9902/Scoping the Competition

Scoping the Competition
Date of Scene:	04 November 2019
Location:	Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn
Synopsis:	While scoping out the competition for bar space, Samuel Guthrie comes upon Alexis Carr playing piano. Extending an invitation to visit Xavier's School, the two share a quiet moment on a Brooklyn rooftop
Cast of Characters:	Prismatic, Cannonball

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Prismatic has posed:
    The place was called Club Friiq. It was new, some hipster coffee-infused-stout-based-drinks-and-all-natural-foods-speakeasies. Alexis gave it three months before it closed down, but in the meantime they'd listed 'LIVE MUSIC' as one of the attractions, and inside there was a familiar wace at the piano. Her hair was all tucked up beneath a black beanie tonight, she was wearing loose blue shirt and her stitched-back-together blue jeans, and was playing through a plain set of classical music for piano, the bars on a loaned iPad (supposed to be fancy, marrying the tuned upright piano from the 30's with the best newest technologies).

    The stools were well mad,e ,the booths were old repurposed wine barrels, and it's clear that someone poured an awful lot of money into the place.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie is out and about checking out the other places. He does this once a month or so. As he comes by here he heard the music and will walk inside. He scans around the place and will end up with a booth near the piano. He smirks a bit as he sees her, and waits listening enjoying her play. He will order the house special as wnd leans back and watches her in her element.

Prismatic has posed:
    She was mid performance, her fingers drifting like rolling waves and ripples along the keys, her feet pressing pedals beneath, barely glancing at the music. Her eyes close as she draws up the scale, slowly drawing the notes from the keys. She has a little smile on her face, her hands crossing over and under one another with ease to strike the notes of the dream-like piece, rising and falling tones chasing one another in the air.

    The server, who has a handlebar mustache and thick frame glasses gives a smile as he arrives with the house special -- it's a chocolate coffee stout, partnered with some earthy, kettle-cooked mixed Idaho and Sweet Potato chips.

    "If you have any requests, I can always let her know!" the waiter gives a smile helpfully, "She's just been playin' classical all night."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smirks a bit and says "Ah like hearing what she prefers to play, but Ah will keep it in mind. He does sip the drink and tries the chips seeming to like the normal better than the sweet tater ones. He will wait till she finishes one of the songs and applauds for her, softly not enough to embaress her but enough to know she is appreciated

Prismatic has posed:
     A couple others join in the clapping as well, and the pianist turns to smile at the crowd, and spots Sam. She purses her lips, and raises her eyebrows at Guthrie's appearance, as she turns, and stretching her hands over the iPad to bring up a separate grouping of notes, and begins in with a more unfamiliar song to her repetoire. Elvis Presley -- Can't Help Falling In Love. A couple of the patrons begin to smile, and talk a little louder over the 'pop' music.

    Her fingers pick out the keys, gliding back and forth as the sweet melody traipses from the piano, the girl making subtle looks over to Sam, her lips pursed still, mischvious.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie 's brow will raise a bit but he does not look upset. He grins over to her, and hmms a bit. He will motion to the waiter and tells him he wants to buy the pianist a drink of what ever she is drinking and would like to request a song when she finishes this one. "Wild thing." He keeps most of his attention on her.

Prismatic has posed:
    "It'll be a cheap tab." The waiter replies, and he amusedly waltzes off. Elvis fades away, and the waiter delivers what looks like a glass of ice water with a couple of slices of lime in it, and points over to Sam. There's a murmur among the patrons as the lady at the piano just flattens her lips.

    She snatches the ipad from the piano top, and looks up something, then picks up her phone and types something in.

    Sam would get a text, from her number, with just 'whhhhyyyyyy' in it.

    And she starts at the lower registers, she sweeps a grand run up the piano, elegant, drifting, dreamy...

    And then there's a familiar 'ba-dum-dum' and it's Wild Thing.

    Except that Alexis is doing it in Ragtime. Wild Thing is no longer anthem of lovestruck rock and roll, but happily bouncing along, rolling in the music like a particularly clumsy, yet charming, golden retreiver.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will look at her after reading the text. He will mouth the lyrics with the time, smiling at her. He will test her back "Join me on break?"

Prismatic has posed:
    There's some titters of laughter from the audience as the rag time rolls on, and then with a 'ba-dah, dah dah DAH dah!' comes to a close, the olive-toned pianist draws up her water and makes her way over to Sam, sliding into the booth next to him instead of accross from him, reaching over to steel some chips.

