scott's other lessons. "I trust you're both comfortable here?" The mansion in general, he means.

Mason Steele has posed:
    "Oh cool," Mason says, in a voice that seems decidedly uncommitted to following up on the statement. "Comfortable might be a relative term," he says. "I mean, it's kinda weird being around a bunch of other mutants for me." He shrugs. "Andrea seems to like it a lot. She's in some fancy group for students training to be a superhero team or something like that. What's it called again, Andrea?"

Rage has posed:
"Literally just said the name of it during my introductions. The New Mutants. Mister Summers has taken over the program and is now our faculty member in charge of the team's development." Andrea says as she rubs the bridge of her nose. "And, yes, I do enjoy staying here. I stay the weekends at home though in the city in my condo so I can have a break and have some me time to focus on work and other distracting things such as interviews or conference calls. I have a room by myself for the moment. They figured giving me a room mate would be more of a distraction than anything."

Cyclops has posed:
Scott can sense the sincerity in Mason's voice. Geometry is about as cool as a raging wild fire. He arches a brow slightly as Mason as he asks about the name of the New Mutants but grins when Andrea points out his oversight. He's only been around them for a few moments but he's getting a pretty good idea of their relationship dynamic. Young love. Sweet and hostile at the same time.

He doesn't dwell on the topic of the New Mutants and instead moves the coversation along, looking to Andrea, "That's probably a smart move." Any roommate of hers would likely get nothing done more than ogling over the star. He looks back to Mason, "I'm sure you'll get used to it soon enough. Most new students feel the same way for the first few weeks."

Mason Steele has posed:
    "Oh, yeah," Mason says, laughing to play off his oversight. "That." He offers the bag toward Scott as well, in case he also wants a few chips. "Yeah, whole different world." He glances back at Andrea, and then to Scott again. "So you teach them to be superheroes? Ok, now it all comes together," he gives another laugh, though as to exactly why might be unclear. It's just something he does sometimes it seems.

Rage has posed:
"The goal isn't to teach us how to be superheroes." Andrea says with a soft sigh, as if the topic was just a bit draining for her. It's a sensitive topic for her. "We're being trained to use our powers collectively and responsibly in the instance that we were attacked, so that we can help support each other. The /goal/ is not to put on capes and go shooting off into danger. We're kids. We should be kids." She scuffs her foot against the ground a few times. "But, if some of us show ability and desire, then those next steps could be evaulated." Taking a seat on the piano bench, she folds her hands over her knees.

Cyclops has posed:
Scott glances down at the bag as it is offered to him and gives his head a few quick shakes as he hold his hand out, palm towards the bag in a 'no thanks' gesture. He rests his arm back across his chest as he looks between the two students while Andrea explains the purpose of the New Mutants.

"Exactly. We make sure that there are students here who have the ability to defend the rest of the school should the need arise. Their level of involvement is completely at their own discretion." He offers Mason the smile of a conssummate professional who has likely explained the purpose of the team time and time again. "The superhero thing comes later." The last part he speaks in jest, managing a more casual tone than he has to this point. The curve of a grin in the corner of his mouth gives it away otherwise.

Mason Steele has posed:
    "Oh, yea yeah, gotcha," Mason answers. "That's probably good. I'd make a crappy superhero anyway." He glances back at Andrea. "I gotta go get the Ferrari detailed," he says. Of course, Andrea might have an idea why. The blood is still in the corners of the seat from the last disaster. "Catch ya later?" That's right, he has a Ferrari.

Rage has posed:
"I think if you put your mind to it, you'd be great at whatever you wanted to do, including being a superhero, Mason." Andrea says as she throws some encouragement into the black hole of feedback. She gives a nod of her head in regards to him detailing his car. "Okay. Text me when you're done and we can get dinner tonight?" She asks as she offers him a quick smile, then glances over to Scott. "Let me know when you want to train again. I'm eager to get back in there."

Cyclops has posed:
Scott looks at Mason for a moment after his admission to not being superhero material. He begins to open his mouth to respons in kind when Andrea once again beats him to it and more or less echoes his thoughts. "Don't sell yourself short, Mason," he finally says then nods as the kid goes off to get his Ferrari cleaned. He shakes his head slightly as he watches Mason walk out. Ferrari.

Turning his attention back to Andrea, he nods slightly, "We can schedule another session this week sometime. I just need to consult with my calendar and I will let you know. I'm hoping to get one of your teammates involved this time as well so we can begin working on team-building programs."

Rage has posed:
"I think that would be a good idea." Andrea says as she watches the door a few moments even after Mason left, as if she was concentrating. With a sigh, she gives a stretch of her body, then flops her arms heavily down against her sides. "Yesterday was interesting as well, that conversation. What'd you tink about it?" She asks him curiously as she rocks on her heels back and forth.

Cyclops has posed:
Scott nods and leans his shoulder against the wall again as he recalls the conversation between them and Erika. "It's alarming that some of our students are being openly attacked," he says, wrinkles forming across his forehead as he imagines a car full of vampires jumping out to attack a group of kids having car trouble. There may need to be new considerations to the school's policy about leaving the property. Probably harsh, but the students need to be protected.

