9995/In Stitches

In Stitches
Date of Scene:	11 November 2019
Location:	Shannon's Room (East Halls), Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Christmas presents are planned and made. Holiday plans, life, love, heartache, and family are discussed. Adopted brother and sis butt heads over the matter of fair compensation for one's skills; big brother wins the battle. For now. Only for now.
Cast of Characters:	Nightingale, Cannonball

---

Nightingale has posed:
     It's early that morning, and with the day's classes still an hour or two away, Shannon's come back from her morning run, hopped into the shower, and changed into her jeans and poet's blouse. For once, she's not working on her music, but the sewing machine in her room is whirring and clicking away, as she works on putting the finishing touches on one of what promises to be many presents to be given out this holiday season.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie comes walking up to her room announcing himself on the hall as he gets there. He is carrying a stack of brown wrapped boxes, and bags. He comes to the door and knocks lightly by tapping it with his foot.

Nightingale has posed:
     The whirring stops just before Sam gets there, the project largely finished. There's a happily humming Shannon on the other side of the door, as she inspects her work. The tapping gets her attention and, with her arms full, she gets up to go open the door. "Hey, big brother! Oh jeeze... here, let me put this down and help you with those!" What looks like a fairly large, new quilt in red, white, and blue is put down on her bed, and she reaches over to help you with some of those boxes.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "Ah think your parents might have sent you your room he jokes." But it is mostly lighter boxes, and no really huge ones. He will step inside and looks for a place to set them probably on her bed. "Came in the early mail."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon laughs, grinning wide and moving the new quilt aside to make room for the boxes. "Bless her heart! Just in time, too, looks like she sent up the rest of my fabric stash and sewing things... or at least, I sure hope she did!" Some of the boxes are opened almost immediately; sure enough, there is a LOT of fabric inside, thread, and sewing sundries, and one smaller box has a series of discs inside that look as if they might contain sewing-related patterns. "Oh sheesh... she /didn't/! I've had my eye on that collection of machine embroidery patterns for like, /forever/!!!"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie watches her smiling as he does. As she moves the disks looking through them, she will see a familiar white star, and a note. The nope it positioned so she can read it in the box. "The original is safe and home, but we wanted our star to have her star there too. We love you and miss you, hope you like the patterns" it is signed with xs and os, Mom. "Sam looks over to her, and says "So need me to put anyone any where specific?"

Nightingale has posed:
     A tear comes to Shannon's eyes, and she sniffles a little, picking up the star. But by the smile on her face--and her lack of molting--they are not the bad sort of tears. "Miss you too, mom," she murmurs. "Damn it, she had to hit me right in the feels..."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to her, and says "Thats what parents do, I noticed one of those on what Ah assumed was your room back at your house, so whats the deal with it?

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon just looks at Sam and gets a silly little grin. "Think about it for a second. Who else has a star like this?" She shakes her head and laughs, bopping him on his forehead with the flat of the star, then hugging the stuffings out of him.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to her, and raises a brow but as she hugs him he sees it with the new quilt behind it, and says "Oh ok, and here I thought it might have been cause you always had a star on top of the tree, cause an angel might be painfull he teases.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs, and shakes her head. "Naah, they always called me their little angel. I think Someone Up There heard them and just decided to make it real, that's all. So an angel on the tree would be perfect." The new quilt that's been put on the bed is easily recognizable as an American flag, and looks big enough for a queen-size bed, easily. "Feels weird to be staying here for the holidays, but I'll work in going home very close to, so I can still have time with my family. Figure the kids here who have nowhere else to go, they may get pretty lonely here. Don't worry, I was talking about that with my folks last night, we'll work things out."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Yea, Ah will be leaving a bit earlier unless Jay and Ah decide to take a plane down. Normally, I just fly down or of trying to to be less noticable, plane and then a bus into town.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, and smiles, plopping herself down on the edge of the bed. "Bet the clan will be glad to see you. It'll be almost impossible for me to sew something for everyone with such a short time to do it, but I was thinking of writing some of my recipes down for your ma, sort of a Christmas present to the whole family since they'll be eating the results." A grin turns the corners of her mouth upwards. "Might even write each out in nice calligraphy and have them laminated, and put in a binder that'd be easier to keep open in the kitchen."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hmms and says ""Sounds nice, but Ah aint sure ah would do anything but the titles in calligraphy to be honest. It is pretty and nice, but for a recipe think you would want something neat precise easy to read, so your not. Is that a teaspoon or a tablesoon." He mimics looking at a card and trying to figure it out

