9584/Backscene: Andrea in the medlab gets a visitor.

Backscene: Andrea in the medlab gets a visitor.
Date of Scene:	12 October 2019
Location:	Andrea's Room (East Halls), Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Jay visits Andrea at the MedLab before she is released. They talk about music.
Cast of Characters:	Icarus, Rage, Cannonball

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Icarus has posed:
It was the day after the attack on Xavier's. Jay had heard about what happened from his brother. He'd also learned some details about his brother that had given him a lot to think about. That night was just out for visitation.

Thus it was the day after when Jay came walking into the medlab, peeking to find where Andrea might be. He was in his usually baggy jeans and a tank top, red wings visible folded neatly behind him. He carried an acoustic guitar with him in his right hand. "Heya, you awake?" he asked in a low whisper.

Rage has posed:
Settled in the bed in a fabulous medical gown is Andrea. She looks like a walking eggplant in some places. She's splotched with bruises along her arms and face, and one peek under her gown would see her stomach heavily bandaged and covered in scabs from being gutted by a monster. At the sound of the voice, she glances over towards him. "Hey, Jay." She says with a weak smile. "Come to visit the sick?"

Icarus has posed:
"Yeah," Jay says as he moves further into the room. He settles onto a chair by her bedside, propping the guitar up next to him. "Sam told me you were out being a hero and helping protect everyone. Feel like I should thank you for that. How're you feeling?" he asks, glancing at the bruises that are visible wincing.

Rage has posed:
"I'm okay. I've had it worse before if you can believe it." Andrea says as she drums her fingers on a pillow that sits on her lap, giving the winged one a hopeful smile. "You don't have to thank me though. I'm sure anyone in my position would have done the same." She offers him a grin. "You brought a guitar. Going to sing to me?"

Icarus has posed:
"Nah, thought I'd make sure your fingers still work," came Jay's immediate reply, though the teasing tone showed he wasn't serious. "I didn't know if this was going to be like one of those sterile rooms with a nurse glaring at you for talking too loud or not so figured I would come prepared if you did want to hear something. Hoped it would cheer you up." He tilts his head slightly. "I'm not sure you're right there, Andrea. Not everyone would be willing to run into danger for others."

Rage has posed:
"Nah. It's not one of those hospital types. We can play music all day and have a jam session." Andrea says with a grin at him, then sobers up a bit. "Okay, so maybe not everyone would. But this is what I'm trained for. It's like.. I guess automatic for me to just .. take to action when need be." She rubs at her shoulder a bit. "I hope you weren't worried that I'd get killed and you wouldn't be able to get cheesecake with me." She teases a bit.

Icarus has posed:
"More worried you got killed. That simple," Jay said as he pulled the guitar up into his lap. He didn't strum the strings yet but he did get it settled and leaned on it comfortably, like someone who had done so regularly. "You hoping to become an X-Man someday? I know a lot of the original New Mutants hoped to, or did. Figure the new batch might be following suit."

Rage has posed:
"No, I'm not looking to be an X-Man. I want to be a normal student who graduates from high school and then goes to college and continues on with my career in music and acting, if allowed." Andrea admits as she gives him a smile. "But, I am trained though in combat, strategies, analytics, defensive tactics." She lists off. "Your brother and Mister Summers has been mentoring me the last two years. A lot of people don't know that about me, that I'm somewhat capable in combat, even if I despise it." She rubs the back of her neck. "Did someone tell you what I can do?"

Icarus has posed:
"No, Sam hasn't told me. He mentioned something about your own healing abilities with the resources of the medlab and you should recover. I didn't know you healed." Jay gives a little bit of a shrug. "Actually, I have no idea what you can do. Y'know, other than sing beautifully and write great songs."

Rage has posed:
Giving him a small smile, Andrea says, "Well -- my powers isn't very beautiful. I don't want to scare you off by them." She says as she rubs the back of her neck a bit. "I haven't gone public with my powers because I don't want to scare anyone. It would be a PR nightmare." She bites on her bottom lip for a moment, then lets out a breath. "If I tell you what I can do, promise you will still get cheesecake with me?"

Icarus has posed:
"Unless you eat babies or something, I don't think you are going to scare me," Jay says with an easy smile. "That one would be a no on cheesecake though." He looks at her curiously. "Has to be something physical I'd think for those kinds of injuries."