    "Come to scope out your new competition, Mr. Guthrie, or are you head-hunting the entertainment?" she inquires jokingly to him, dark eyes sparkling. She's clearly happy to see him.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and says "Maybe a bit of both." He says and will lean in to give her a one arm hug "Ah was not expecting them to have such a lovely lady playing though I may have to worry a bit more about them than Ah expected to." He grins and says "So, how are you doing wild thing?" He teases

Prismatic has posed:
    Alexis's shoulders draw up a little at the hug, and she gives a grin and a small shake of her head "It's a gig, it's not like they're trying to charm me away, I mean, I've been getting gree water all evening, and just now someone offered to pay for the lime wedges!" she jokes, "Amazing." she gives a small laugh, then looks up at him.

    "Oh, getting used to winters again. I saw Shannon and the club made some waves with some singer or another."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Yea, he sent me a card with her, he wants to play the club some night. I need to chat with him still." His phone buzzes and a text pops up "Hey, big brother... when are open mic nights" from Shannon "Oh finally got her willing to do an open mic night." He tells Alexis. " He taps the phone for just a moment, and says to Alexis "Play your cards right and Ah will splurge for Maraschino Cherries." He grins at her.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Hrm, cherries are a hard thing to come by in places like these... but I do like limes..." she weighs her options carefully, grinning up to Sam as she shrugs her shoulders.

    "Still don't know if your club's the type that would enoy my kind of music. I can't Ragtime my way through just everything." she states with a smile.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Ah try to make sure folks know on open mic nights we get to play most any type, not all nights have to be dance, but Ah will admit having you there dancing with me would be rather nice too... Oh got some news for ya."

Prismatic has posed:
    The girl blushes and rubs the back of her head "Unfortunately, not my sort of dancing, either.. in most cases." she replies, thinking about all the writhing of bodies the one time she attended an EDM function.

    She sips her water and gives a soft 'mmm?' sound, looking up to sam as he has news.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie grins and says "Well if you want to learn, Ah am sure we can work it out together, but the god news. Ah talked to the head of the school, and looks like you can come out and visit and maybe even spend a few days out there if you want to.

Prismatic has posed:
    Alexis blushes a moment "I'm not sure if that would be a good idea" she admits quietly, pulling the beanie down a little closer over her ears to hide if they're changing color.

    "So... a couple of days, outside the city -- and Club Evo spare you that long?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods his head a bit to this and says "Yea, Ah have made sure that they can work things out without me for a month or so if truly needed, but taking a few days off is not a big thing. Ah try to make sure the folks working there can handle things if need be."

Prismatic has posed:
    "Smart man." Alexis gives a small smile, and rubs the back of her head "When were you looking to have me out.. are... we going to be driving on the motorcycle?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Well, Ah figured we would talk about it and see when was good for you. And see if you wanted us to set you up your own room or maybe get you a spare bed in Shannon's room or something." He offers her that smile, and says "But before we make plans for sure, need to tell ya a few things about the school and probably better when we are alone."

Prismatic has posed:
    "Oh, if I'm just staying a few days I can just bring a sleeping bag or occupy an inflatable bed. I try not to be any bother to anyone." Alexis states, rubbing the back of her neck a moment with a little smile up to him.

    "Did you re-assure them there was to be no hanky-panky?~"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie shakes his head, and says "Na, the professor trusts me, and since I am still on the guy's floor, probably assumes if there is going to be any of that would either sneak ya into my room via a window or find a place outside the dorm rooms.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Ah, seperate dorm floors? Clever. So... this Professor -- head master of the establishment?" the dark-haired woman curiously asks, her fingers steepling a moment "Or... is this one of the 'better when we're alone' talks?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Different wings same floor, and yea, he is the head, but exactly who he is, that is one we will need to be talking along, the whole school security and such am sure you understand."

Prismatic has posed:
    "Well, yes. I attended a school once. Security is paramount." Alexis replies with a wry tone. She looks to her watch, and gives a small shrug. "I can cut out a bit early. They want me back on Tuesday." she states, and she tilts her head back to finish her lime water.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Well, when your ready, we can go find a place to chat, how about our rooftop?" He asks her.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Someone's going to be terribly confused when they find two young people chatting on a largely inaccessable rooftop." she jokes, and Alexis goes to stand. "Let me grab my coat and settle at te bar, and we'll head over?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods his head a bit to this and will have his bill brought over while alexis is away making sure to leave an ok tip. He knows how it is working hard for your money.

Prismatic has posed:
    So hard for it, honey.

    It just takes a moment, but Alexis returns with a too-large black jacket, slinging it over her shoulders and wrapping a scarf around her neck as she picks up Sam at the table.

    "So... what's the mode of travel?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and will put an arm around her, and will lead her out of the place, and start to head down the street. "Well Ah was thinking Sam powered, if your ok with it." He tells her, and if she is ok with it will scoop her up into his arm and up up and away they go.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Well, I suppose that's not so ba--eeeek!" is Alexis's answer as she's scooped up, her arm immediately going to loop around Sam's shoulder as she clings to him, eyes going wide, the roar of flight around them as Sam blasts off!