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs, and shakes her head. "I wasn't thinking of anything Gothic there, silly goose. I was thinking either unical or better yet, bookhand. Which is more like just very neat handwriting anyways. Yeah, save the fancy illumination for the titles and all that, you're right. Maybe some decoration in the borders."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smirks a bit and says "Hey about the only time I see any of it is first letter in a chapter of a book or on fancy invitations, and while I have gotten a few, they aint exactly my bread and butter.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, and smiles a bit. "That's a little more common, but have you ever looked up images of things like the Lindisfarne gospels, or any of the old psalteries from the middle ages? Talk about having your mind blown... that is some serious craftsmanship right there. Wish I was even half that good." She shakes her head, her smile widening. "Call it silly, but if there's only one thing I can do for the clan this year, I want to go all-out on it, you know?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and nods his head and says "Yea, Ah am going to start heading into work an hour or two early a couple days a week, and do some shopping see if ah can find what they might like. Need to Ask Jay if he has any clues for Ray Jr.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs and shakes her head, a rueful smile on her face. "I'll be making most of my presents this year. What's left of my Christmas budget's going to be better spent on materials to craft with. My own damn fault there." She nods towards the guitar case propped up in the corner of the room; one of the latches isn't quite fastened, suggesting perhaps recent use. "I've got no idea what the whole family likes, but food's a pretty universal thing."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods his head a bit and says "Yea, Ah always try to make it something bought for them from up this way, makes it more unique, but they are getting to the age where video games and such are asked for alot.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs and shakes her head. "I don't get the whole video game thing much. Well, unless you count some PC titles. I love stuff more like your sandbox-type games, and life simulators." She tilts her head, thinking. "If you're not sure what to get them, a lot of titles are more downloadable content. You could always get them gift cards, and then they can pick the ones they like. The younger ones could have your ma helping them out so she can steer them away from the more violent stuff."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "I am thinking maybe hit the nintendo store, and pick them up something there and maybe a gift card with it, but thinking about getting Jeb a new rifle this year.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon tilts her head slightly, pursing her lips. "I've never fired or used a weapon," she muses. "So it's kind of hard for me to understand the interest. Always thought archery looked like it could be fun, though."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles a bit and says "Well, Jay and Ah went hunting with Pa, and am sure Jay has hunted some with Jeb. He is getting about the right age, and Ma has her rifle and shotgun, and Jay and Ah got Pa's. Thinkinga rifle or maybe ride over to Ithaca, and se what kind of thing the locals might have since shotguns are made out there.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, listening. "So it sounds like the girls of the family know their way around a rifle, too?" Her brows knit, and she crosses her arms in thought. "Never been hunting. Though one of the times I was out training by the lake, Logan was breaking down a deer he hunted and needed a hand. Didn't mind that as much as I thought I would." She just leans over for a bit of a hug, calm and content for the moment. Nope, no molting. Not yet, anyways, though as the season wears on, who knows....

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hugs her back, and says "With us it was just part of growing up, going out hunting, and getting a deer or a bear would stock the freezer for a while squirrel, rabbit small game , well bullet is cheaper than a few pounds of hamburger meat.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, and smiles. "See, hunting for food, I wouldn't mind so much. Hunting for sport makes zero sense at all." Looking up at him, her eyes are twinkling a little bit. "I'd be a lousy hunter in winter, though. There's two times I molt. Stress, and seasonal. And it's getting close to molting time. The feathers don't take long to grow back, though, and it's not like they come out all at once." She smiles somewhat, thinking for a moment. "So how likely is it there'll be more Guthries here sooner or later as students?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "I would not think the molting or such would be the worst part big white moving something in the woods could be dangerous if there are other hunters around. Well pretty sure Jeb might start next fall, but might make him wait, he is about convinced we assign rock stars to date Guthries up here I think."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon rolls her eyes and bursts out laughing. "Let me guess. Andrea. Good, at least she won't be looking at me like a giant chicken to be devoured anymore." She chuckles softly, eyes twinkling just a bit. "At least hopefully Jay will be happy, though it'd be nice to chitchat with just him sometime, too."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrienods, and says "Yea, he is going through a bit, he liked Andrea, but he feels guilty over a girl he lost. Aint going into details, and if he feels like talking about it let him but don't ask, it was a mess. So he is a bit torn.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon holds up her hand for a moment. "Last time I was in the medbay, I knew Andrea was getting close to him, so when she stopped by to visit, I point blank asked her if I could just talk to him sometimes too, and made clear I had no romantic interest in him. She let me know a little bit of what happened, so... I've just been waiting for him to come to me first, in light of that."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods his head a bit to this and says "The whole TMZ thing shook him a bit and all, but gotta admit was good to see him smiling in it