After a moment, he continues, "It's promising to know that the students are capable of defending themselves." It's more fuel for making sure the students stay focused and pay attention in their powers courses.

Rage has posed:
"Yeah. I didn't even know vampires were a thing. I thought they were just fairy tales. But, hey, we got Supermen and Spidermen. I guess vampires is not that far off... and I'm technically a werewolf.. sorta." Andrea says with a shrug of her shoulders upwards. "I"m thinking we're a magnet for trouble. The Reavers though seem to be the more immediate threat. Even after the X-Men dealt with them, they keep coming back. I only fear that some of the students are gonna get 'too' used to this. We should be kids. Not target practice.. what kinda life is that?" She sighs softly. "Where every day you ask yourself if you're gonna be attacked by cyborgs or vampires?"

Cyclops has posed:
Scott shrugs slightly as she mentions the uncanny-ness of vampires being real. Nothing much surprises him these days after everything he has encountered with the X-Men. A unicorn tearing through the mansion on a bender probably wouldn't come as much of a shock anymore. He ignores that mental image and listens intently to Andrea express her concerns and finally gives her a nod, "It's not a life anyone should have to face." Not the students, the teachers, or humans. Unfortunately it's another thing that you grow somewhat accustomed to being a part of the X-Men and New Mutants. He pushes off the wall and steps a few feet away, glancing around the music room, "That is exactly what the New Mutants are here for." He pauses for effect as he turns around to face her. "The capable standing up for the rest so they can have as close to a normal life as possible." The eyes behind the sunglasses focus on her for effect as well, despite the fact that they can't be seen. It's not fair to ask students to grow up so quickly, and it's not for everyone. "I know it may not be what you want. But I hope I can count on you." It isn't fair, but from what he's seen from Andrea so far he hopes she'll stick with it.

Rage has posed:
"Of course. You can count on me. I knew what I was getting into when I stepped out into the public and announced to the world that I was a mutant." Andrea takes in a deep breath, and lets it out. "And if I end up becoming a superhero down the line due to the experiences I have here at the school, at least I will be putting the effort towards a positive goal, which is helping people. Man and mutant and every day weirdo alike. Everyone needs a hero in their life." Even her. She mentally says to herself as she wrings her hands together. "I'll talk to the team and see about getting with you for practice. I'm eager to see how we work together."

Cyclops has posed:
"I'm glad to hear it." Scott offers Andrea a reassuring nod as he presses his lips together. He notes the deep breath and release. He knows she's hesitant about the whole thing, but he gets the sense that she is happy to be a part of the team and wants to do her best. That's all he needs.

He takes a few steps around the room, gazing around at the different instruments, "I'm here to offer guidance and assistance anywhere it's needed." And to lead the team should they take any combat missions, although with the X-Men around that is never the plan. He returns to her again, "If things become too much, let me know." It isn't the most empathetic way to offer your ear to someone, but his tone gets the point across. Having bent under the pressure of leadership himself, he knows all too well what it can do to a person. He doesn't want to be responsible for turning an adored singer into a nervous wreck.

Rage has posed:
"If it gets to be too much, I will let you know. My mother was in the military and was a soldier. She always prepared me for the tough times. If I can survive negotiations with Hollywood executives and at Sony Music, I can handle cyborgs and bigots." Andrea nods her head, then wrings her hands together with her fingers. "Though, I think I am a bit concerned about a few things. I don't know how to explain it. I think I'm coping with all of this /too/ well... the violence, the killing people in self defense.. killed twice. I don't know if I'm broken. I'm sixteen. I should be in therapy or something, or freaking out. I have some bad nights where I stay up crying, but .. shouldn't I be a bit more... fucked..up...?"

Cyclops has posed:
Therapy was never Scott's strong point. He's about as emotionally closed off as anyone around the mansion and is out of his element when it comes to dealing with feelings. He remembers what it was like to go through trauma at a young age and not know how to approach it. Burying it like he did also probably isn't the best avenue. He taps his fingers across his tricep as he ponders, his arms still folded across his chest. He'll speak with Jean or Charles about it. They're both much better equipped to deal with this sort of thing.

He attempts a comforting smile despite the foul language, "You have to find a way to deal with everything that works for you." He tilts his head slightly to the side, "You may want to talk to someone to help make the bad nights far less frequent. I can say for certain that you are not broken."

Rage has posed:
"I don't know about that." Andrea says with a sigh. "Like Mason said, I'm good at everything, right?" The way she says it though. It's a burden. "Maybe it's just your typical teenage doubt. As long as I perform well in the field, everything should be okay." Leaning down, she gives her shoelaces a bit of a tug to tighten then. "I'm gonna go hit my room and try and squeeze in a quick nap. I'll rally the others for our training and get back to you."

Cyclops has posed:
Scott nods as he watches her. Before she can bolt out of the room, offers her one last smile of hopeful reassurance, "You still have to process everything that happens, whether you perform well or not." As she tightens up her laces, he nods to himself and steps towards the door and pauses to offer one last thing. "Don't let it bury you. Everyone needs help at some point." He lets that sink in for a moment before he smiles again and then disappears out into the hallway.