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles at her, and holds her close, and well. She is safe in his arms, as the yellow orange field covers them and he flies around a few buildings heading to the rooftop they danced on their first date.

Prismatic has posed:
    And the rooftop is empty, the chill air showing her breath a moment as she looks to Sam from where she clings, and gives a flush of embarrassment.

    "I /will/ get used to that. Someday." she assures him.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and says "Well sometime I will show ya just how safe you are with me, but will arm ya will probably scare ya a bit." He will move to have a seat and offers "Want to sit on my lap so ya can wrap ya coat around ya more?

Prismatic has posed:
    "... I think just that very offer got me warm enough!" Alexis replies, though the offer of the flight that would scare or or the lap which made her more warm shall remain a mystery!

    She takes a seat next to him, overlooking Brooklyn from their perch.

    "So... this school you work at sometimes?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and says "Yea, Ah need your word your not going to tell anyone anything you learn about it ok? It is a special school and will be honest it and the people there mean a lot to me."

Prismatic has posed:
    Alexis looks over to Sam, and she looks, for a moment, unquiet. She curls her fingers against her lap a moment, and she raises her eyebrows to Sam, "Well, you have my word. I mean, provided it's not like... a cult or something." she trails off a moment, and rubs her hands against her lap.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie shakes his head and says "Cult, no, but Ah reckon some might accuse us of it to be honest. It is a school for mutants, before we had places where folks were gathering. The Professor starts gathering people together to teach them not only normal school stuff, but how to use their powers and ethics behind using them. The professor has a goal of man and mutant living together in peace."

Prismatic has posed:
    "Well, that's a pretty noble goal, and one that I can see no fault in..." Alexis trails off a oment, and gives a small smile. She curls her fingers against her lap a moment, looking back out over the city.

    "I can see where you would want to keep others from knowing about it. Especially if more at-risk students dwell there, like Shannon, whose mutations aren't as... easily hidden. It must be a refuge then"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "There are quite a few who have obvious mutation Shannon and my brother are some of the less obvious and able to hide. Shannon can strap her wings down, and Jay has learned to hide his with his clothes, but there are some who can not hide it at al without outside assistance. Often teachers there are ones who have graduated from it.

Prismatic has posed:
    "I see." the younger mutant replies, thoughtfully looking out over the city a moment. "So, this Professor gentleman goes around and picks up mutant children for this school? Or... just ones with useful powers?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Well when we find one that needs out help we go out and try to help them. We do try to make sure that it is people who will fit believe in our goal. We have had some who have left cause of not agreeing with us, and even had some come the other way, some who originally thought mutants should rule them. Their powers are only really a true consideration when we find one who needs more help to learn to control their powers to not hurt others on accident."

Prismatic has posed:
    Alexis gives a nod, and she breathes out a moment, looking down to the streets below.

    "My father is viciously anti-mutant. His job is incredibly physical, and he beleives that, should mutants be more striking in appearance, or better, more agile than he.... he will be unable to find work, or that what he does will become a... a freak show. His words, mind, not mine." Alexis states quietly.

    "So, a private school that houses nad helps mutants without teaching that we are... monstrous? Sounds like a wonderful place."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Yea, we try out best, we have had people there who's parents hated them cause they were mutants, in fact one of the students, my friends and I went out and saved from his own father leading an anti mutant lynch mob hunting him. But we also have people like Shannon and myself, whose Parents love them, and miss them but realize that they have a better chance for either a regular education or need to learn to use their powers right to have a better life." He puts his arm around her, and pulls her closer, and says "And we don't judge people by their relatives, kids, adults or what not, you are your own person and hwo you act and treat others is the only thing you should be judged on."

Prismatic has posed:
    Alexis is pulled close, and she leans lightly against Sam, exhaling a moment before she urns her gaze up to him. She gives a small huff out. "We've only known each other two weeks, but it feels like I've known you forever." Alexis states, and gives a slight smile, the corner of her mouth pulling up before she draws herself up, presses just a peck of a kiss to Sam's chin, and straightens herself out, like it never happened.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles over to her, and says "Well, Ah am glad you feel comfortable with me hon, Ah really like spending time with you as well. Ah am glad we can share things together. Ah want to to be your friend and more, and be there to help you and be able to be there for how ever ya need me."

Prismatic has posed:
    Alexis gives another smile, and leans her head against Sam's shoulder, looking out over Brooklyn again, and she curls one arm inside of his, elbow to elbow.

    "You still owe me chicken, though."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Well if I cook it while your at the school will get t try Shannon's bac and cheese to go with it too. Shannon and Andrea are both students at the school." He tells her, and will turn and kiss her cheek, spending some time just talking with her.

Prismatic has posed:
    "... eeeeeeeeee..." comes just a squeak of a sound from Alexis, who pulls her beanie down over her face, but it's clear that she's gone colorful, because her chin and neck are bright pink.