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods slowly. "Something hits you hard, you don't come back so easy from it. It can take a lot of talking, a lot of time, and sometimes it can stick with you for a lifetime." There's a bit of weight to her words, but no elaboration. "Just hope she remembers that and doesn't try to push him. She's... definitely very strong-willed. That can be a good thing sometimes, but still.."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "She is trying not to, but honestly think they both more attracted to one another than they want to admit. Ah pointed something out to him recently Ah hope will help him find peace."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon chuckles and nods. "Well, good, as long as they're both going in with their eyes open. See if you can pry him away for a bit of a hangout sometime though? That'd be really nice. Popcorn and a goofy movie would be pretty awesome. Just us sibs, might be nice if you were there, too." A little grin rife with mischief appears on her face, and her eyes twinkle merrily. "Speaking of romantic entanglements, whatever happened to yours? Haven't heard about her for a few days, and she might actually have another prospective student, too."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "She has been a bit busy, but can't complain gave me an excuse to, do some things I had been putting off. Hoping she is free to at least hang out soon though.,"

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, and chuckles softly. "I was thinking, if she's busy sometimes, it might be nice to ask if Jay'd be willing to teach me a little guitar, too. Do you think he would?" Her brows knit briefly, thinking of how it must be feeling for Sam right now, to wonder and worry. She hugs him again, fiercely.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hugs her back and rubs a hand over her wings, "He probably would might even be able to help ya out a bit to make sure the wing's don't get in the way, not sure if they would or not to be honest.

Nightingale has posed:
"They haven't so far, but it'd still be good to know that stuff," Shannon agrees. The touch to her wings is a soothing one, and renders her very relaxed in short order, as if she were a kitten enjoying a bit of attention. On the flip side of things, there -is- seasonal molting to consider, and one of the tinier feathers does come away in Sam's hand. However, there is no outward sign of stress--if anything, the exact opposite.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to her, and says "So, what made you decide on the guitar, talking to Alexis or was it you figured it might a bit more mobile than a piano.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs a little bit, and shrugs, wings ruffling. "Combination of things. Alexis was what finally tipped the scales, but knowing Jay plays, and believe it or not, the Captain. All those played a part."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hmms and says "I guess Ah could see it, back in his day was when all the singing cowboys were starting wasn't it?" He asks, and smiles a bit at her "Lila played as well, she was not just lead singer but lead guitar as well.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon chuckles softly. "Back when the mountains were young, right? Poor guy doesn't have much time to play, though, work and all." She chuckles softly. "First ran into him in Salem Center, actually, he was heading for the music store there. Ran smack into him. Think there's still a dent in the sidewalk where my jaw hit it," she jokes. She tilts her head, hearing about Lila. "Where have I heard that name before...?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over to her, and says "Poster in my room, shirts, I wear semi regularly." He will motion to one of her tour shirts he is wearing "Mutant Rockstar, pretty big about 4 years ago, but aint released anything on earth in last two years or so."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs, and shakes her head. "I'm guessing 'on Earth' are the key words there?" She swats Sam very gently with one wing, chortling with mirth.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "She was my first serious girl. We went to one of her concerts, and saved her from alien kidnappers, and we sorta hit it off, and went to the other side of the galaxy"

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles softly and nods, sighing lightly. "You lucky SOB. At least you've had a serious girl." She shrugs and just leans in against him, one of her larger feathers fluttering down to the ground. "And the other side of the galaxy, too. Wonder what that's like."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Well we spent a lot of time in her dyson sphere, but other than the people not looking like us most of the time they are really a lot like us."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, and smiles somewhat. "I imagine that Earth's kind of a microcosm of the rest of the galaxy in that way. Some people look like each other, some don't, but some things are pretty universal, too. Sounds like that's true the galaxy over."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "There are some weird things out there, but yea they are pretty much mostly like us just in different packages. She is pretty much who got me really into music. Trying to get her to come by and do a set but she has been busy.,

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles, and looks up at him. "If someone had told you when you were my age that you'd be meeting and dating rock stars, hanging out with heroes, and being one yourself, what would you have told them then?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to her, and says "Probably close to the same you would I was your age when I started here Kiddo. I was the oldest in my class.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs, and shakes her head, a bit more relaxed than he's seen her in a while. "I hear ya. If someone had told me I'd be coming to a place like this, meeting my heroes, learning to be one, and doing some pretty wild things, I'd have told them they were nuts and to get outta town. Done more living in three months or so here, than most ever would in three lifetimes--and it's only just getting started."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to her, and says "Yea, Ah pretty much went from looking forward to college, to thinking Ah was going to spend my life in a whole in the ground to this/

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs and grins in understanding. "I was pretty much sure I was going to be at home, being homeschooled, and maybe if I was lucky taking a few college courses online. But pretty much hiding from the world because of my mutation. Now... everything's opening up in front of me, even things I thought I had to give up." A wry smile is on her face, and she lets out a short laugh. "Loki was right about one thing. There's no reason I should have to give up my dreams if I want them. I don't have to give up any of what I want to be."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods his head a bit to this and says "Well one thing, Ah guess he was not being tricky about." He looks to her, and says "If you have any time left yo make something when ya finish with your presents let me know?"