Rage has posed:
"I turn into an eight foot horror movie werewolf and then my mind sometimes goes primal and I become the wolf. You know how Rahne is a shifter? She's like.. the cute and cuddly version. I'm like the rated R version." Andrea says softly as she rubs the back of her neck.

Icarus has posed:
Jay continues to look at her for long moments. She may begin thinking that he's going to be just what she feared: Horrified by what she can do. After that long time, he lifts his brows. "And?" He doesn't wait for an answer since it is more rhetorical. "You haven't said anything yet that sounds like I need to run for the hills. I mean unless you aren't housebroken or something..." He gives a wink to show he's kidding.

Rage has posed:
Rolling her eyes upwards, Andrea says, "It's not a family friendly power. People won't buy albums from a monster that eat's their cat if they spend too much time as a wolf. I am dangerous. You should have seen the other guy." She says with a motion of her hand. "I split this monster's head open by grabbing it by the jaws and yanking it's head apart like a dying Pac Man." She says. "It's kinda hard to slip that in when talking to a cute mutant guy who's flirting with you all semester."

Icarus has posed:
"Pretty sure you always have that problem though. Some cute guy flirting with you," Jay says with one of those shrugs he seems to favor. Sort of fluid and boneless, a casual movement he uses regularly. "I think maybe you underestimate people but does it matter what your mutant power is? It's just that you are a mutant. My powers are all pretty and such but it doesn't mean I can go out there and protect the students from a rampaging monster," he points out. "So don't begrudge what you are, even with its downfalls."

Rage has posed:
"There is a difference between you and me. You are a hot guy with red angel wings who heals and you got the voice of a boyband member at his prime. People look at you and think you're harmless. I turn into a killing machine. They look at me like I'm the next Magneto. I have a brand that's worth millions. That is not the type of power I can just leak to the press and expect it to be positive. Not with metal robots walking around shooting us in the streets." Andrea's nose wrinkles up. "And boys don't really hit on me. Intimidated maybe? Superstar celebrity who turns into a werewolf." She says with an amused laugh. "I have a lot going on. I think most guys kinda want an easier route to prom than dealing with my baggage."

Icarus has posed:
"So don't give them baggage to deal with. Just be you and let them focus there, which is much more important," he says as he places his hand on the neck of the guitar, fingers finding the right position. He strums with his right hand, sending the chord through the room. "They will accept if they are the right guy."

Rage has posed:
"Mm. Maybe. I've only really dated one guy my entire life, which I'm sure you've seen played out in the media. Mason Steele. He's here as well as a student. Rock powers. We broke up though awhile ago and he's moved on to bigger, better things." Andrea says as she listens to him play the chord, curious now and interested. ".. what about you?"

Icarus has posed:
"I've..." Jay pauses, glancing away and down at the floor. He hunches further over the guitar, almost as though trying to curl in on himself but it won't let him do so. "Loved someone. She died." His voice breaks slightly as he strums another chord on the guitar. "Because of me." He looks at her and the pain in his eyes can be easily read, the wound still fresh obviously. "Mutant is still mutant, pretty or not."

Rage has posed:
Furrowing her brows in concern, Andrea reaches out and places a hand over his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I'm sorry, Jay. I .. that's rough. We can change the subject." She says softly. "But if you want to talk about it, we can do that too. I've been in your shoes.. kinda ...similar. You know. Just.. not on that level." She bites her bottom lip, then sighs. "Okay, so .. how about if I sing a song? You can play the guitar?"

Icarus has posed:
"Nah, don't want to talk about it." Jay's answer is quick and decisive. He's not up to that conversation quite yet. Even admitting it brought back all the pain. When she suggests a song, he considers. "You sure you're up to singing? How badly hurt are you? I know you keep saying you are doing better but still."

Rage has posed:
"I'm fine. I can just get out of here if I wanted, but Doc wants to make sure my regeneration is kicking in. I just need to shift forms at times to jump start it. I can sing, Jay. I've sang on the flu and with strep throat. I'm not letting metal monsters ruin a good time." Andrea says as she shifts about to face him proper. "Do you want to sing to me instead?"

Icarus has posed:
"Whatever you prefer. Can give you a bit of a Kentucky vibe if you'd like?" Jay offers as he strums the strings again. "Or we can trade off. You sing then I'll sing? And I'll tell you more about my powers after. Only fair after you told me about all yours."