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods slowly. "No, he wasn't being tricky about that. That much I knew, because god only knows I've heard it from you and others often enough, and none of you have lied to me. Guess that one's a mixed bag, just got to take him with a grain of salt. Even in some of the old stories of other cultures, tricksters were there to teach lessons. Sometimes painful ones but the lessons were always there if you knew how to look for them." She looks up at Sam, raising her eyebrows. "What would you want me to make? Something in particular?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles a bit and says "Actually was thinking about a flannel apron for my ma, I think she would get a laugh out of it but would actually like it and use it alot.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon grins at the thought, and thumbs over to her fabric stash. "I was kind of thinking that but not sure what colors and patterns she likes. Maybe you could go through my stash there and pick a few she might enjoy? That'd be a quick afternoon sewing project. Couple hours, maybe."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, a bit and says "Well it is a specific color pattern I was thinking. He will look to see if she has (https://www.scotclans.com/scottish-clans/clan-guthrie/guthrie-tartan/). If not he will show her a picture of the pattern.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon raises her eyebrows as she looks at the picture on his phone. "Ooof. I don't have anything like that. That's going to have to be ordered, but the apron itself won't take very long to make at all once the fabric gets here." She smiles, touching the second of the three tartans shown. "I like that one, the one marked 'ancient'. Offers a lot of color choices I can draw from to match, from my current fabric stash. Mix a little bit of old and new in there, you know? But which one would your ma prefer?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "I don't think many folks realize ma wears the old clan tartan colors. I think we can probably order it how much ya think you will need?" He stands up "Ma is about yea tall, yea wide." He makes motions with his hands.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods slowly, and grins. "Most chef's apron patterns only take maybe about 2 yards. Well, 1 1/2, but I say 2 to allow for mistakes, and to have scraps for future projects. Of which I anticipate there will be, sewing goodies for the clan."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hmms and says "Ok, will say 3 to be on the safe side, that way if want to make some small things or something we have some of it." He will tell her, and goes online to order it.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles and gets out her own phone, tapping it a few times to one of her favorite websites. "Here's the pattern I rely on most for aprons. Should work pretty well for your ma, really show off the clan colors well. Plus it's adjustable, so it should work real well for her over time."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "And should work if the other girls start wanting one, or if Jay or Ah decide we want one. I usually go with with funny aprons

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, and grins from ear to ear. "Be more than happy to sew one for each of you. Just pick the fabric and send it my way. Might be a little crazy making things for the holidays but I'll sure do my best."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Well we will stick with the one for now, if more we will work out after christmas "So how much I owe ya for it?""

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon just stares at Sam, her jaw dropping open. "That's one heck of a question to ask. You don't. I'm more than happy to make those because I love you guys." He gets a fierce hug and a great big smile.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Your taking time out of your plans to make it Ah should pay ya for ya skills hon." He does hug her and says "Give me a fair price since Ah asked ya to make it, only fair.""

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon shakes her head, gone quite stubborn now. "Not a prayer, big brother. You're letting me do something for people I care about, that's all the payment I want. So stop this talk about it, okay?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to her and frowns and says "Any other time Ah would probably say thanks, but let me pay this time, if nothing else gives you money to spend on others gifts.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon gestures over to her guitar and laughs. "I'll just say you had a part in that and call it good. You realize arguing with me isn't going to work, right? Hang me up by my wings if you want, but you're not gonna win this one."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "So, i get to pay part on the guitar instead ok the apron ok. I'll pay half of the guitar, and tell me the legit price don't make me ask Jay."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs and grins a bit sheepishly. "Well, that guitar was on sale, got lucky. Usually they'd run about $200, but I managed $165 on that one. So that left me a little bit for a capo for it, and a couple books to get me started."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and will pull his wallet out and gives her five twenty dollar bills, and says "There ya go." He tells her.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs and shakes her head. "Only because if I don't take these now you'll find some way to slip them into my stipend account somehow. Thank you. That's one expensive apron, though, this just netted you five."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smirks a bit at her and says "Not like Ah would call your parents, and give it to them to put in your account, Ah would never be so sneaky.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon coughs noisily, and is that a sotto voce 'bullshit' heard amidst the coughing? No, it couldn't be. She wouldn't be nearly so vulgar, would she? "Sorry about that, must've gotten something caught in my throat." She puts her best innocent face on, smiling oh so sweetly.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie chuckles a bit and hugs her "Oh yea of little faith in my sweet innocent nature." He grins at her and says "Ah think Ah am hungry

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon bursts out laughing, hugging him right back. "Innocent my molting wing feathers!" Grinning, she nods towards the door, tucking the bills away in her pocket for now. "Come on, let's go get something to eat. I'm freaking starving today."