Rage has posed:
"You told me all about your powers. You got the gift of woo in your voice, you can heal and you can fly. You got any others hiding in there?" Andrea asks him coyly as brows lift upwards. "It's up to you. I'm down to hear some Kentucky twang. Long as it's not a song about your broken down truck and your dog being sick or something." She jests. "What would you like me to sing?" She ponders. "I do have one that I /really/ want to sing, but I would never put it on an album. It's not really designed for the radio."

Icarus has posed:
"I didn't tell you about my voice powers though. You've just heard my voice," Jay says with a bit of a smile. "I'll show you in a minute. And sure, would love to hear something original of yours. That last one on your play list was amazing."

Rage has posed:
"Sure. Can I play the guitar?" Andrea asks as she holds her hands out for them. Her fingers are battered and bruised, but she seems determined anyways. "You really have voice powers?" She asks with a grin. "I was talking about your ability to just sound so sexy every time you open up your voice and sing. You're making all the girls talk at Glee Club."

Icarus has posed:
When she reaches, Jay quickly holds out the guitar, extending it by the neck in her direction. "I dunno about that. I just know I do sing pretty well. Although my powers would allow me to cheat a little. You first though." He's not willing to give it away yet

Rage has posed:
Taking the guitar, Andrea strum it a few times, then gives it a few tunes. "This one is about my mother. It's a little bit about me as well." She says softly. "We've both done things we've had to survive this life of ours. Either on the battlefield, or in Hollywood." She says as she chews on her cheek. "You're the first person to hear this. So.. be gentle with it, okay?"

Icarus has posed:
Jay gives a nod, "I promise. I'm just going to listen and enjoy. No criticisms. It's you sharing something important to you. I get that."

Rage has posed:
"Humility on Bleecker Street,
Exposed my faults until I'm left defeated,
It's been three years into this relationship,
This is longer than I ever could commit.

But I feel I'm near.
But I feel my fear.

I'm standing at the edge of another precipice in life
Gotta face my steppenwolf,
Gotta drag me through the mud
When I get there I will see myself.

I will look for strength within,
I will be a better woman,
Hang in there baby, I'm the grain of sand...Becoming the pearl.

There are no role models in rock 'n' roll,
No women who could have it all,
The long career, the man, the happy family,
And here I stand and God, I do demand it.

And I feel I'm near
But I feel my fear.."

As she sings, Andrea's voice is soft, gentle, and full of vulnerable emotion. This could be a cry for help. It could be a cry for someone else. It's the next lyrics that causes her throat to hitch as if she was on the edge of a sob, but she controls it perfectly to weave through the words.

"It's dark in here - Don't know where I am.
Memories come - I'm wading through the moon.
Evil Side - It wants to drag me down.
Willpower - God please give me some ..

As she sings through the chorus again, she stares upwards at the ceiling as her fingers brush through the chords.

"I'm standing at the edge of another precipice in life,
Baggage from my family,
Going back to therapy,
I will kneel, be humble, tow the weight,
I will look for strength within,
I will be a better woman..
Hang in there baby, I'm the grain of sand..
Becoming the pearl."

Icarus has posed:
THough the song, Jay just listens. He doesn't interrupt, he doesn't join in. Just a very attentive audience of one as she pours her heart out in the song. When she finishes, he smiles softly. "Thank you for sharing that. It was beautiful. I see why you didn't want to put yourself out there on an album that much."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will be passing by the med lab, and catches just the very end of the sing. He will come to the med bay, and knock gently on the door, and says "Anyone at home?" He asks sticking his head into the room.

Rage has posed:
Andrea nods her head as she passes the guitar back to him. "I write all my own songs, but that one I think is maybe a fourth album kinda song when I'm twenty." She says as she tucks some hair back behind her ear. Her head tilts over towards Sam as he enters. "Hey there. Nurse is gonna clear me in a bit to get out of here she says."

Icarus has posed:
Taking back the guitar, Jay gives a nod to her explanation. Then that familiar voice from the doorway. He glances around to his brother, "Hey. C'mon in."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and says "Good to hear your mending nicely. We are going to have to see about some armor for you, speaking of which. I think it maybe time for you to start working on something. " he says to Andrea, and smiles at Jay patting his brother on the back.

Rage has posed:
"Armor for a werewolf? Good luck on that one. I need to be mobile in my war form. If we can get it light weight and have it shift with me, then sure. I'll give it a shot." Andrea's brows lift upwards curiously. "Work on something? Like what?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to her and says "A graduation costume, something you can wear more of your own choosing than the Bumblebees. And I am thinking seeing what we can come up with maybe something at least resistant to slicing and dicing to keep you in one piece.